Bella won't travel without pet-friendly accommodation for her dog and she's not alone with more Aussies treating their puppies like 'furchildren'
By Rachael Gavin|
Bella has had pets before, but none of them got the extra-special treatment that her dog Suki has become accustomed to.
The pair go everywhere together, so much that Bella's family flew from Tasmania and Queensland to the Central Coast to spend Christmas? with them because it was the only spot they could find dog-friendly accommodation.
She's not the only one. More dog owners than ever are treating their pets like humans according to research from Greencross Vets and PetBarn.
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?According to the findings 87 per cent of dog owners prefer or insist on dog-friendly options when travelling, 70 per cent take their dog to the cafe or pub and 28 per cent bring them to work instead of leaving them at home.
It's no surprise then that Bella agrees with the term 'furchild' and considers Suki to be one.
"She is almost two years old, and to me she is genuinely like having a two-year-old child (she is extremely needy and literally acts like a typical two-year-old)," she told 9Honey Pets.
"As a furchild, Suki comes everywhere with me. When I say she comes everywhere with me, I mean everywhere. She came with me on an interstate holiday to Tassie over Christmas in 2021, moved states with me from Melbourne to Sydney and comes on every holiday with me.
"She's quite the traveller จC now living it up in the big smoke (a fair way from her roots in regional country town in Victoria)."?
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Travelling with dogs isn't the only humanlike thing we're doing with our canine friends, 99 per cent of dog owners talk to their dogs like they would a human.
And 84 per cent buy their pooch treats with 38 per cent even buying them a coat, fashion accessory and a? harness with their name on it.
Bella does the same with Suki. "Basically, everything she owns is pink including her food and water bowls, treat jar, lead and collar. She has outfits for every occasion (winter coats, rain jackets, Christmas), and as many treats and toys I have space for in my apartment," she said.
The furchild concept also extends to the bedroom, where 59 per cent of pet owners are letting their dogs sleep on their bed despite? originally planning not to.
Suki sleeps on Bella's bed too, which she had hoped to avoid because her pooch is part Collie and sheds a lot?, but it's just part of life now.
"I've since given in and she has free reign จC her cuddles are too good to pass up! I've just had to invest in some good lint rollers," Bella said.
To Bella, treating Suki like a furchild makes it feel like "I've had a baby earlier than I thought I would". While this kind of love does mean there can be some stressors like separation anxiety, the happiness it brings Bella is worth it.
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?However, the dog lover admits she didn't always treat her pets this way. Growing up Bella's family dogs were left behind when they went on holiday, and didn't have as much human food shared with them.
But Suki has always been spoilt and that affection has led to a healthy and much-loved dog who had a tough start in life.
"When I first brought her home, she was terribly sick and undernourished so ever since she's been in my care, she's been spoilt. She is the most lovable dog I've ever met and known, and I think that's because she knows how much more of a furchild she is rather than just a pet (she's very intelligent)," Bella said.
It's thought that the rise in pet owners treating their dogs more like humans is linked to the spike in oxytocin, the love hormone, that occurs when people make eye contact with dogs.
The spike in pet ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in Australia's birth-rate during the same period has also led to suggestions that dogs are filling a gap as proxy children.
Whatever the reason, it seems our love for pets takes over when we get them home and both dog and owner are benefiting from it.
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