Going to the Dogs: Can You Love Your Pet Too Much?

Is it possible to love your pet too much? Barbra Streisand would probably say no. Then again, she had her dog cloned twice. In light of such excess, words like excess tend to lose their meaning.

There is also the question of indulgence. How much indulgence is too much indulgence? Should you buy your dog an ice cream cone when you stop by 31 Flavors? Should your dog’s bed cost more than your bed? One Chinese millionaire with more dollars than sense bought his dog two gold Apple Watches when that was a thing you could buy.

Then there is the area of pet fandom to consider. This is the type of thing that causes a person to want to show off their pet to anyone who will pay attention. Pet fans are like people with new babies. They show off pictures to everyone whether or not the person is interested. Here are a few guidelines for each category. This is a guide for sharing your life with dogs without letting your life go to the dogs altogether.

Be a Dog Lover, Not a Dog Fanatic

You know you are a fanatic when people who normally like being around you, stop wanting to be around you because of your obsession. They don’t want to get trapped in an elevator with the dog guy or the cat lady. They don’t want to see one more cute video or puppy picture. If you are that person everyone is avoiding, you have probably gone from dog lover to dog fanatic.

It is okay for you to wear your pet love on your sleeve, and chest and back for that matter, as long as it is a part of a t-shirt. A service like Pop Your Pup can provide you with a custom T in a variety of styles featuring your beloved pet. That way, no one is trapped in a conversation they don’t want to have. And the people who are really into it will know you are a good person with which to strike up a pet-related conversation.

Pets Are People, Not Humans

It is fine to say that pets are people too. That is actually the case in every way that matters. What pets are not is human. So while it is okay to indulge your pet if you have the money, you don’t want to forget that they are not human, and don’t need or want all the human trappings.

Your pet might enjoy a sloppy hamburger. But they are just as happy with a quality dog food or dog treat. They really don’t want to be dressed up in cute outfits. And unless they have some type of physical limitation, they don’t want or need a stroller. You can keep from going overboard by remembering that pets are people too, not humans.

You Can’t Be Too Careful

There are many things that can go wrong in life. Your dog is not immune to those disasters. So be sure to protect and prevent as much as possible. This is one of those areas where you shouldn’t worry about going overboard. Making sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag is table stakes. You can do even better.

Get a collar with a GPS tracker embedded so that if your dog slips out for a joy run, you will be able to track him down before anything bad happens. Don’t stop there. Have your dog microchipped. That way, if he slips free of the collar, there will still be a way authorities can identify him and notify you that he is safe.

If your dog travels in the car with you, go ahead and spring for the safety seats and seatbelts for canine passengers. When it comes to protecting those you love, go nuts.

There is nothing wrong with being a pet lover. But you may love your pet too much when you transition from lover to fanatic, and when you forget that pets are people, not human. But by all means, go as far as possible when it comes to keeping your family safe, including the 4-legged members.