How To Deal With Your Dog’s crush
Puppy love, sometimes referred to as a crush, is a non-sexual term for mild feelings of mild romantic or platonic affection, normally felt during early childhood and early adolescence, usually 4 to 14 year old. It’s named for the similarity to an adult love, worshipful affection which can be felt by an adult dog toward its puppy. Many puppies will develop a crush on their owner. A puppy in love will want to please his or her owner. The best time to start a crush is when your puppy is still a puppy!
Most crushes are formed because of physical attraction. We often feel like we’re being loved when we are attractive to another individual. This isn’t always the case, but it is a common basis for forming crushes. Dogs are attracted to individuals they view as being of a similar “type”. This is why crushes often develop on dogs that are overweight, have long hair, big ears, are well-groomed, and wear designer clothing.
Dogs that are separated from their owner (in a situation where both dogs will stay indoors most of the time) and/or live with a single parent that leaves them with no other humans will often develop a romantic crush. These are typically the more protective dogs and develop a crush toward animals, especially those with large appetites. While this isn’t considered a crush per se, it’s a form of insecurity. And it’s very important to work with your veterinarian to make sure that the puppy doesn’t get overconfident and get out of control.
Your pet may also be trying to impress a special person in their life. If you have a special someone in your life, you may find that your new puppy becomes very attached to them and develops a crush. Again, this is not considered a crush per se, but more like a special friendship. If this is happening to you and your special someone, work with your vet to help your new dog understand and meet their needs, whether it’s having their own space, a new caregiver, or an adequate amount of human contact. In the long run, you’ll find that your new puppy feels much more confident and loved when given the opportunity to meet their special friends.
Sometimes, crushes can be a direct result of the type of relationship you’ve got going on. Although all dogs enjoy being around the same type of person, some do enjoy being around more sensitive, specialized individuals such as other dogs. If you and your best friend are best friends, then your dog likely has a crush on you. However, if you’re dating someone and your dog views you as their best friend, that’s going to cause your dog to feel a certain form of anxiety and/or depression.
It’s important to keep in mind that crushes usually only last a short time. In the vast majority of cases, crushes fade out by the time the dog reaches adulthood. However, if your crush remains, you have a responsibility to talk to them. Often, a crush can lead to other romantic feelings, such as infatuation, which can be more difficult to deal with. Be patient and understand that a crush is just a temporary feeling and that your dog will eventually get over it.