People say that spoiling a dog will make them misbehave. Like letting them on the furniture. Giving them scraps of food. Treating your dog like a human.

But scientific evidence shows that this isn't true

• No relationship between spoiling activities and behavioral problems.

  Researchers surveyed owners about “spoiling activities” such as allowing their dogs on the furniture, giving them table scraps, and celebrating their birthdays. The result? There was no difference in the number of behavioral problems reported between owners who spoil their dogs and owners who NEVER spoil their dogs.

• Owners with secure attachments have well-adjusted dogs.

  Most behavioral experts agree that owner attitude and personality are major contributors to behavior problems in dogs. Scientists found that insecure-avoidant owners were associated with dogs with separation anxiety and associated behavioral problems.

  Insecure-avoidant owners tend to ignore or dismiss when their dog is in distress because they don't want to spoil them. Dogs who are refused attention and comfort learn that they can’t depend on their owners.

• Positive punishment techniques are related to behavioral problems.

  A variety of studies has pointed to an association between behavioral problems and punishment techniques. Blackwell et. al., (2008) found that problematic behaviors such as aggression and attention-seeking were more common in dogs whose owners used more positive punishment techniques. Not spoiling!

A dog is a life-long companion. They provide you with unconditional love and comfort. They deserved to be spoiled once in a while.