Why Did You Want A Dog?

So you wanted a dog … Many people want a dog for the companionship and love, to have a walking buddy or maybe to feel good about “rescuing” something.

Not all dog owners consciously take advantage of these benefits once they actually have the dog, though.

It’s common for a person to become a dog owner and then fail to appreciate his dog or remember why he wanted a dog in the first place. Like everything else in life, caring for the dog becomes just another thoughtless task. Or maybe even a dreaded task.

You wanted a dog, so you got one, but nothing really changed. You might regret getting the dog, or perhaps you start searching for a second dog in an attempt to chase the initial “high” of acquiring a new pet.

Other owners find themselves obsessing over their dogs without really knowing why. They feel guilty for not going on a daily walk. They try to cram in every type of dog activity. They spend more than they can afford on treats, dog beds, toys and dog daycare – things dogs don’t really need.

So why did you want a dog?  Think about some of the reasons why you got your dog. Do you still feel that way? Or, did those reasons change or disappear?

All dog owners know that one of the main challenges to dog ownership is balancing dog care and responsibilities with life. (Adopted From www.thatmutt.com)

Some people end up ignoring the dog for the most part, leaving the dog outside or in a kennel for hours on end and spending very little time with the dog. Others have the opposite problem and actually have a hard time doing anything that does not involve the dog – taking vacations, going out with friends, going out to dinner, visiting relatives.

A good solution to both situations is to consciously acknowledge the rewards of owning a dog. After all, at some point you did choose to own one.

Find balance!  Maybe you wanted a dog so you would go for more walks, but now you just have an overweight, hyper beagle because you still don’t walk. Why not consciously set aside the time for a few walks this week?

And don’t waste your time feeling guilty about not spending time with your dog. Instead, make some time to do one thing you both enjoy, something you looked forward to when you initially wanted a dog – cuddling on the couch during a baseball game, going on a long hike, playing frisbee at a park, taking an agility class.

Don’t shower your dog with treats, toys and table scraps because you feel guilty. Instead, pick something you’ve always wanted to do together and go do it. Do this often enough so it turns the whole dog ownership thing into the lifestyle you actually want.

If you consciously spend time with your dog doing things you both love, then you won’t feel bad about going out with friends, taking a trip with your family or attending an event and leaving Fido home.

It’s all about balance. When you make these changes, you will appreciate your dog a whole lot more and the stress around routine care such as training and walking will decrease.

Embrace the benefits of dog ownership as fully as you can, in whatever way owning a dog means to you. If you don’t, then you might never have the relationship with your dog that you wanted when you decided to get a dog in the first place. Decide specifically when and how you’ll interact with your dog this week. Then go do it.