[ansel12]

It appears Trig sees the dog as an “inanimate object” rather than a flesh and blood dog that could be hurt.

Not at all, that is why most of us see this as sweet and warm, they clearly love each other.

[Altariel]

Don’t confuse a dog’s tolerance of a child’s bad behavior with a dog’s love for a child who treats it well.

Dogs may permit a child to take food from their bowl, pull ears, stand or ride on them, hug them, hit them or kick them—that does not imply that these behaviors are okay, simply that the dog is waiting for the human parent to correct the erring “pup” who is clearly ignorant of appropriate canine behavior; the same way that a houseguest may ignore a child’s rudeness with the expectation that the parents will correct the child.