Does Your Dog Have A Favorite Person?

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftips

Many dogs have a member of their human family they regard as their favorite person. It would seem to make sense, that for these dogs, that person would be the one who feeds them the most and also gives them the most attention.

But this is not always the case.

Actually there are several things that can come into play that can influence your dog’s choice of his favorite person.

One – Breed

Some breeds tend to be more “one person dogs” than others. These include English Bulldogs, Collies, Beagles, Boxers, French Bulldogs, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and German Shepherds.

Two – Early Socialization

Puppies have very receptive neurological systems from birth to six months, so who they have positive interactions during this phase of their lives will influence them greatly. If a young woman adopts an older dog and that dog was raised by a single older male for the first six months of their life, the dog could have problems bonding with females. But even if this is the case, all is not lost. Socialization can begin at any age, but takes patience and time with adult dogs.

Three – An Exception

Even if a person is the primary caregiver for the dog, doing most of the feeding and walking, this may not be the person with whom the dog bonds. This is especially true if another person is the one that shows the dog the most affection and spends the most time with her. Quality of attention is important as well. A twenty minute walk is not as good as twenty minutes of interactive play in terms of bonding.

Want To Become Your Dog’s Favorite Person?

Plan to spend at least thirty minutes a day with your dog engaging in interactive play, ideally an activity such as fetch or tug, where you are both working together.

By Ellen Britt

Dr. Ellen Britt has loved dogs since she was a child. She is particularly fond of the Northern breeds, especially Alaskan Malamutes. Ellen worked as a PA in Emergency and Occupational Medicine for two decades and holds a doctorate (Ed.D.) in biology.