Can You Love Your Dog Too Much?
 
We all adore our dogs. For many, they're like family. Cultivating a loving relationship with your dog rooted in mutual respect is what responsible dog owners strive for.
 
How could you not love your dog? They don't judge, always greet you with joy, and couldn't care less about your appearance or financial status. They love you unconditionally...and they don't talk back!
 
But surprisingly, it's possible to love your dog excessively, to the detriment of the dog. Spoiling your dog a bit is natural, but condoning bad behavior is not.
 
Spoiling a dog means giving them everything they want, making excuses, or overlooking undesirable behaviors. Phrases like "they don't know any better" or "they didn't mean it" are common justifications. However, just because your dog enjoys chewing your slippers doesn't make it acceptable.
 
Dogs thrive on rules and routine. They need boundaries. A dog without boundaries can become aggressive, pushy, or overly possessive, even towards its owner. This can escalate until owners no longer want the dog, leading to shelters, which is no fault of the dog's. You don't want to reward behaviors that will cause regrets or become difficult to correct later.
 
On the other hand, loving your dog means fostering a healthy relationship based on respect and trust. It means being the Pack Leader and rewarding good behaviors appropriately.
 
Spoiled dogs are the ones dragging owners on walks, lunging at every dog and bush. They're the dogs waking you up at 3 AM for attention, not because they need to go out. They're the ones barking the moment you're on the phone. Dogs without manners are the ones that have been spoiled.