Responsibility in dog ownership - financial, emotional & ethical aspects | Episode 19

Responsibility in dog ownership begins long before a dog even moves in. It doesn't just become apparent during the daily walk or visit to the vet, but from the moment we start thinking about whether a dog will fit into our lives. A dog is not a lifestyle accessory or a short-term decision - it is a sentient being whose well-being depends on our foresight, stability and self-reflection.

While many people romanticise dog ownership - with images of happy walks, cuddly evenings and unconditional love - one crucial aspect often goes unnoticed: Responsibility is not a feeling, it's an attitude. It means making decisions that are not only right today, but will still be right in ten years' time.

From a cynological point of view, responsibility includes not only food, care and training, but also an understanding of breed-specific needs, genetic dispositions and psychological relationships between dogs and humans. Anyone who adopts a dog takes on the task of offering it a safe, stable and species-appropriate life - regardless of whether this life is always comfortable.

In this article, we show what responsibility in dog ownership really means: from pre-purchase decisions, to financial and emotional commitments, to responsibility in the digital age - where social media often gives a distorted picture of dog ownership.

Responsibility in dog ownership doesn't just start when the dog is in its basket - it starts long before that, when you decide whether a dog is a good fit for your life.
A dog changes routines, relationships, holiday planning and financial priorities. If you decide to get one, you are making a long-term commitment that should be based on foresight rather than emotion.

Many people act on impulse: a sad look in an animal shelter, a photo on the internet, a puppy that needs to be "rescued". But responsibility is not an impulse, it is an attitude. It means taking an honest look:
How stable is my everyday life really? How much energy, time and money can I invest in the long term?

The responsibility of dog ownership is always a financial one.
A dog means ongoing costs - not only for food, but also for vets, insurance, care, equipment, training and, in an emergency, medical interventions.
Many people underestimate this aspect because they initially reduce the expenditure to the purchase costs. However, the purchase price is the smallest part of keeping a dog.

On average, a dog stays with us for 10 to 15 years. Over this time, even with average care, this can quickly add up to several tens of thousands of francs or euros.
The German Kennel Club (VDH ) estimates the cost of living for a dog at 15,000-20,000 euros, excluding major operations or chronic illnesses.
If you have high demands in terms of nutrition, quality and health care, you are realistically looking at 30,000-50,000 euros.

Responsibility means being prepared - even for the unexpected.
A torn cruciate ligament, an accident or a chronic illness can quickly cost several thousand euros. Health insurance is not the solution to all problems, as not every pet health insurance policy covers special cases such as the cost of important Supplements and complementary medicine. There is also the fact that, depending on the vet or pet health insurance, you may have to pay in advance, i.e. advance the vet costs before they are reimbursed. 
Anyone who has to resort to fundraising campaigns in this situation has taken responsibility too late.

In psychology, this is called delayed acceptance of responsibility: people only act once the problem has already arisen and delegate the consequences to the outside world.
But financial responsibility in the context of a living being means acting preventively, not reacting.

Responsibility in dog ownership also means not making the animal an emotional or financial burden on others.
It is not the job of other people or the community to pay for their own negligence.
A dog is not a project that you finance when it suits you - it is a living being whose welfare depends on its owner's sense of responsibility.

If you want a dog, you have to ask yourself not only whether you can give love, but also whether you can afford it.

Acceptance is probably the most honest form of responsibility in dog ownership.
Many people get a dog with a clear idea: sporty, active, socially compatible, balanced, friendly to everyone. But there are few areas where reality and expectations clash more than in the human-dog relationship.

The dog we get is rarely the dog we imagined. It comes with genetic imprinting, learning experience, individual sensitivity and temperament.
And sometimes that means: He reacts aggressively, anxiously, restlessly - or simply differently than we had "planned".

Acceptance does not mean ignoring behaviour. It means understanding the dog's nature before trying to change it.

In psychology, the moment of disillusionment after an idealised expectation is described as a reality check.
Many owners experience this point when they realise: "My dog is not what I thought it was."
This is not a failure, but the beginning of a real relationship. A dog doesn't need perfection - it needs someone who accepts its individuality.
This attitude changes everything: training becomes a partnership, regressions become understandable and mistakes lose their gravity.

Unrealistic expectations often lead to frustration - and frustration is one of the main reasons for relinquishing or returning dogs. If the dog doesn't "work", pressure arises - often unconsciously. But pressure creates fear, and fear blocks learning. Responsibility means questioning your own expectations before doubting the dog.

From a canine perspective, acceptance leads to more stable relationships. Dogs that feel understood in their communication show fewer symptoms of stress, are more willing to co-operate and develop a more secure bond. Acceptance is therefore not a passive acceptance, but an active process: it requires knowledge, observation, patience - and sometimes humility.

Real responsibility means taking responsibility even with a difficult dog - not just as long as it "works". It means managing boundaries instead of punishing them, creating calm instead of enforcing control and prioritising understanding over obedience.

Because if you really accept your dog, you don't mould it according to your ideal image - but according to its nature.

A dog accompanies us for 10 to 15 years, sometimes longer. During this time, our lives change - professionally, familially, health-wise, emotionally. But what is often forgotten: The dog also changes.
He gets older, calmer, sometimes more anxious or ill. Responsibility in dog ownership doesn't end when circumstances change - that's when it really begins.

Many dogs are given away because they "no longer fit into life". A new job, a child, a separation - and suddenly the dog is in the way. Yet this is precisely the moment when it becomes clear whether someone is the owner or the person in charge.

A move to the city, a new job or a baby change the entire domestic environment. Noise, new odours, different daily rhythms - all this can be massively stressful for dogs. Responsibility in dog ownership means actively supporting this transition: through calm routines, adjusting walking times, retreats and clear communication.

When it comes to major life changes, it helps to think from the dog's perspective. A new phase of life can be exciting for us - for the dog it means a loss of control. Consciously plan transition phases: Introduce the dog to new environments gradually, maintain old rituals for as long as possible and watch out for early signs of stress.

As dogs get older, they themselves also change. Things that used to be taken for granted - long walks, training, outings - become more difficult. An old dog doesn't need less attention, but different attention: less action, more attention, more care. This is also where true responsibility comes into play: in letting go of expectations and accepting the moment.

In terms of behavioural biology, neuronal plasticity decreases with age - learning slows down, stimuli are processed differently, pain influences behaviour. An old dog often reacts more irritably or sensitively, not because of disobedience, but because of physical changes.

Long-term responsibility in dog ownership is not a rigid concept, but a continuous process of adaptation, empathy and care. It does not manifest itself in perfection, but in consistency - in the willingness to respond to the dog again and again, no matter how life changes.

Responsibility in dog ownership is not a state, but an ongoing process. It begins before the purchase - with knowledge, self-reflection and honest judgement.
and it does not end with the death of the dog, but shapes how we think about dogs, life and bonding in the future.

A dog challenges us because it mirrors us: our patience, our consistency, our ability to control ourselves. They show us how we deal with boundaries, frustration and responsibility. In him, we not only encounter an animal, but a feedback system for our behaviour.

From a behavioural biology perspective, the human-dog relationship is one of the most complex interspecific relationships of all. No other animal has adapted so strongly to human communication patterns - no other reacts so sensitively to our emotions. This emotional closeness is a gift - but also an obligation.
Because it means that our mistakes, restlessness or carelessness always leave their mark.

From a psychological point of view, responsibility requires mindfulness: not only for the animal, but also for ourselves. Anyone who is permanently stressed, overwhelmed or dissatisfied transfers this state to their dog. Self-care is therefore not selfishness - it is part of responsible dog ownership.

A responsible dog owner recognises that a dog is not a project that is supposed to "work". It is not an object of prestige, an emotional band-aid or a leisure activity. He is a sentient, social being - with needs that must be constantly met, and with a loyalty so pure that it expands our own standards of ethics and empathy.

Responsibility in dog ownership means choosing commitment over convenience - every day, for years to come.