What Can I Do About My Dog’s Bad Reputation?
Jess Adam, a therapist who specializes in mental health for dog people, told me that judgement at the dog park can affect us so deeply “because it feeds the fear we already have that we’re failing.” Having a dog can come with judgement. Here's how to handle the emotional challenges of pet parenthood, per dog trainers and human therapists.My dog Bonnie is perfect. She cuddles up with her family at night before requesting to go to her crate to sleep. She brings a balletic grace to fetch, and we swear she can understand full sentences in English.But, a couple of months ago, I realized that not everyone sees her that way. I was out with Bonnie when a familiar neighborhood dog walker approached and bent down to pet her. On his way down, he asked me sarcastically, “Am I going to lose a finger?” I didn’t know what to say.He added, “We’re not so sure about Bonnie,” as if he were part of a co-op board gearing up to reject her application. A couple past interactions suddenly came into focus. A dog park friend scooping her foster puppy into her arms when she saw us approach.
