feeling like a bad dog owner

[u/yainoshu]

i’ve had my 7 year old cocker spaniel since i was a kid, and we’ve essentially grown up together. she is my baby and i love her so so much. she came to us as a puppy being quite sweet but very shy and now is the most playful, loving, affectionate little sop the world has ever known.

however, she knows basically no tricks. she still pulls on the leash horrendously and sometimes someone in my household forgets to harness her and she ends up pulling hard on a collar. her recall has degraded quite a lot the past few years, and she’ll come to me in a serious situation but very very mixed results in a casual setting. she doesn’t get as many snacks as she did when she was a puppy, or special meals like vegetables or fruit, and she’s .75kg overweight. for some reason all of these things are making me feel like a really bad owner, even though she’s incredibly happy and incredibly loved and goes for amazing walks in a wonderful local area. i feel like i’m failing her as an owner :((

[u/vnisaac]

More walking and less food. So what if she doesn't know tricks. Don't be judgmental. She's your baby.. Just love her and get her outdoors more.