Pets and Their People Blog

by Don Hanson

How we describe our relationship with our dogs matters because, consciously or subconsciously, it affects how we treat them.

So, is ‘pet parent’ an appropriate description of our role in our dogs’ lives? While some pet care professionals and other people cringe at the term, I believe it is an accurate description, demonstrating that our dogs are part of our family.

While in the US, the law usually tells us our dogs are nothing more than property (like the sofa in your living room), the term “pet parent” implies we have a much greater responsibility to our dogs.

However, we also need to understand that a human child and a dog are, of course, two different species, with very different physical and emotional needs and methods of communicating and learning.

There is at least one big difference between the development of a human child and a dog that we must never forget. Most children will typically develop into responsible adults. Yet, neuroscientists agree that, at best, dogs usually grow to be cognitively and emotionally equivalent to a 2—to 2.5-year-old child. A toddler requires a great deal of nurturing care during this period; however, your dog will need that same level of care for their entire life. We should understand and be willing and able to make that commitment.

Understanding Dogs’ Unique Needs

Dogs are not humans and they have particular species needs that must be met. They have developmental schedules with timelines, and they communicate very differently. However, they can easily see the difference between a friendly and angry human face and detect our emotions from our scent.

Dogs, like children, can also form powerful attachment bonds to the humans in their family. Interestingly, brain imaging studies of people and their dogs have indicated increased levels of the hormone oxytocin in both human and dog brains when the two species share positive interactions. This is the same hormone responsible for the bonding between an adult human and a human child.

While dogs learn similarly to humans in many ways, we must understand the fundamentals of training that apply to a dog. While you can obtain this knowledge online and from books, be aware that many of those sources may be outdated and/or inaccurate. The best way to learn what you need to know is from an accredited Professional Canine Trainer (PCT) or Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC).

Physical Health and Well-Being

As pet parents or guardians, we must ensure our dogs have adequate and appropriate food and water, a comfortable place to live free from inclement weather, and proper space for their needs.

They must also have adequate physical exercise that they enjoy and that maintains their physical fitness. (Dogs must be leashed as necessary and humanely prevented from running off into harm’s way.)

When our dogs are sick or in pain, we need to be prepared to take them to the veterinarian as necessary.

Emotional and Mental Health and Well-Being

We need to protect our dog from emotional trauma as well as physical harm. Dogs are sentient beings, and to thrive, they must have choices and the right to consent to how others interact with them. That includes other people as well as other pets. Not all dogs will do well with other pets, and that’s okay.

Since we control so much of our dogs’ lives, we must provide them with appropriate mental enrichment and choices whenever possible. Walks should be about rambling opportunities to sniff and not about walking the same boring route as fast as possible every day.

A Sacred Role

Since initially starting to write this post in June of 2025, I have seen several memes on Facebook citing the Hawaiian word “Kahu” or “Ka-Hu” in reference to a person’s relationship to their pet. For example:

“The word Kahu has a deep meaning and is defined as the sacred role of a guardian, protector, steward, or honored attendant. Essentially, someone entrusted with the safe keeping of something precious – something cherished. What a Kahu protects is not their property. What they protect is a part of their soul.”

– from Facebook

While I could find no direct evidence that Hawaiian culture has traditionally used the word Kahu in place of “dog owner” or “pet parent,” the concept of a person being a steward, rather than the owner, of an animal is found in many Pacific Islander cultures, and I do agree with this sentiment.

If you consider your dog a beloved family member, and I sincerely hope that you do, please treat them with the same care as you would a human toddler throughout their entire life.

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About the Author

Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop and the founder of ForceFreePets.com, an online educational resource for people with dogs and cats. He is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB) and a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP).

A Pet Professional Guild (PPG) member, Don serves on the Board of Directors and Steering Committee and chairs the Advocacy Task Force and Shock-Free Coalition. He is also a founding director of Pet Industry Advocacy International (PIAI).

The opinions in this article are those of Don Hanson.

©2026, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved