Can You Love Your Dog Too Much?

The short answer? Maybe…

If you’re a dog parent, you’ve probably wondered at some point: Can I love my dog too much? The short answer? Maybe…but the longer answer is more complicated.

It comes down to one clear fact. Our dogs are not just part of our lives. They shape our lives.

Much like having children (which we have too), dogs shape our daily schedules. It’s Lewie we hear climbing the stairs every morning at 6 am sharp to lie outside our door letting us know to get up - it’s time for his breakfast! They shape our weekend plans and even our vacation choices. And sometimes, without even realizing it, we bend our lives around them in ways that feel good…until we end up in a pretzel.

Take Moses, for example, our sweet, 150-pound rescue. He’s anxious, sensitive, and not exactly into travel. But every Friday, he trots off to his favorite daycare, where he’s treated like royalty. When we go on vacation, Moses doesn’t sulk or pout. He actually beats us to the door, thrilled to go to what we jokingly say is his “vacation.” It works for everyone. He’s happy. We’re guilt-free. No problem there.

Mo, getting ready to go to his favorite place!

Then there’s Lewie. We’ve had him since he was a puppy. He’s a Labrador, laid-back and adaptable. He’s a total dream when it comes to traveling and is a wonderful house guest if you don’t mind a little shedding. So, of course, we take him everywhere. He’s only stayed in boarding once - for one night - and honestly, we barely survived it. He was totally fine, but it was hard for us.

Now, a few years later, we’ve created a situation where it’s hard for us to leave Lewie. If we ever need to go somewhere he can’t come, we’re kind of stuck. Not because he can’t handle it…but because we don’t want to be without him.

Lewie, all packed and ready to go

And we’re not alone. We know plenty of people who plan around their dogs. Who leaves dinner parties early? Who won’t travel overseas because the idea of leaving their dog behind is just too much? Listen, we get it.

So, can you love your dog too much?

Maybe the better question is: Can your love for your dog complicate your life? Absolutely - and that’s totally okay. Being a dog person means making trade-offs. It’s what we all signed up for. Love isn’t always logical or convenient. It’s leaving a party early, mapping road trips around potty breaks, or planning Fridays around daycare.

But love can have balance too. It’s okay to train your dog to be comfortable apart from you, just as it’s okay to train yourself to be okay apart from them. We are working on this with Lewie because someday, we might need that space - and so might Lew.

Mo and Lew on a Recent Staycation

Loving a dog deeply is a beautiful experience. Just remember - sometimes love means letting go…even just a little.