The World Only Wants Perfect Dogs
For almost two weeks now, the dogs and I have been renting an RV at an RV park in Lubbock while we wait on a new transmission for the van. Part of the park’s charm is the community of full-timers here, who have all been extremely friendly. On our first night here, I met a woman with a Collie while they were out on their evening walk. I’ve also met a young man who rides his skateboard around the park with his French Bulldog running beside him. And several others, whom I haven’t met, often walk in the evenings with their beautiful, friendly, perfect dogs.
This morning, after a particular interaction with a full-timer here (that I may or may not share later in this post), I’ve been thinking a lot about what it feels like the world expects from dogs and their humans.
The world only wants perfect dogs. And perfect dog guardians, too.
The world judges us, and our dogs, every single moment. It criticizes freely.
The world expects to reach out and pet our dogs at will.
The world ignores any human who says no and admonishes any dog who subsequently acts to protect himself (i.e. growls/bites).
The world sees a dog with a block head and a muzzle and assumes the absolute worst while simultaneously expecting that dog’s guardian to only train it one way: the same way they trained their Pug.
The world sees a dog react to another dog and assumes it’s aggressive and a danger to all.
The world sees a guardian using prong and/or e-collars and assumes that person is abusive and horrible.
The world leaves no room for nuance.
The world wants all dogs to run off-leash, happy and free, wagging their tails and playing in harmony with all the other dogs and people and cows and moose and bears.
The world doesn’t want our imperfect, reactive, difficult, ‘special needs,’ working dogs who aren’t perfect “pets,” nor do they want the “scary-looking” tools we might use with them.
The world only wants perfect dogs.
Our imperfect dogs require hard work, critical thinking, discipline, empathy, compassion, respect, a willingness to think outside the box, nuance, and love the caliber of which most can’t even imagine.
But I can imagine it, friends, because I’m living it. And living it has made me so much more aware of others who are living it, too.
I see you out there loving your imperfect dogs and giving them their absolute best lives ever. Lives they may not have had otherwise. And I love you for it. So freaking much.
Most cannot even imagine the love and sacrifice. ♥️ Or how immensely rewarding it is.
To those loving imperfect dogs: hang in there. You’ve got this. The Love Dogs are behind you every step of the way, and we are always always sending our love, compassion, and mad respect.
Have a beautiful, imperfect day, fellow love dogs.
“There are love dogs no one knows the names of. Give your life to be one of them.” (Rumi)
Love this so much! My partner and I manage a campground in the PNW with our 3 dogs, none of which are perfect. We come across a lot of dogs, in all shapes and stages of life, and if there's a problem - far more often it's caused by the humans. Why we aren't willing to meet a dog where it's at, understand that it's had a life of experiences it's drawing from, or give the owner the benefit of the doubt in regards to knowing what's best for their animal, I do not know. Not every dog is capable of or will ever be capable of, being off leash or being a "perfect dog" - yet those dogs are still deserving of our love and patience. I don't tell you not to look into my dogs eyes because it's a joke, it's because he has quirks, and trying to understand and work with them are how we co-exist. People apologize for their pets all the time when it's often just the nature of the pet rather than anything that needs to be apologized for.
I volunteer at a shelter as a photographer for the adoptable dogs and I can't even begin to count the number of dogs who have been discarded because of their imperfections. It breaks my heart every shift. We had one German shepherd-cross puppy who was returned three times because she had too much energy. Exactly what do people expect in a puppy? My goodness. We need to have a black list of people who shouldn't be permitted to have a dog.