08/14/2026
The best decisions can hurt feelings.
That’s the harsh truth no one really wants to say out loud.
So here goes.
Your family and friends may not be the people you should leave your dog with.
They shouldn’t be the people who get to override your gut when it’s telling you "I'm not sure about this."
Every single thing on this graphic?
Dog trainers see it and live it. Every single day.
The friends walk where the people are friends, but the dogs are everything but.
The big "dog friendly" event that everyone goes to that ends in chaos, fights and a dog that won't leave the house for three days after.
Some of those events are similar to dog parks with far less options to leave and lot’s more pressure.
Sometimes that photo opportunity isn’t worth it.
How about the "I LOVE dogs, I'll watch him!" person you leave your dog with when you go away.
Loving dogs means a lot to hear, but there are a hundred other skills and pieces of knowledge they should have.
There’s a reason people in this industry are ruthlessly selective.
It’s not to be difficult. It’s not to be a kill joy.
It’s 100% for the physical and emotional safety of dogs.
Because we see what happens when people say yes because they didn't want to say no and hurt someone's feelings.
So be choosy.
Be selective.
Be difficult if you have to.
You can say no and it will be ok.
I know plenty of people reading this have lived at least one of the examples on this graphic.
So let’s hear about the good, the bad and the ugly.
The time you didn’t trust your gut.
Or the time you did.
We’ve probably all got a few stories to share.
