I grew up in the ’80s with a dog named Max. He was a lovable mix of everything—probably part Labrador, part adventure seeker. As an only child, I cherished him as my best buddy and confidant.
Fond Memories of Max
- During the summer, my parents would let him roam free after breakfast, and he’d explore the neighborhood until dinner.
- I’d sometimes catch a glimpse of him peeking out from the bushes after he chased a squirrel.
- He loved to swim in the creek behind our house and would excitedly chase the mail truck every afternoon.
- At six o’clock, he’d come inside for dinner, usually enjoying a bowl of Alpo.
- My parents would let him out one last time before bed to “take care of business.”
- I never picked up after him, and oddly, I can’t recall ever seeing any dog poop around.
- Over the course of his 14 years, he visited the vet just a handful of times.
- We had countless adventures together in the back of my dad’s pickup truck.
That was dog ownership in the ’80s. Parenting has evolved significantly since then, and dog ownership has too. Now that I have a dog named Coco, I experience this transformation daily.
The New Responsibilities of Dog Ownership
Before adopting Coco, I was aware of leash laws and poop-scooping regulations, but I had no clue about the complexities that lay ahead. At Coco’s first vet appointment, the doctor not only checked her ears and teeth but also grilled me about her mental and emotional well-being. Was she socialized? How did she interact with other dogs, children, and even me? Did she see me as the leader of the pack? Did she have any fears?
“Well, she’s a bit skittish around loud noises,” I admitted.
The vet then warned me to be cautious about projecting my own anxieties onto her. Really? I’m already juggling worries about my kids, and now I’m supposed to stress over my dog’s mental health too?
I enrolled Coco in puppy school, hoping to teach her not to chew on furniture or have accidents in the house. However, the instructor had loftier ambitions. She aimed for our dogs to become well-behaved members of society, emphasizing agility, manners, and obedience. She stressed that we shouldn’t engage with our dogs when they brought us toys; instead, we should decide when it’s playtime. Seriously?
She even suggested we bake our own dog treats to keep them salt-free, warning us that store-bought snacks are often loaded with sodium.
Every week, Coco and I attended class, where she often decided to relieve herself right in the middle of the room. Other dog owners cast knowing glances my way as I scrambled to clean up after her, saying things like, “Oh, she’ll get the hang of it.” I could sense their competitive spirit lurking just beneath the surface.
- “Oh, Max has been house-trained for weeks.”
- “Lola never chews.”
- “We only feed Bella organic raw food.”
And let’s not forget the fact that I almost always have a bag of dog poop in my hand.
I asked my mom, “Where did Max poop?”
She paused, then replied, “Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Right?” I said. “Did you ever see poop in our yard?”
“No,” she shook her head. “Never.”
So, we had a dog for 14 years, and somehow, there was no poop in our yard or on the street. It felt like we had a magical poop fairy back in those days.
Modern Dog Care
I’ve also learned about car safety for dogs. Apparently, Coco can’t sit in the front seat because of airbag risks. “What if it deploys?” a lady in a parking lot scolded me. “Oh, I didn’t think about that,” I replied sheepishly.
Coco loves to swim, but she learned the hard way that jumping into the deep end of our neighbor’s pool was not a good idea. After a frantic rescue, we got her a life vest for when she swims. I even bought her a kiddie pool because vets warned that she could overheat in summer.
Coco has developed a few allergies, which the vet said are increasingly common. Now she eats gluten-free food with New Zealand lamb. Her eye and ear drops, organic shampoo, and even her blankets washed with scent-free detergent make for a hefty bill.
One holiday season, I called the vet because Coco wasn’t eating. They suggested she was stressed by all the holiday commotion. Join the club!
We tried a citronella collar to curb her barking, but it backfired when she snored and set it off, mistaking it for an attack. So, we opted for either a barking dog or a quiet, anxious one.
The vet recommended a designer dog collar to soothe her irritated neck skin, and now she sports a fancy one that’s nicer than my own belts. She even suggested getting her booties for winter walks since the salt and ice melt were irritating her paws. We tried to put those cute little brown boots on her, and I had to ask myself, who have I become?
Reflections on Dog Ownership
I miss the carefree days of letting Max roam free. I sometimes wonder if Coco feels like she’s missing out on something. Is she tired of being trained and leashed? Does she dream of the simpler life of dogs from the ’80s, or am I just projecting my nostalgia onto her?
If you’re interested in exploring more about home insemination and related topics, check out our other blog posts.
Summary
Dog ownership has undergone significant changes since the ’80s. While the carefree days of letting pets roam freely seem like a distant memory, today’s dog owners face a plethora of responsibilities, from mental health checks to dietary restrictions. The evolving landscape of pet care reflects broader changes in parenting and society, with a focus on creating well-adjusted, healthy companions.