19/09/2021
To people who have not yet accepted these truths:
✅ Dogs are sentient beings.
✅ Humans are not inherently “above” animals.
✅ You do not have to physically, psychologically, or emotionally hurt your dog to teach them.
✅ Dogs are not robots.
✅ Dogs should have agency in their lives.
✅ Dogs come from thousands of years of breeding for certain behaviors, it is your responsibility to do your research before you start complaining about your Jack Russell Terrier chasing small critters.
And if you:
✅ See your human child as more deserving of your time, energy, and kindness than your dog. And if you can’t make the parallel between the two.
✅ Find it difficult to be kind to a dog who is just doing what dogs do.
✅ Take pleasure in exerting power and control.
✅ Don’t find it important to keep up with the latest science and studies regarding the sentient beings you’ve decided to bring into your life.
✅ Aren’t concerned about your dogs well-being but rather see their behavior as a problem that needs solving.
I’d suggest you look inward.
⚠️ Where did these initial beliefs about dogs/animals come from?
⚠️ Have you ever been able to change your mind about something after learning new information?
⚠️ Do you treat yourself with kindness and compassion? The way we treats others (humans and animals alike) is a reflection of how we feel about ourselves.
⚠️ Have you been in therapy? Talked through your childhood - why you repeat certain patterns of behavior as an adult?
Dogs are pure, simple beings. They don’t do things out of spite. They’re not trying to dominate you. They don’t contain any ill-will. They’re not stubborn. They don’t judge. They are forgiving and resilient.
They are joy, laughter, curiousness, and unconditional love.
If you cannot be gentle and kind to a creature like this - it’s time to dig deeper and ask yourself why.
ID: A photo of a black dog with a smile with a quote overlay.