Opinion: Is Treating Our Dogs Like Children Making Them Miserable?

Dogs have come a long way from the farmyards, porches, and backyards of the past. In just a few short decades, our relationship with dogs has shifted dramatically from outdoor companions with loads of freedom to “fur-babies” living inside our homes.

On the surface, starting to treat our dogs like family seems like a life upgrade. Inside, dogs get climate control, access to comfy beds, and frequent snuggles. But are we actually making our dogs happier… or are we unintentionally making them miserable?

Note: this is an opinion piece written through the lens of applied ethology, dog behavior, and canine enrichment.

As a Licensed Family Dog Mediator and canine enrichment specialist, I look at these questions through a lens that is different than most pet owners. I look at the natural instincts of dogs, if they are able to fulfill these needs and how often, and how the overall behavior and “personality” of our dogs may be affected by a lack of opportunity to express these needs.

Dogs are a distinct species with their own evolutionary history, instincts, and needs, not tiny humans in fur coats. The truth is that, sometimes, the more we treat them like children, the more we limit their ability to thrive as dogs.

Here’s why.

Dogs of the Past: More Freedom = More Dogging

If you grew up in the 60s, 70s, or even early 80s, you probably remember that most family dogs spent the majority of their time outdoors. Mine sure did in the 70s. Dogs lounged in backyards, roamed the neighborhood with kids, and lived far less supervised lives.

Was this life risk-free? Not at all. Without supervision, and with free access to our modern world, more dogs got lost and were injured.

But here’s what those dogs did have:

• Autonomy – They made their own daily choices about where to go, what to sniff, and when to rest.
• Natural enrichment – Dogs got to practice their species-specific behaviors every single day (digging, foraging, chasing critters, barking whenever they felt like it).
• Physical outlets – When they had excess energy they could “release” it naturally by running with kids, roaming fields, and exploring neighborhoods.

In many ways, this lifestyle gave dogs what they craved most: the chance to “be dogs.”

When Dogs Moved Indoors

Starting in the 1980s and 1990s, attitudes began to shift. More people saw dogs as family members, not just pets, and the idea of leaving them outside all day started to feel wrong. If we would be miserable out there alone, surely our dogs must be too, right?

The problem is that this reasoning was human-centric. We assumed dogs felt the way we would feel, instead of considering their actual welfare needs.

Yes, indoor life meant climate control, safety from cars, and more daily human interaction. But it also meant:

• Less stimulation – Four walls and a fenced backyard don’t compare to a neighborhood full of scents and adventures.
• Less autonomy – Dogs lost much of their ability to make choices about their day.
• More boredom and frustration – Without outlets, natural instincts (like chewing, digging, or barking) became “problem behaviors” and anxiety increased.

Not surprisingly, the rise of the indoor dog paralleled the boom in dog trainers, behaviorists, and the pet industry’s endless gadgets designed to “fix” those issues.

The Modern Dog: More Anxious Than Ever

Fast forward to today, and it’s common for dogs to struggle with:

• Anxiety
• Excessive barking
• Reactivity toward other dogs or people
• Destructive chewing
• Noise phobias

Is this just coincidence? Maybe not.

Dogs who are under-stimulated and confined for long periods often develop frustration and anxiety. Their instincts don’t disappear just because they live in a house. They find other, often inappropriate to us, ways to express them instead.

Leaving Dogs Outside Became “Taboo”, But Should It Be?

Admit online today that your Dachshund spends most of their time outside, and you’ll likely be judged – or even shamed. I know because my initial gut reaction used to be anger or disgust when I saw posts like that.

I still 100% believe my dog’s place is in my home, but my perspective has changed over the last few years as my eyes have been opened.

In the 70s and early 80s, in both tract housing and housing projects where I lived, dogs regularly spent hours outside. Some even roamed freely with the neighborhood kids. And for the most part, those dogs were content.

Today, of course, there are real concerns: traffic, neighbors, theft, and legal liability. But part of our resistance comes from over-humanizing dogs. We assume that because we wouldn’t want to be outside all day, our dogs don’t either.

Yet for a dog, fresh air, freedom to sniff, and natural activity may be far more enriching than lounging on the couch. Now that I see the potential connection between dogs spending time indoors in under-stimulating environments all day, and the increase in anxiety, reactivity, and behavior issues, I can’t unsee it.

When “Fur Baby” Becomes a Problem

Let’s be honest: I call my dogs my “kids,” and I love them like family. Many of us do. That bond is beautiful – but problems arise when we forget that dogs are not human children.

Dogs have:

• Different instincts – Digging, barking, chewing, and chasing are normal behaviors, not bad habits.
• Different communication – Growling isn’t “naughty,” it’s a dog trying to communicate with us the only way they are able to.
• Different needs – Dogs need structure, boundaries, and outlets for their energy, not total permissiveness.

