PetHealth

FINDYOUR PETPARENTING STYLE

The connection is clear. Much like children, pets need structure, disciplineandaffection for healthy development. These parallels are backed by science, with research showing pet owners and parents adopt similar child-rearing techniques. “A lot of the principles of parenting are very similar whether they have 2 or 4 legs,” Ivory Coat vet Dr AngusHayes explains. Parenting approaches like helicopter, positive, free-range, tiger and attachment parenting are familiar for raising kids, but what’s the best way to raise a pet? We talked to Dr Hayes about the pros and cons of popular pet parenting styles.

Cons: If your attachment to a pet becomes too strong, it interferes with your ability to do other important things in life like working, travelling and spending time with friends. “Creating boundaries for eating, sleeping and walking will help your pet understand what is acceptable and what is not,” Dr Hayes says. Not feeding your pet at the dinner table or setting up a secure sleeping area will teach your pet their place.

Owner profile: You rarely leave the house without your pet. At the park, you’d rather run alongside your dog than let them roam free. When you’re apart, you check in via the dog cam to make sure they’re doing okay without you. THE HELICOPTER

Pros: For some pets, this style of parenting is a

good thing. A study from UC Berkeley found that helicopter parenting is associated with higher affection levels in owners that many needier pets thrive on. Dr Hayes says these kinds of close bonds can increase pets’ respect for their owners, making them more likely to follow commands.

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