I want to be a 'good dog owner', so I do things that I think 'good dog owners' would do.
I'm not perfect and not trying to be.
I don't want you to expect to be perfect either, but I also don't want you to let yourselves off the hook too easily.
Benign neglect is a thing. It's when generally kind, decent human beings neglect the basic needs of their dog. They aren't overtly cruel. They don't beat or starve their dog. They feed them, provide somewhere warm to sleep and seek vet care if they notice it's needed. Truly, they are often generally lovely people, but they aren't 'good dog owners'.
They neglect needs like positive attention, enrichment, a quality diet, weight management, exercise, training, coat, tooth and nail care. Sometimes the dog becomes unwell or uncomfortable, but they don't notice because they pay so little attention.
This is no life for a dog.
Dogs can cope with short spells of being ignored, (we all have times when we can't prioritise our dogs' needs), but if you find yourself justifying day after long day living this way, I suggest you ask yourself whether you would be willing to place a puppy or dog into this home.
I know I wouldn't.
Change is in your hands. If you're brave enough to admit that your dog is living a life of benign neglect, I congratulate you. It's an uncomfortable thing to admit.
This is a good time to assess whether you actually want to keep the dog. If so, why? What are you getting out of the relationship?
Do you want to be a 'good dog owner'? Are you willing and able to be one right now, or is life just too complicated? Could you share the dog's care with someone else? Could you pay someone, or get a relative or neighbour to help out?
If you simply can't see a way to provide a better life for your dog over the longer term, it would be a kindness to look for a home that will better cater to their needs.
My terrier, Spice (see pic), is a rehome and I've taken on other people's dogs in the past. I also gave a very active dog up for adoption, when I was a busy and very tired young mother of two little kids, and heavily pregnant with another. Sometimes the time and/ or the fit isn't right and rehoming makes great sense.
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