“We live together with a dog, we named her Lotche-la. She now gets vegan food because she likes everything, including vegetables, fruit, beans, herbs, etc. And because of her weight and because we are also vegan, so the whole family is vegan when she also eats vegan. She is currently on chunks of vegan dog food For wild love – those are the favourite. The food is light, smells good and has a good bite for Lotche-la.

Lotche-la is six years old and over the years I have come to realize that she has her own personality with likes and dislikes. She communicates with her eyes, muzzle, tail, posture, barks, sounds, walk, emotions on her face and body language. If she has a goal in mind, has devised a plan to get something done, she is strategically in her favor and uses her communication skills. At the Happy Pack, the shelter she goes to three days a week, they put puppies or frightened dogs with her, because Lotche-la can indicate very clearly how far you can go and if you are afraid, you can safely feel with her. She then seems to put a paw on the frightened dog or puppy. Lotche-la is also quirky. When we go for a walk, we determine together what the direction will be, but if I want to go right and she wants to go left, she will sit on the ground and cannot be moved forward. This is her way of expressing her disagreement. This also happens in other circumstances, Lotche-la can make her own choices in her own way and from her perspective. If she disagrees with something, she protests. But is this learned behavior or her way of influencing a situation? Does she question an existing power relationship between us with this behaviour? She is often willing to negotiate, but in some cases she does not make concessions. No is no! Eventually we walk her way, because I don't feel like dragging her down the street. Lotche-la can clearly indicate in situations what she wants or what she prefers or dislikes. This is because she is an individual.” — Alejandra

Written in June 2023