An animal behaviourist has warned dog owners against picking up their pets in public, saying the habit can reinforce anxious or attention-seeking behaviour and leave dogs overly reliant on their owners.
Speaking on the Branni Podcast, dog behaviourist Alan Peiro said: "Dogs are not children." He explained that constantly scooping a dog into your arms, especially when it is anxious, excited or demanding attention, can send the message that "they should be afraid of other dogs".
Socialisation concerns
Alan stressed that picking dogs up prevents proper socialisation. He said dogs "speak a different language to us" and must learn how to communicate with their own kind.
Addressing owners of small breeds, he said: "Those people with tiny dogs, such as Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Maltese, Italian Greyhounds, Miniature Pinschers... When you pick your dog up, you're sending the wrong message. What you're really telling the dog is that it should be afraid of other dogs; you're not letting it socialise."
Letting dogs meet
Alan advised owners to use judgement during encounters, asking whether the other dog is friendly before allowing a meeting. He said: "Obviously, if I see a dog coming towards me with bloodshot eyes, I'm not going to go near it. Of course, you have to use your judgement. But if I see someone coming towards me with their dog, the first thing I'll do is ask: 'Does your dog get on well with other dogs?' If the answer is yes, I'll let them meet because dogs need to socialise."
During these encounters, he suggested watching the dogs' body language closely and letting them handle the situation themselves, as this teaches vital social lessons. He noted that dogs may react to unwanted sniffing with a snap or warning nip, which is simply their way of saying "No" and is nothing to worry about.
Setting boundaries at home
Alan warned that overprotecting dogs and treating them like children, such as carrying them in handbags or pushing them in prams, "actually harms the dog" and can lead to "psychological problems".
To build confidence and independence, he recommended "setting boundaries from when they're puppies" and ensuring the dog knows "what the social order is at home". This could include avoiding feeding the dog from the dinner table. He added: "Teach good behaviour and set limits for the dog inside the house."
