2026-06-11 12:01:11
Ever heard of ‘Spare Human Syndrome’?
Apparently, it’s the feeling that your dog loves your partner more than you – and 56% of people in new research saying that they play second fiddle to their other half in their dog’s affections, despite more than 80% saying they’re the one who gives the dog their dinner.
The surgery was conducted by fresh dog food brand Butternut Box, with canine expert and animal behaviour expert Caroline Clark saying it’s down to “behavioural science”.
She said: “Whether a dog has a favourite human is not imagined. It is learned, reinforced and, in many cases, entirely fixable.
“The problem is that most sufferers are going about recovery the wrong way.”
The results of the research suggest that dog owners are misreading their pet’s signals – accidentally ignoring their behavioural cues and not understanding what their dog actually wants.
Spare Human Syndrome is also responsible for causing arguments too, say one in 5 dog owners.
Men seem to suffer the most, with over 60 per cent saying they feel like the spare part compared to 56 per cent of women.
And nearly a quarter of men questioned admitted to spending up to £100 to try and win over their dogs, with one in 10 parting ways with £200.
With 51% of dog owners believing the person who feeds the dog the most becomes its favourite, Caroline stressed the importance of feeding the pet quality food too.
She said: “Canine behaviour is not too dissimilar to that of humans, and their relationship to food is just like ours. Eating is an emotive experience and our psychology attaches feelings to the sensory stimulant.
“For dogs, food naturally stimulates the release of oxytocin, commonly known as the love hormone, helping the body relax and process nutrients. Dogs will associate the individual with the good feeling food brings.
“So if the food you are serving every day is ultra-processed and unremarkable, that moment of joy simply isn’t there. Improve the experience of mealtimes and you improve the association your dog has with the person providing them.”
Leeneshwari Makhijani, Managing Director at Butternut Box, added: “Nobody wants to feel second best in their own home, especially when it comes to their dog.
“A dog that genuinely looks forward to mealtimes is a dog that associates that excitement with the person holding the bowl. Fresh food that smells incredible and tastes even better might just be the thing that gets you to the top spot.”
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