Disobedient pets subjected to sign ridicule in latest internet craze
Disobedient dog owners have hit upon a novel means of exacting revenge upon their canine mischief makers through so-called dog shaming – the practice of photographing their pets alongside a sign communicating their poor behaviour to the world.
An internet hit the practice has been criticised by vets for portraying the animals in a state of fear and anxiety with experts warning that the trend risks undermining dogs ‘dignity’ by ‘mocking’ them.
Caroline Cisko, secretary of The kennel Club, said: “The idea of shaming a dog is daft. Dogs don’t like having the mickey taken out of them and can undoubtedly plug into that. You wouldn’t mock your family or your friends like this, so why your dog?
"It might be a bit of fun when it is kept at a reasonable level, but people take them too far and it stops being funny for the dog. Dogs have a level of dignity and we don’t want to undermine that. They are meant to be a companion, not a joke.”
Such sentiments haven’t deterred a growing number of dog shamers however, with a website, Twitter profile and even a book now dedicated to the subject.
The warnings come after a study by Drontal, the veterinary treatment manufacturer, which found that many owners consistently misinterpret 'fear' as 'guilt'.