“We live together with a dog, and we named her Lotche-la. She eats vegan food now because she likes everything—vegetables, fruit, beans, herbs, etc.—and also for her weight and because we are vegan ourselves, so the whole household is vegan when she eats vegan too. She currently eats Voof Wild Love vegan kibble, which is her favorite. The food is light, smells good, and has a nice texture for Lotche-la.

Lotche-la is six years old, and over the years I have realized that she has a very distinct personality with likes and dislikes. She communicates with her eyes, nose, tail, posture, bark, sounds, gait, facial expressions, and body language. When she has a goal in mind and has devised a plan to achieve it, she strategically uses her communication skills to her advantage. At the Happy Roedel, the daycare she goes to three days a week, they place puppies or anxious dogs with her because Lotche-la clearly shows how far you can go, and if you are scared, you can feel safe with her. She often places a paw on the scared dog or puppy.

Lotche-la is also strong-willed. When we go for walks, we decide together which direction to take, but if I want to go right and she wants to go left, she will sit down and refuse to move. This is her way of showing disagreement. This also happens in other situations; Lotche-la can make her own choices in her own way and from her perspective. When she disagrees with something, she resists. But is this learned behavior, or is it her way of influencing a situation? Does this behavior challenge an existing power dynamic between us? She is often willing to negotiate, but in some matters, she makes no concessions. No means no! Ultimately, we go her way because I don’t want to drag her down the street. Lotche-la can clearly indicate what she wants or what she likes or dislikes. This is because she is an individual.” – Alejandra