Yesterday, we made a decision to take our girls to a nearby park that recently underwent extensive renovations. This park is a delightful space nestled alongside the river, boasting trails weaving through wooded areas, boardwalks spanning swampier terrain, a covered area with picnic tables and benches, a couple of grills, and even a little free library. The park also features bathrooms, swing sets, a multitude of accessible play structures, a zip line, slides, and much more.
As we prepared to leave, I turned to John and asked, “Should we bring Cooper?”
We pondered for a moment and ultimately decided against it. It felt too risky.
Why, you may wonder?
It’s because, regrettably, we’ve grown accustomed to encountering irresponsible dog owners at nearly every park, trail, or pavilion in town. As it turns out, we were proven right once again. While walking down one of the park’s paths, we spotted an off-leash doodle dog causing chaos in an area explicitly designated for on-leash dogs.
“Thank goodness we didn’t bring Coop,” we remarked.
But isn’t that unfair? Irresponsible dog owners frequently spoil the fun for responsible ones, and it’s our beloved pups who end up suffering.
So, What Does Responsible Dog Ownership Entail?
Before delving into the concept of responsible dog ownership, let’s address the phrase “dog ownership” itself. I’m aware it can be a contentious term. Some people prefer to identify as dog parents, guardians, partners, or any number of other descriptors that distance themselves from the notion of dogs as property. However, for the sake of this discussion, I’ll use the term “dog owner” because, from a legal perspective, that’s precisely what we are.
According to Law Insider, a “Dog Owner” is defined as “any person 18 years of age or older who owns, controls, keeps, harbors, has custody of a dog or any person who allows a dog to remain on or about his/her premises; or the parent or guardian of any child under the age of 18 years, who owns, keeps, controls, harbors, has custody of a dog or any person who allows a dog to remain on or about his/her premises.”
Given that each component of this definition affects whether someone is deemed responsible, we’ll stick with “dog owner” for the purpose of this post. Let’s be realistic: Being an irresponsible dog owner can lead to legal trouble.
So, what qualifies you as a responsible dog owner?
Meeting Your Pet’s Basic Needs
You might have expected me to immediately address topics like cleaning up after your dog and keeping them on a leash. While these are undoubtedly important points that we’ll cover later in this post, they aren’t where we should begin. Instead, let’s start with your pet’s fundamental needs.
These are the essentials that many of us take for granted, often without much thought. This includes providing your dog with food, water, and shelter. While there may be debates about the type of food that’s best for dogs, the fundamental requirement is that your dog is nourished, hydrated, and shielded from the elements.
Some pet owners struggle to fulfill even these basic needs, and although this certainly characterizes them as irresponsible pet owners, it often stems from mental health and related problems—an issue to be discussed another day. In essence, you’re a responsible dog owner at the most fundamental level if your pup is well-fed, hydrated, and sheltered.
But we should take it a step further. Caring for your pet’s basic physical needs also encompasses their health. While there may be disagreements about vaccines, preventatives, and more, a responsible dog owner ensures their pet receives regular veterinary check-ups. For most healthy pets, an annual vet visit suffices. As your dog ages or if they have any health concerns, more frequent visits may be necessary. The key is simply to go.
Attending to Your Pet’s Mental Health and Wellbeing
A responsible dog owner enhances their dog’s life by providing safety and stimulation.
Safety first: This extends beyond physical safety, although that’s undeniably a critical component. This harks back to the “5 freedoms,” the fundamental standards of animal care and welfare:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst.
- Freedom from discomfort.
- Freedom from pain, injury, or disease.
- Freedom to express normal behavior.
- Freedom from fear and distress.
A responsible dog owner ensures the first three freedoms are met, as we’ve already discussed, as a baseline. However, to truly care for your dog responsibly, you must also address freedoms four and five. As we now understand, mental health is an integral part of overall health.
Freedom from fear and distress: A responsible dog owner refrains from scaring, hurting, intimidating, threatening, or otherwise causing fear or distress to their dog. For naturally fearful dogs, a responsible person takes steps to alleviate or manage those fears in a gentle, positive manner.
Freedom to express normal behavior: Your dog receives physical exercise through activities such as walks or runs, and they’re allowed to engage in typical behaviors like sniffing and barking. While loose leash walking is important for safety, providing time for sniffing is equally essential for your dog’s mental wellbeing. Certainly, barking can be disruptive or annoying, but it’s also a normal behavior for dogs. Whenever possible, let your dog bark within reason. If necessary, teach a “quiet” command, but strive to allow your dog to be themselves occasionally. For instance, nothing fills Cooper with more pride than feeling he protected his family by barking at the UPS driver. Unless the baby is asleep or I’m on a conference call, I let him have his moment!
Taking it a step further, consider ways to enrich your dog’s life with brain games, food puzzles, and new experiences. These elements all contribute to your dog leading a happier, healthier life. Plus, it’s a win-win situation: your life becomes more enriched in the process.
