Americans are asking too much of their dogs

"I would argue that something different is happening, however, particularly since the COVID-19 lockdown: Loving dogs has become an expression not of loneliness but of how unhappy many Americans are with society and other people. In my own book, "Rescue Me," I explore how today's dog culture is more a symptom of our suffering as a society than a cure for it. Dogs aren't just being used as a substitute for people."

"And I am no different. I live with three dogs, and my love for them has driven me to research the culture of dog ownership in an effort to understand myself and other humans better. By nature, dogs are masters of social life who can communicate beyond the boundaries of their species. But I believe many Americans are expecting their pets to address problems that they cannot fix."

Nearly half of U.S. households own dogs and many owners treat pets as family members, fueling jobs across the pet industry and straining veterinary training capacity. Some view this as a "pet revolution," with the internet intensifying loneliness and pets filling relational gaps. Since the COVID-19 lockdown, dog devotion has also served as an expression of dissatisfaction with society and declining social life. Dogs often provide more satisfying interactions than people for some owners, yet pets are being expected to solve deep social problems that they cannot realistically fix.

Read at The Conversation