Imperfect People Loving Imperfect Dogs
"I’m impressed by imperfect people loving imperfect dogs…just as they are."—Jenny Efimova, KPA CTP
Local dog trainer, Jenny Efimova, recently wrote a profound and poetic post about valuing compassion over perfection with our dogs. Her messaging resonated with us at Brown Dog.
We were once impressed by "well trained" dogs—walking, sitting, lying down and operating robotically in all scenarios. It was amazing how well those dogs listened to their person to know what to do next. But it's unrealistic to expect ourselves to be perfect, so why should we expect our dogs to be perfect?
Every animal who comes through Brown Dog is an individual with unique life experiences, preferences, fears, and emotions. Adopters have opened their hearts and homes time and time again to dogs who weren’t perfect for someone else, but a dog who is perfect for them. We’ve found there are no universally perfect dogs, or perfect adopters, there are just perfect fits. Those fits are rooted in compassion, understanding, compromise, and imperfect people lovingly accepting their imperfect dogs for everything they are.
We are no longer impressed by having a robotic dog, devoid of free will or personality. We love our imperfect, goofy, vivacious, joyful dogs who learn and experience things in positive ways!
Relationships built on control, coercion or force aren't impressive. We're impressed by relationships filled with highs, lows, listening, learning, laughter and love. Jenny's post made us say, "more of THIS."