21/01/2025
Everyone thinking of getting a dog should read this and understand this reality:
I am a 21st-century dog.🐾🐕🐾❤️🐾
I'm a Malinois.
I’m overskilled compared to other dogs, excelling in all disciplines, always ready to work. I need to work. But today, I’m expected to chill on the couch, day in and day out.
I am an Akita Inu.
My ancestors were bred to fight bears. Today, I’m expected to be tolerant, and I’m scolded for my reactivity when another dog approaches.
I am a Beagle.
When I chase my prey, I raise my voice so the hunters can follow. Now, I wear an electric collar to silence me, and you're frustrated when I don’t return instantly when you call.
I am a Yorkshire Terrier.
Once a fierce rat hunter in English mines, now I’m treated as if I can't use my legs and am constantly carried around.
I'm a Labrador Retriever.
I thrive when swimming and retrieving, fulfilling my purpose. Today, though, I’m confined indoors, babysitting, and becoming fat because I’m not allowed to be active.
I am a Jack Russell.
I once took on foxes, badgers, and rats in their dens. Now, my high energy is scolded, and I’m expected to be a quiet, docile house dog.
I am a Siberian Husky.
I’ve experienced the wide, open spaces of Northern Europe, dragging sleds over great distances at impressive speeds. Now, I only have a small garden or the four walls of a house to roam, digging holes to release my frustration and stay sane.
I am a Border Collie.
I was made to work long hours in partnership with my master, herding sheep. Now, with no sheep to tend, I turn to herding bikes, cars, children, or anything else that moves.
I am...
I am a 21st-century dog.
I’m pretty, alert, obedient, and trained to stay in a bag, but I’m still an individual. My instincts are deeply rooted in centuries of breeding, and I need to express them. I am not suited for a sedentary life.
Spending eight hours a day alone in the house or garden, with no work, no play, and no one to run with, is deeply unsettling. A quick walk at the end of the day doesn’t satisfy my needs. It makes me unhappy.
I will show my unhappiness by barking all day, turning your yard into a minefield, making messes indoors, and being unmanageable when outside. Sometimes, I’ll spend my days sad and depressed, curled up on my pillow.
You might think I should be happy with comfort while you go to work, but this is not the life I was meant for. I’m exhausted and frustrated because I need to work, not just exist in a home as a pretty accessory.
If you love me, if you've dreamed of having me, if my striking blue eyes or athletic build call to you, but you can’t provide me with the life I need, do not buy or adopt me.
If you like the way I look but aren't willing to accept my temperament and instincts, thinking you can change them with your good intentions, do not buy or adopt me.
I am a dog of the 21st century, but deep inside, the one who fought, who hunted, who pulled sleds, and who protected a herd still lives within me.
So, think very carefully before choosing a dog. Consider getting two, not one, so I’m not so lonely waiting for you all day. Eight or ten hours might be just a workday for you, but it’s an eternity for me.
Just because a dog was bred for a specific purpose, like hunting, doesn’t mean it has to continue fulfilling that role today. While a dog’s natural instincts are shaped by its breed, it’s important to understand that these instincts don’t have to dictate their life’s work. Modern dogs can thrive in a variety of roles that don't involve hunting, such as companionship, therapy, or engaging in activities like agility training. By providing alternative outlets for their energy and intelligence, we can meet their needs while enriching their lives. It’s not just about a dog’s genetic background, but about finding what brings out the best in each individual animal.
