12/12/2024
Why Are Mexican Dogs So Chill? 🐶☀️🇲🇽
As some of you may know, I just got back from a trip to a resort near Tulum, Mexico. I did a lot of relaxing and eating, of course. But while there, when we traveled outside the resort, I was amazed by the dogs I saw around town.
I started wondering about the differences between those dogs and the ones I typically see here. They were totally relaxed while cars drove by, people walked around them in the middle of dirt roads or busy pathways. These dogs were sprawled out, unfazed by noise, people, or other animals. It was like they had mastered the art of complete relaxation — something I personally have a hard time doing!
In contrast, the dogs I usually see here, whether in everyday life or even during training sessions, often seem hyper-aware, alert to every noise, movement, and passing person. So, why the difference?
Here are a few things I noticed about their lives compared to ours that got me thinking:
1. Free-Roaming Culture:
In Mexico, many dogs roam freely and learn to navigate busy environments from a young age. They get used to unpredictable sights, sounds, and people. Over time, they learn what really needs their attention and what doesn’t.
2. Self-Reliance:
Dogs in Mexico have a balance of independence and community care. Whether they’re pets, semi-strays, or street dogs, they develop confidence in managing their surroundings. This independence fosters a sense of calm. Here, dogs tend to be much more dependent on us for everything.
3. A Laid-Back Environment:
Mexican culture, especially in smaller towns, embraces a slower pace of life. The relaxed vibes rub off on the dogs, too. They’ve adapted to chill alongside their human companions.
4. Minimal Over-Stimulation:
Dogs in the USA often live in structured environments with constant activity, training, and attention. In Mexico, dogs experience a different rhythm of life — they rest when they want, explore when they need to, and rarely feel the need to be “on alert” 24/7.
When I work with my clients, I emphasize three important tasks when taking their dogs to a new environment:
1. Let your dog explore — give them time to sniff, watch, and just be a dog.
2. Work with your dog — practice loose-leash walking, downs, stays, and recall.
3. Sit and relax — your dog needs downtime, too!
Dogs need to do all three to learn they can explore, work despite distractions, and relax in any environment.
And maybe, just maybe, they can teach us something in return: to slow down, trust our surroundings, and take life one siesta at a time.
“Relaxing isn’t being lazy; it’s being balanced.” 🐾💤
Wishing you wags and wiggles,
Wendy
