A new book by Melina Jacques examines the contradictions in human-dog relationships and asks whether common practices associated with dog ownership always serve dogs’ interests. Its central argument is that responsible care requires more than affection: it also means considering the consequences of the relationships people create with animals.
In an interview with Marc Bekoff, Jacques says dogs are widely associated with compassion, loyalty and virtue. She argues that this powerful cultural image can make it harder to discuss harms linked to dog ownership, including attacks, persistent barking, neighbourhood disputes and pressure on municipal resources.
Jacques also describes ecological effects, including wildlife disturbance, disease transmission, pollution from dog waste and predation. She cites research linking dogs to 11 vertebrate extinctions and identifying nearly 200 species threatened by their impacts. Other concerns include domestic dogs interbreeding with wild canids and the effects of dog scent on wildlife behaviour.
The book also questions whether modern ownership consistently meets dogs’ needs. Jacques points to breeding for physical traits that can cause inherited health problems, and to the use of psychotropic medication to manage behaviours that may reflect distress or unsuitable living conditions. She argues that addressing underlying causes matters more than treating behaviour simply because people find it inconvenient.
Jacques places these issues within a broader examination of dog culture, including the commercial interests surrounding food, grooming, training and veterinary services. She also considers how owning a dog can become part of a person’s identity and moral self-image, making criticism of dog-related practices feel personal.
Jacques says she hopes readers will think more critically about dogs’ needs while widening their concern to include human communities, wildlife, ecosystems and other animals affected by people’s relationships with dogs.
Sources: Psychology Today.