Hey {{first_name}} Dog Parents 💌,
I used to cry after walks.
Not because anything “bad” happened.
But because I saw everyone else’s “perfect” dogs trotting past, off-leash, calm, camera-ready.
Meanwhile, mine was barking at birds. Pulling like a freight train. Ignoring every cue I whispered through gritted teeth.
I felt embarrassed.
Frustrated.
Like I was doing something wrong.
And then one day, an older woman passing by said something that stopped me cold:
“That dog clearly adores you. That’s all that matters.”
And just like that... I exhaled.
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✨ What Else You’ll Find Inside:
✔️ 10-minute treat recipes
✔️ Options for baked & no-bake
✔️ Ingredient safety tips
✔️ Ways to personalize for your pup
✨ The Shift: From “Perfect” to Present
I stopped trying to fix her.
And I started noticing her.
The way she checks in with me after every squirrel sprint.
The way she leans into my hand when I pet her just right.
The way she wakes up every morning ready to try again—no matter how yesterday went.
That’s when I met my Good Enough Dog.
🐾 What Is a “Good Enough” Dog?
The Good Enough Dog…
✔️ Loves you with their whole body, even if they bark at strangers.
✔️ Is learning, even when it looks like regression.
✔️ Feels safe enough to show their feelings—not suppress them.
✔️ Wakes up each day ready to try again.
They are not flawless.
But they are growing, trusting, and bonded—and that’s everything.
❤️ Real Talk: The Myth of the “Perfect Dog”
Social media doesn’t show the accidents. The anxiety. The messy middle.
It shows the polished heel. The flawless sit. The cuddly calm in matching outfits.
But real dogs?
They’re inconsistent. Quirky. Loud. Sometimes reactive. Sometimes clingy.
Just like us.
Perfection is a myth.
Connection is the goal.
💬 Tell Me This...
What makes your dog imperfectly perfect?
Reply to this email with your favorite “good enough” moment, I read them all. 🐾
Was it the time they barked through your Zoom call?
The way they press their paw into your chest when you cry?
Let’s share the real stuff.
🧠 TRIVIA CORNER
Q: What percentage of dogs experience behavioral quirks like reactivity, barking, or over-attachment?
A: Over 50%! Most dogs exhibit at least one behavior that deviates from the “perfect pet” image. It’s normal and totally manageable.
🧠 Why This Actually Works
Dogs have something called the gut-brain-immune axis.
That means what goes into the belly affects the brain.
What calms inflammation in the joints also lowers stress in the body.
What strengthens the gut helps regulate emotion.
This is more than a trend.
It’s biology.
And food that supports those pathways leads to a dog who feels calmer, moves freer, and ages slower.
📌 This is not about overfeeding or overcomplicating.
It’s about giving the body the ingredients it already knows how to use, to repair, restore, and protect.
🥄 How to Add Functional Foods Without Getting Overwhelmed
Start small.
No need to change their whole diet overnight.
ust build on what already works.
Here’s how:
Add a spoonful of canned pumpkin to meals
Cook up a simple egg and drizzle with a little olive oil
Sprinkle chia seeds or ground flax over their dinner
Offer a sardine once a week or a little bone broth in the evening
Rotate in a dollop of plain kefir or a few blueberries
📌 Pay attention to what shifts.
Their coat. Their poop. Their playfulness.
The truth is in the tail wags.
💬 QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Perfection is not when there is no more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
📸 JOIN THE CELEBRATION: Show Us Your Good Enough Dog
Post a photo of your dog being hilariously, beautifully imperfect.
That sideways sit. That crooked smile. That proud “stay” that lasted 0.7 seconds.
📲 Tag @usadogowners and and use #GoodEnoughDog
📧 Subscribe to our free Dog Owner Insider Newsletter and join a growing community of dog lovers just like you!
📢 STAY CONNECTED, WE’RE HERE WITH YOU, ALWAYS
📲 Follow Us for More Dog Fun!
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🐾 Loved this article? Share it with a fellow dog lover!
🧡 You’re Doing a Great Job
If your dog has ever made you feel like you’re not “getting it right,”
This is your reminder:
You’re not here to be perfect.
You’re here to be connected. Committed. Curious. Loving.
That’s what real dog parenting is made of.
And honestly? That’s more than enough.
Wags & gratitude,
Mark
USA Dog Owners Association
Because every dog deserves to feel their best. And so do you. 🐾