06/03/2025
The Parallel Path: Raising Dogs and Raising Children
We don’t usually say it out loud, but here it is:
Raising a dog is a lot like raising a child.
No, dogs aren’t human. And no, kids aren’t pets. But at a foundational level—mentally, emotionally, and socially—the needs of dogs and children are astonishingly similar.
They both need:
Love – the kind that is constant, not conditional
Structure – the rules and routines that create safety
Nurture – care, attention, and emotional support
Guidance – someone to show them the way forward
Boundaries – limits that protect them from harm
Discipline – not punishment, but direction and accountability
Understanding – the ability to be seen and heard
Patience – especially when growth is slow or difficult
Time – because maturity isn’t rushed; it’s developed
The Neuroscience of Development
Developmentally, a dog's mind functions similarly to that of a two- to three-year-old human child (Hare & Woods, 2013). They:
Experience basic emotions like joy, fear, excitement, and frustration.
Understand basic logic and cause-effect relationships.
Can learn hundreds of words, associate tone and gesture with meaning, and even exhibit problem-solving and empathy.
Like young children, dogs thrive in environments where expectations are clear, feedback is consistent, and love is unconditional—but boundaries are firm. Inconsistent rules confuse both kids and dogs. Over-permissiveness creates entitlement. Over-discipline breeds fear.
Both need a balance of compassion and consequence.
