It can be as natural to want to spoil your pet as to spoil your children. After all, it’s a demonstration of the depth of your love and affection that has you showering abundance upon your furry, four legged creature. As a dog or cat becomes as close as a child, interacting with you each day, they can fulfill a need which makes you feel good – that of constant companion. Unlike a child that might voice its thoughts and offer up verbal displeasure at any action that you’ve taken, a pet can appear to always be happy with your decisions. That can make a pet owner feel good. And that’s something that pets do exceedingly well – make the people whose lives they touch, feel good.

As a reward for that good feeling created, some people tend to overcompensate by being excessively interested in their pet. This leads to pet owners having conversations with their pets, feeding them lavishly and frequently – often to the point of excessive weight gain – and taking them along to any place that they visit. While the owner is used to this behavior and obviously approves of it, others may find it trite. Spoiling a pet is an indulgence, and should be more carefully considered. While it may appear to be a loving act, it simultaneously creates a level of dependence that may be considered unhealthy.

Both the pet and the owner may become unhealthily attached to the other in cases where they spend too much time next to one another. The pet is dependent for food and other necessary living requirements, but the human owner may find that they become dependent upon the fuzzy creature for solace and companionship. This can occur to such an extent that interpersonal relationships with other people take on a secondary importance. Instead of spoiling your pet, try to moderate your affections.