Overprotective parenting – where owners treat their dogs like breakable glass – can actually backfire. Ignoring a dog’s instincts doesn’t make them disappear. Being forced to suppress their dog-ness can make life frustrating for them (and sometimes for us).

Dachshunds: The Bubble-Wrap Breed

One of the most common things I see in the Dachshund community is that many owners, out of general fear or the belief that Dachshunds are fragile, wrap their Doxies in metaphorical bubble wrap. They’re afraid to let them dig, jump, or fulfill their exercise requirements.

I understand the fear – I’ve been there myself. But life is about weighing risk versus benefit. No matter how careful we are, we can’t eliminate every danger. In fact, the large majority of Dachshund back issues care caused by an inherited genetic disease that we can’t control anyway.

Protecting Dachshunds too much may actually harm their welfare, leaving them anxious, under-stimulated, and unhappy. While our dogs don’t need reckless freedom, they do need meaningful freedom – the chance to use their noses, bodies, and brains in safe but satisfying ways.

Three of the most common Dachshund behavior issues are going potty indoors, leash reactivity, and excessive barking. All of those can be heavily influenced by anxiety.

Since so many Dachshunds live protected lives indoors, I think the big question is, “Are these behaviors just ‘what Dachshunds do’ or a result of an enrichment deficit?“

So You’re Saying Our Dachshunds Should Live Outdoors?

No, to be clear, I am not saying that we should go back to letting all dogs live outside.

However, I am suggesting we consider the freedom and benefits that dogs were afforded when they lived outside. By providing similar opportunities regularly, we can create more fulfilling lives for our Dachshunds.

The Pendulum Is Swinging Back

Thankfully, I see a change happening. Trainers, behaviorists, and pet parents are starting to acknowledge what I’ve always believed: dogs need to be dogs.

That’s why I became a Licensed Family Dog Mediator and certified canine enrichment technician. The the L.E.G.S. model that I studied in the Family Dog Mediator course validated what I observed growing up on an urban farm:

• Chickens are calmer when they get to scratch and peck.
• Dogs relax indoors when they’ve had a chance to run, sniff, and explore outdoors.
• Animals of all kinds thrive when their natural behaviors are honored, not suppressed.

The pendulum may have swung too far toward over-protection, but I’m hopeful it will swing back toward balance – where dogs are treated like family, and given the freedom to live as dogs. In fact, I’m hearing a lot of talk about this idea among my dog trainer and behaviorist friends already.

Enrichment Options Are Increasing

Honestly, if dogs had their way, they would have more opportunities to fulfill their natural drives all day, but they live in our world by our rules so they can’t.

I’m extremely happy that enrichment for dogs has started to become mainstream. Animal behaviorists have been using the practice to improve the lives of captive animals in zoos for decades.

Unfortunately, most people’s understanding of enrichment is one dimensional. If you enter the term “canine enrichment” into a search engine, you’ll be met with dozens of brands trying to sell you the same lick mat and treat toy. You’ll see a whole page of articles about “how to enrich your dog”, but almost all of those articles regurgitate the same top 10 list.

But here is the problem: Enrichment isn’t an item or activity, it’s an outcome. Your dog decides what is enriching. If there isn’t a measurable improvement in a dog’s physical or mental wellbeing, then it wasn’t enrichment.

One formal definition of enrichment is: A stimuli or activity that allows animals to demonstrate their species-typical behavior (and breed specific behavior), gives them an opportunity to exercise control over their environment, and enhances their wellbeing.

We need to expand our understanding of enrichment for dogs and expand our repertoire of activities and skills. We need to allow our dogs more freedom to make their own choices, even if less micromanagement does slightly increase the risk that something could go wrong.

Final Thoughts: Are We Making Dogs Miserable?

The other day, I posted a video of my Dachshund Summit chewing on a pinecone. A few people either explicitly stated, or implied, that letting her do that was dangerous.

Summit loves to chew pinecones. The first time she was in nature at 10 weeks old (yes, with my vet’s approval, I let her outside on the ground before her vaccinations were complete), one of the first thing she did was grab the nearest pinecone and start shredding it.

I watched to make sure she didn’t swallow the pieces. She’s never swallowed big chunks. Doe she ingest some small, probably hard and pointy pieces? Likely. But if she does, they just pass through her digestive system without issue.

I know that someday that may not be true, but to me, it’s a small risk… and it’s totally worth it to see the joy the activity brings her. As a bonus, chewing can help keep her teeth clean!

Treating dogs like children isn’t inherently making them miserable. Loving your dog like family isn’t the problem. The problem comes when we forget that dogs are not people.

To improve their welfare, we need to:

• Provide guidance and structure (not let them get away with misbehaving because it’s cute… well, at least not all of the time).
• Offer safe outlets for natural behaviors.
• Acknowledge that risk can’t be eliminated, but enrichment is worth it.

If we do these things, we may even start to see anxiety and problem behaviors decrease over time. Not just in our own dogs, but in the pet dog population as a whole. And dogs that are calm and well adjusted are a joy to live with!