If I sound judgemental – tough.
I have had too many people moaning lately about how their dog
is being an inconvenience, and I am done being friendly about it.
I am not talking about if you are ill and can't help not being 100% for a few days. That is different.
I am not talking about if you have genuine struggles and are willing to seek help – that actually makes you a good human for your dog, and I would love to work with you to help you resolve this.
But, instead, I am talking of people who ignore their dog day in, day out.
Who expect them to lay quietly, sleep, eat, sleep and never
so much as bark in between, being a good little robot while their human flits about doing whatever humans
do.
Who forget that a little fluffy person has been looking
forward to being with them all day.
The only attention these dogs get is when they are being
told to go and lay down, be quiet, get down, hurry up, and so on. What fun is
that in life?
Don't ignore your dog.
It's not complicated.
You wouldn't routinely ignore your child. Your dog has most
of the same feelings and emotions as a two to a three-year-old child, and if
you try ignoring one of those for too long, then you are going to find yourself
regretting it reasonably quickly.
There is a saying. "Your dog is part of your life, but you
are your dog's whole life". And you are. Imagine if the love of your life
couldn't be bothered anymore, no matter what you say or do. Humans get very
upset when it is done to them. What makes them think their dog feels any differently?
Too many people play with their new dog or puppy, the novelty
wears off, and then they are bored of their dog. Or they have got new hours at
work, or something in life has changed slightly, and now they have less time
for their dog.
Their living, breathing, thinking, feeling dog.
Their dog, who spends all their time wishing their human still
played with them, still got their tuggy toys out, still gave them belly rubs
and took them to lovely places and rolled around on the floor playing kissy-face
or whatever they used to enjoy doing.
And then these same people wonder why their dogs start to
display "problem" behaviours when they are bored.
And yes – I get that you have been to work and you are tired.
That the kids played up, and it's been a long day. Guess what? It's been a long
day for your dog, too, sitting around bored and missing you… and 15 minutes of
your time spent playing, having fun and showing them you care might do you both
some good.
You made a commitment when you got your dog to look after
them, love them and be their human. Just because you have had a shit day or
your situation has changed slightly does not mean that you should emotionally
neglect your dog.
And quite frankly, some enrichment, a walk or even just 20 mins playing with
the ball down the garden will more than likely mean they are happy enough to
let you have a rest afterwards anyway. So why not spend that time curled up on
the sofa with them instead of telling them to get down?
After all – you are their human, and any time spent with you
brings them great joy.
Dogs are for life, not just for Christmas and Lockdowns.
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