Who Makes the Best Dog Owner?

Who Makes the Best Dog Owner?

Who Makes the Best Dog Owner?

For the audio version of these blog posts, tune into the USA Dog Behavior Podcast.

When people ask me, “Who makes the best dog owner?” they usually expect me to name a type of person. Maybe someone who works from home or someone with a big fenced yard. Maybe they’re thinking about people who had dogs as kids and grew up knowing all the basics.

But the truth is, none of those things guarantee success. I’ve seen dogs thrive in apartments and struggle in sprawling houses with massive backyards. I’ve met first-time dog owners who completely turned a difficult case around, and I’ve seen seasoned dog people miss the mark.

The best dog owners aren’t defined by lifestyle, experience, or even resources. What really matters comes down to four traits. They’re my mantra: patience, commitment, realistic expectations, and belief.

Let’s break them down.

Patience

Training and behavior change take time—lots of it. One of the biggest mistakes I see owners make is expecting fast results. They’ll say, “We worked on it for a week, but he’s still barking at the door,” or “She still panics when I leave.”

Here’s the truth: progress with dogs, especially those struggling with aggression or anxiety, rarely happens in a straight line. It’s more like two steps forward, one step back.

I worked with a client whose dog lunged and barked at every stranger on walks. At first, the owner wanted to know how long before the problem “went away.” My answer? I responded, “As long as it takes.” We started with baby steps—standing across the street, rewarding calm moments, and slowly building up. It took months before the dog could pass a neighbor on the same sidewalk without exploding. But that patience paid off, and today they enjoy walks together every single day.

Patience is what gives dogs the chance to actually learn and feel safe. Without it, frustration takes over, and the dog never gets the consistency they need.

Commitment

Patience by itself isn’t enough—you also need commitment. Commitment is what carries you through the tough days. It’s easy to train when things are going well; it’s harder when life gets busy or when your dog slips back into old habits.

I once worked with a dog who had severe separation anxiety. For weeks, the owners couldn’t leave for more than a couple of minutes at a time. That meant rearranging schedules, missing social events, and practicing the same tiny steps over and over. It wasn’t glamorous, but they stayed committed. Six months later, that dog could relax alone for several hours.

The best dog owners understand that commitment isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, over and over, even when it’s inconvenient.

Realistic Expectations

This might be the hardest trait of all, because expectations are emotional. We all imagine what life with our dog will look like—off-leash hikes, friendly dog park trips, or a perfectly behaved family companion.

But not every dog is built for every dream. Some dogs are never going to enjoy the dog park. Some will never be reliable off-leash. And that’s okay.

The best owners adjust their expectations to fit the dog in front of them. They learn to celebrate progress instead of chasing perfection. I’ve seen owners who gave up on the dog park dream and instead built quiet hiking routines where their dog could thrive. Those dogs weren’t “failures”—they were happy because their owners met them where they were.

When expectations are realistic, everyone—dog and human—feels more successful.

Belief

Finally, the trait that ties it all together: belief.

Belief that their dog can improve. Belief that they can learn new skills. Belief that change is possible, even if it’s slow.

This one matters more than people realize. I’ve met owners who felt their dog was “broken” or “hopeless.” But the owners who succeed are the ones who hold on to belief, even when it’s hard. That belief fuels their patience, strengthens their commitment, and softens their expectations.

I think of one family who adopted a dog with a bite history. They were nervous at first, but they believed they could make it work. They put in the time, learned new skills, and leaned into the process. Years later, that dog is a safe, beloved part of their family. Belief was the spark that carried them through.

So, Who Makes the Best Dog Owner?

It’s not about your house, your job, or your past experience. The best dog owners aren’t the ones with the fanciest toys or the biggest yards.

The best dog owners are the ones with patience, commitment, realistic expectations, and belief.

Patience gives dogs the time to learn. Commitment keeps owners going when things get hard. Realistic expectations make success possible. And belief—the steady hope that things can improve—keeps everything moving forward.

When those four traits come together, that’s when the real magic happens. Dogs grow, people learn, and relationships deepen in ways that last a lifetime.

So if you’re wondering whether you have what it takes, don’t worry about being perfect. Focus on these four traits, and you’ll already be the kind of owner any dog would be lucky to have.

For the audio version of these blog posts, tune into the USA Dog Behavior Podcast.

© 2025 Scott Sheaffer. All rights reserved.

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About Scott

Scott Sheaffer, CBCC-KA, CDBC, CPDT-KA, is a certified dog behaviorist. Scott specializes in the assessment and treatment of fear, anxiety, aggression and phobias in dogs six months and older.

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