Bad conscience... I think all dog owners know about it.
The feeling of eyes in the back of your neck when the door has to be closed and locked in the morning, and work or study calls.
I'm a student myself, studying at a fairly demanding university, and my schedule often resembles a normal workweek. That's why I was naturally very hesitant when I made the decision to get a dog.
It was undoubtedly the right decision, and Asco contributes endless amounts of joy and positivity to an otherwise turbulent everyday life, but that's why the little devil on my shoulder still pops up from time to time: Are the walks long enough? Are we exercising enough? Is Asco's everyday life good enough with me? Would he have had a better life somewhere else?
I always brush the question aside, and that day we might take an extra training session or go for an extra long walk .
I read an article the other day where one of my former professors from the University of Copenhagen made a statement. He believed that the dog in the modern family is fighting a lonely battle.
It was an exciting, but at the same time disturbing read. It described how the dog (unlike other species we keep in our households such as cats or rabbits) is domesticated to a much greater extent, and is therefore much more social and dependent on us. This is because we have taken the wolf out of the pack and replaced this people with our family. But at the same time, the modern dog spends unimaginable amounts of time alone during the course of a day.
Of course, that gets some thoughts going.
I try to read some lectures from home as much as possible and go to training with Asco several times a week.
I think the best thing you can do as a dog owner to protect yourself as much as possible from a guilty conscience is to consider carefully what type of dog lives within the four walls of your home. What needs it has, and whether they are being adequately met. That is the philosophy I use myself.
I don't live on a large country estate with several hectares of garden, but in a small townhouse, and of course that inevitably places greater demands on me as the owner.
In addition, the German Shepherd, like so many other breeds, is a distinct working dog that enjoys using its body, nose and head. Of course, most dogs do this, regardless of breed, but Asco does to a great extent. He is truly at his best on a training ground, and I always bring home a satisfied and tired dog.
It's also the reason why I drag myself off the couch despite the rain and wind and faithfully drive to the training ground up to 5 times a week. Even though it can certainly be difficult during the winter period – and this is exactly where the guilty conscience actually comes in handy.
It gets me kicked out the door, and after all, it's really rare that I don't enjoy it as much as the dog.
Link to the referenced article:
https://www.weekendavisen.dk/2022-32/ideer/et-vaerre-hundeliv?utm_medium=fb_boost&utm_source=mkt_social&utm_content&utm_campaign=wa_always_on&fbclid=IwAR0Kq4sUhJv4ervZW1tN-AGQUAPSrpk-vLwtJO8vqnX_ek4tD1P-f2N6ziw#Echobox=1660121199
This blog is written by
Sanne Rath Madsen is currently studying to become a veterinarian at the University of Copenhagen.
Dog mother and owner of the German Shepherd, Asco. Trains daily in the German Shepherd Club in districts 3 (Ballerup) and 84 (Skovbo) and runs the small photography company SRM Photography.
Bad conscience
Bad conscience... I think all dog owners know about it.
The feeling of eyes in the back of your neck when the door has to be closed and locked in the morning, and work or study calls.
I'm a student myself, studying at a fairly demanding university, and my schedule often resembles a normal workweek. That's why I was naturally very hesitant when I made the decision to get a dog.
It was undoubtedly the right decision, and Asco contributes endless amounts of joy and positivity to an otherwise turbulent everyday life, but that's why the little devil on my shoulder still pops up from time to time: Are the walks long enough? Are we exercising enough? Is Asco's everyday life good enough with me? Would he have had a better life somewhere else?
I always brush the question aside, and that day we might take an extra training session or go for an extra long walk .
I read an article the other day where one of my former professors from the University of Copenhagen made a statement. He believed that the dog in the modern family is fighting a lonely battle.
It was an exciting, but at the same time disturbing read. It described how the dog (unlike other species we keep in our households such as cats or rabbits) is domesticated to a much greater extent, and is therefore much more social and dependent on us. This is because we have taken the wolf out of the pack and replaced this people with our family. But at the same time, the modern dog spends unimaginable amounts of time alone during the course of a day.
Of course, that gets some thoughts going.
I try to read some lectures from home as much as possible and go to training with Asco several times a week.
I think the best thing you can do as a dog owner to protect yourself as much as possible from a guilty conscience is to consider carefully what type of dog lives within the four walls of your home. What needs it has, and whether they are being adequately met. That is the philosophy I use myself.
I don't live on a large country estate with several hectares of garden, but in a small townhouse, and of course that inevitably places greater demands on me as the owner.
In addition, the German Shepherd, like so many other breeds, is a distinct working dog that enjoys using its body, nose and head. Of course, most dogs do this, regardless of breed, but Asco does to a great extent. He is truly at his best on a training ground, and I always bring home a satisfied and tired dog.
It's also the reason why I drag myself off the couch despite the rain and wind and faithfully drive to the training ground up to 5 times a week. Even though it can certainly be difficult during the winter period – and this is exactly where the guilty conscience actually comes in handy.
It gets me kicked out the door, and after all, it's really rare that I don't enjoy it as much as the dog.
Link to the referenced article:
https://www.weekendavisen.dk/2022-32/ideer/et-vaerre-hundeliv?utm_medium=fb_boost&utm_source=mkt_social&utm_content&utm_campaign=wa_always_on&fbclid=IwAR0Kq4sUhJv4ervZW1tN-AGQUAPSrpk-vLwtJO8vqnX_ek4tD1P-f2N6ziw#Echobox=1660121199
This blog is written by
Sanne Rath Madsen is currently studying to become a veterinarian at the University of Copenhagen.
Dog mother and owner of the German Shepherd, Asco. Trains daily in the German Shepherd Club in districts 3 (Ballerup) and 84 (Skovbo) and runs the small photography company SRM Photography.