Is Love Enough? Rethinking What It Means to Truly Care for Our Dogs
I have a bone to pick with many rescue organizations that equate a good home for a dog purely with love. Yes, really. This raises an important question:
💡 How does our love for dogs translate into our daily lives with them?
Let me explain. Not long ago, I worked with a client who had a fearful dog. He reassured me that his dog would get plenty of love—as if love alone could erase deep-seated fear. The dog was terrified of most people and struggled with interactions, except for a select few he trusted.
Weeks later, the same client became frustrated with the slow progress of the behavior modification plan we had in place. Without consulting me, he decided to use a shock collar on his small dog—zapping him whenever he growled or barked at visitors. His reasoning? He couldn’t risk the liability of a bite.
Now, I understand the concern. No one wants their dog to bite someone, and legal risks are real. But is this love? I don’t think so.
Are We Loving Our Dogs—Or Ourselves?
Too often, people—including many rescue organizations—define love by how we feel about our dogs. We enjoy their companionship, the fun they bring into our lives, and the comfort they provide. But is that love for the dog, or is it love for how they make us feel?
The truth is, loving a dog isn’t just about affection—it’s about responsibility. It’s about:
✔️ Understanding their needs, not just fulfilling our own.
✔️ Making decisions based on their well-being, not just our fears or convenience.
✔️ Providing structure, safety, and respect, even when it requires patience.
Love in Action: A Relationship, Not a One-Way Street
A true relationship with a dog is much like raising a small child—we must anticipate their needs and act in their best interest. Other times, it’s more like a partnership, where both parties have specific needs and wants. And while dogs aren’t negotiating with us the way a human partner would (😂), they do communicate their needs in their own way.
Love, when properly translated, means:
🐾 Listening to our dogs, understanding their fears and desires.
🐾 Providing proper training instead of resorting to quick fixes.
🐾 Being patient when progress takes time.
🐾 Recognizing that their world is shaped by our choices.
In reality, many of us aren’t truly loving our dogs—we’re loving the idea of them. And sometimes, without realizing it, we make choices that prioritize our needs over theirs.
Final Thought: Love Is Not Just a Feeling—It’s an Action
If we truly love our dogs, we must ask ourselves: Are our actions reflecting their best interest, or just our own emotions and limitations? Love alone isn’t enough—what truly matters is how we express it through knowledge, patience, and respect.
What do you think? Have you seen love misunderstood when it comes to dogs? Drop your thoughts below! ⬇️🐕❤️