"There Are No Bad Dogs, Only Bad Owners" Why I Don't Agree

You've probably heard the phrase, "There are no bad dogs, only bad owners." It's catchy, it's popular, and on the surface, it sounds like it supports the welfare of dogs. But here's the thing: I don't believe it. And before anyone jumps on the "bad dogs" part, don't worry, I'm not saying that. Behaviour isn't inherently good or bad. It's just behaviour. It's communication. It's context. It's an expressed need.

I do take issue with the sweeping judgment this phrase places on the humans who care deeply for their dogs, those who are trying, learning, and sometimes struggling.

Because the truth is, perfectly well-meaning, loving, responsible dog guardians can still face behaviour challenges. They can adopt a dog with a traumatic past, raise a puppy who turns out to have unexpected sensitivities, or do everything "right" and still end up with a dog who barks at strangers, growls at other dogs, or chews through the furniture when left alone.

That doesn't make them bad owners.

In fact, the scale of the issue shows just how common behaviour struggles are. According to a 2023 PDSA survey, around 60% of UK dog guardians report that their dog shows at least one type of problematic behaviour, such as barking, reactivity, destructiveness, or separation-related issues. Another UK study from Dogs Trust found that nearly 1 in 3 dogs given up for rehoming are surrendered due to behaviour concerns.

And yet, despite how common these issues are, there's a stigma, a subtle, constant pressure that if our dogs aren't "perfect," we've somehow failed. You see it every time someone apologises for their dog barking or looks ashamed when their dog reacts on a walk. People feel judged. Isolated. Embarrassed. And that's not just unrealistic, it's deeply unhealthy.

Of course, some dog guardians are irresponsible or neglectful. But even then, do we know what's happening in their lives? Do they have the emotional or financial capacity to care for another living being with complex needs and wants? Judgement doesn't fix the problem.

Of course, there are cases of wilful neglect and cruelty, and it’s right that we should be appalled by those situations.

Sometimes, though, the most dedicated guardians are the ones with the hardest paths. They're the ones changing their routines, researching endlessly, and learning to understand behaviour through a lens of empathy. They're not bad owners. They're human.

So maybe instead of repeating, "There are no bad dogs, only bad owners," we can try something more honest and more helpful:

"There are no bad dogs or bad owners, only relationships needing understanding, support, and compassion."