As part of my ongoing education, I attend monthly webinars that explore various topics related to behavior and training. This month’s discussion centered around two critical questions:
- Are we asking too much of our pets?
- What specific environments or concepts can jeopardize a pet’s well-being?
Interestingly, this topic aligns with my private practice and personal experiences, where I focus on ensuring that dogs are not burdened by our expectations of what they “should” do or be.
Misunderstanding Our Dogs’ Needs
Many people have good intentions but are often uninformed about the true nature of dogs. Consider why people decide to adopt or purchase a dog:
- Is it because they hope the pet will fulfill a particular need?
- What happens when we view our pets as children or replacements for human children?
Balancing Needs and Well-being
These are important questions to ponder. While there is nothing wrong with welcoming a pet into our family to meet some of our needs—true of any relationship—we must consider the impact of our needs on our dogs’ daily lives.
Examples from Practice
- Training Expectations: A potential client once emailed me, stating his dog “needs to learn to sit and stay” and “needs to come when called.” While I understood his intentions, it highlighted how we often view pets as extensions of our wishes, rather than acknowledging their own needs and wants.
- Social Expectations: We expect our dogs to:
- Like everyone and be polite with every person we engage with.
- Be comfortable with anyone reaching out to pet them, ignoring their need for personal space.
- Play nicely with all dogs we introduce them to, and never start fights, because “good dogs don’t fight.”
- Have a strong and consistent work ethic, regardless of the environment, their feelings, or their energy levels.
Reflecting on Our Expectations
We have become accustomed to dogs being there for us no matter what. However, we must ask ourselves: Are we asking too much of our dogs?