Relationship Between Humans and Dogs
Something that resonates deeply with me right now is the relationship between dogs and humans, between dogs and us. What makes for a healthy relationship when it comes to the dog and the human? One of the things that started me on my journey of canine enrichment was this relationship between us and dogs. I constantly wondered how it evolved. What are the things that have made it successful? What are the things that are really getting in the way of that relationship now? Is it conflict? Tension? Do we, or do our pets, feel stuck?
With any relationship, including the relationship between us and our pets, there needs to be purpose. When purpose is had and there, that relationship has value for the people, the beings, in it. Without purpose, that relationship is nonexistent. As living beings, we seek to advance and grow, meaning it’s inevitable that we seek to change and adapt. It’s just what we’re meant to do. It’s part of our success in this realm and this living experience. And so I think the conflict in our relationships comes in when there’s no purpose; when we start seeking to advance, to adapt, to change. We seek freedom. Our relationship with dogs comes down to ownership. As humans, we need to let our dogs be free. We need to let our pets experience growth and allow for change to happen.
In the dog sense of it all, it makes so much sense. When you look at the human-dog relationship, it has evolved in a way that we’re highly serving to one another. When we look at ownership today, I think that it doesn’t take into consideration well-being, wellness, meaning, function, or purpose. And when it does take into consideration these factors, it’s quite one-sided. We need to commit our lives and lifestyles to the function and the integrity of our dogs.
In the moments that we grow and feel, we come closer. Think about how you can experience your dog in a different way. Ask yourself: “How can I create positive interactions?” It comes down to experience, which is what we do at the University of Doglando. We create positive interactions that are derived from the experience, and we find those positive experiences with those dogs.
Teena Patel is the founder of the canine enrichment campus University of Doglando for restricted canine companions. The University of Doglando is a place where dogs can be dogs and live a fruitful and purposeful lifestyle. To learn more about Teena Patel and the University of Doglando, please contact us online or call us at (407) 574-3160.