21/03/2024
So many owners view their dog’s happiness through an extremely superficial lens. They assume that complete freedom, never ending affection, and just “letting a dog be a dog” is what will make their dogs happy.
What they get are anxious, stressed out, chaotic, insecure, overwhelmed scaredy-cats, or disrespectful, pushy, bratty, boundary setting tyrants… and sometimes both all in one.
The irony is that what makes a dog good—structure, rules, accountability—is what also makes a dog happy. Having predictable and consistent rules; having someone to guide you towards the best, most healthy choices and behaviors, and steer you away from the negative and unhealthy; having someone clearly and believably in charge who ensures a chaotic world is kept as ordered as possible—not only makes for a good dog, but also a happy one.
Unfortunately, far too many owners view that which makes a dog good as something oppressive, unpleasant, and even mean. Not to mention unsatisfying for their own selfish desires.
And thus a simple confusion about reality, priorities, and what constitutes a healthy love ensures these owners get neither a good dog nor a happy dog.
PS, of course affection, play, and exercise are also necessary ingredients to the happy/good dog recipe, but you almost certainly don’t need reminders about these.
