Could treating your pet like a child be bad for them?
Animal behaviourists warn if you treat your pet like your child, you may be doing more harm than good.
Dog behaviourist Faith Wild says close bonds with our pets have been exacerbated due to the time we spent with them during lockdowns. However, Ms Wild says pets are not children and have different needs that we need to recognise.
"If we don't understand the needs of our animals and give them boundaries it can create a lot of confusion," she said.
"They don't understand what we want from them, or need from them, they can't learn to isolate by themselves."
Owners need to 'make the rules'
Ms Wild says pet owners need to educate their dogs through understanding and trust, without ever being physical, and by speaking their language.
"They will go to the person who commands respect," Ms Wild says.
"You don't have to browbeat them or be nasty, but you do have to draw a line where the rules are.”
Ms Cavenett says having a dog is also beneficial for people experiencing loneliness after a break-up, a death, or when children have grown up and left home.
"There's a lot of really good research around about [pets] giving protective factors against mental health," she said.
"A lot of people do find that there is a lot of mood improvement in being around your pet, and there is some good research around how calming it can be just physically touching a pet."
Be careful if your pet holds you back
Ms Cavenett warns that it can also be an issue for some people who use their pets as a reason to avoid living their lives because they are so attached to their animals.
"I've certainly had clients who have struggled to separate from pets, who haven't wanted to leave the home because their animal might get distressed," she said.
Ms Cavenett said as a pet owner, you need to still be able to see people, feel comfortable leaving the house, and be able to maintain relationships with other people.
There can be a tendency to project our own emotions and feelings onto our pets, she adds.
"I know that some people will look at their dog in the morning and go, 'Oh, look at her self-esteem, it's just so low!'" Ms Cavenett said.
"While it is useful to have a pet, they cannot fulfil all of your social needs. If you are staying at home because of that - it can turn into a bit of a concern.”
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