‘Spare Human Syndrome’ causing havoc among dog owners
Have you ever heard of ‘Substitute Person Syndrome’?
Apparently, it’s the feeling that your dog loves your partner more than you do – and while 56% of people say they take a backseat to their dog’s affection, according to new research, more than 80% say it’s the dog who gives them dinner.
The surgery was carried out by fresh dog food brand Butternut Box, and dog expert and animal behaviorist Caroline Clark said it was down to “behavioral science”.
He said: “It is unimaginable if a dog has a favorite person. This is learned, reinforced and in many cases completely correctable.
“The problem is that most patients go down the wrong path towards recovery.”
The results of the study show that dog owners misread their pets’ signals, mistakenly ignoring behavioral cues and not understanding what their dogs really want.
One in five dog owners say Substitute Human Syndrome also causes controversy.
Men seem to suffer the most; More than 60 percent say they feel like spare parts, compared to 56 percent of women.
And almost a quarter of men surveyed admitted to spending up to £100 to win over their dog, while one in 10 parted ways with £200.
While 51% of dog owners believe that the person who feeds the dog the most will be their favorite, Caroline also emphasized the importance of feeding the pet quality food.
“Dogs’ behavior is not much different from humans, and their relationship with food is just like ours. Eating is an emotional experience, and our psychology connects emotions to sensory stimuli.”
“Food for dogs helps the body relax and process nutrients by naturally stimulating the release of oxytocin, known as the love hormone. Dogs will associate the individual with the good feeling that food brings.
“So if the food you serve every day is highly processed and unremarkable, that moment of happiness won’t be there. Improve the experience of mealtimes and improve your dog’s relationship with the person providing them.”
Butternut Box Managing Director Leeneshwari Makhijani added: “No one wants to feel second best in their own home, especially when it comes to their dog.
“A dog who really looks forward to mealtimes is a dog who associates that excitement with the person holding the bowl. Fresh food that smells incredible and tastes even better may be just the thing to put you over the top.”
