Why Are More People Treating Dogs Like Children?

New research shows this isn’t just a passing trend, but a complex social phenomenon tied to demographic shifts – declining birth rates, changing family structures, and shrinking kinship networks.

Dogs possess traits that make it easy to assign them a “child-like” role:

– baby schema features (big eyes, rounded face)

– strong attachment

– high communication abilities

– constant dependence on the caregiver

There’s growing talk of “dog parenting styles” – authoritative, authoritarian, permissive – mirroring human child-rearing styles. And just like with kids, these approaches can shape a dog’s development.

But the study also highlights key differences.

Dogs don’t grow up and move out. They live shorter lives, and their biological needs aren’t human ones. Over-anthropomorphizing can cause real problems – behaviorally and medically.

Example? Emotion-driven preference for “cute” breeds like brachycephalics, despite their chronic health issues.

Importantly, not everyone treats their dog like a child for the same reason.

For some, it’s a substitute for parenthood. For others, it fills a social or emotional gap. Motivations vary and are shaped by broader cultural and societal context.

Understanding these mechanisms helps us view the human–dog relationship more realistically – without idealizing it, but also without dismissing the deep emotional meaning it holds for many.

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Gillet, L., & Kubinyi, E. (2025). From domestic animal to fur baby: The shifting perception of dogs in Western societies. European Psychologist. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000552