Being aware of your emotional capacity is one of the most important skills for a successful dog owner

If there’s one thing I wish I knew as a new dog owner it’s this.

The amount of energy and patience we have for our dogs varies depending on what’s going on in our lives and our overall stress level.

Some days, we might have all the time and patience in the world to meet our dogs’ needs and provide them with emotionally balanced companionship and leadership.

And some days, we might have very little to give.

This is totally normal and OK.

Being a good dog owner is not about being perfect.

It’s about being self aware and offering your dog as much as you can, without over-reaching your own emotional capacity.

For the days where you don’t have as much to give, it’s OK to take a break. It’s ok to ask for help or lean on your support system.

Your dog does NOT need you to be perfect and perfectly meet their needs every single day.

And when you’re “off”, I know this from experience, trying to force a walk or outing might just end up in frustration and other negative emotions.

I see it as very important to be aware of how much you have to offer each day, and adjust based on that.

If you need a break from engaging with your dog your strategies can include offering them a long lasting enriching treat, scatter feed their meal, or ask a dog walker or friend to take them out instead.

So many of us get caught up in the comparison game or thinking we always need to be doing more as dog owners.

The truth is, “off” days happen and they should be normalized!