Would the World Be Better If Everyone Had a Dog? Why We Changed Our Minds

Do you think the world would be a better place if everyone had a dog?

We used to think so. But nowadays, we’re not convinced that everybody deserves to have a dog. There are definitely people who just wouldn’t appreciate all the facets of amazing that dogs bring to our lives.

Unconditional Love (Even When We Don't Deserve It)

The most outstanding quality that dog owners experience is unconditional love. No matter who you are, what you do, or what your circumstances look like, your dog loves you completely.

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

— Josh Billings

Even among our closest human friends and family, love rarely comes without boundaries or self-preservation. Dogs, however, give their devotion freely—sometimes to a fault. Dogs aren’t great at self-preservation, and frankly, there are people in the world who don’t deserve that level of unearned loyalty. But they get it anyway.

Recognizing Unique Personalities

People without dogs often fail to realize that every dog is a distinct individual. They have clear likes, dislikes, and boundaries. What works for one dog may be stressful for another—not all dogs like fetch, and not all dogs want to be petted on the head.

We’ll never forget an incident with a non-dog-owning friend sitting next to our smooth, black Brussels Griffon, Whimsy. Whimsy disliked being touched on top of his head. When our friend reached over, we gently let her know his preference. Her response? “Too bad. Dogs don’t get to choose. That’s where I want to pet him.”

Knowing Whimsy could set his own boundaries, we let it play out. She reached, he hopped off the couch, and for the rest of his life, he never sat near that friend again.

Interestingly, that same friend has since converted to the dog-owning lifestyle—and now fiercely protects her own dogs' boundaries: “Don’t touch her there, she doesn’t like it!”

Respecting the Moody Blues

Dogs have complex emotional lives. People who haven't lived with dogs often don't realize that dogs experience moods just like we do.

We saw this clearly this past week during days of constant rain. Nobody was thrilled about the weather, but Simon was particularly grumpy—he despises getting wet. As the gloomy days dragged on, everyone in the house gave him the space he needed to sulk. He’s not a dog you can "jolly" out of a bad mood, so we let him be.

Fortunately, the sun came back today, and he was back to being a happy boy, enjoying a morning "sniffari" adventure.

Dog People Just Get It

True dog lovers are willing to adapt their lives for another creature. We build our schedules around them, budget for their care, worry about their well-being, and cheerfully squeeze into the corner of the couch so they can have the best spot.

At the end of the day, making room for a dog—both on the couch and in our hearts—is what makes it all worth it.