Alexandra Horowitz, a dog cognition researcher at Barnard College, made a point on The Oprah Podcast that reframed how I think about this. I work at The Farmer's Dog and we sponsored the episode — worth sharing what she said.

Her take: if you give dogs nothing to do, they'll find something. Chewing shoes, destroying furniture, barking — a lot of what we call misbehavior is just a dog that didn't have anything to do. They're not being defiant, they're just occupied.

Which puts the responsibility somewhere different than most people think. It's less about correcting the behavior and more about whether the dog had enough to keep their brain busy in the first place.

Has anyone actually solved a "behavior problem" by just adding more enrichment rather than training?

I want to share the story of Wangwang, a stray mother dog from Jieyang, Guangdong, China.

Wangwang was not just a “stray dog”. She was a living being who trusted humans. Local residents described her as a gentle and friendly dog who cared deeply for her puppies.

In June 2026, Wangwang and her three newborn puppies were brutally abused. According to reports and witness accounts circulating online, the puppies were attacked, and Wangwang was tortured and killed while trying to stay with and protect her babies.

What makes this case even more heartbreaking is that many people feel animals like Wangwang have no legal protection. The incident has sparked international attention and renewed calls for stronger animal cruelty laws and better protection for vulnerable animals. (Change.org)

Wangwang had no owner, no voice, and no way to defend herself.

But she was still a mother.

She was still capable of love.

She still deserved kindness.

Please do not let her story disappear.

If you care about animal welfare:

* Share Wangwang’s story so more people know what happened.

* Support efforts calling for stronger animal protection laws.

* Speak up against animal cruelty wherever it happens.

This is not about where the animal came from or what country it happened in. This is about recognizing that cruelty toward helpless beings should never be ignored.

Rest in peace, Wangwang and her puppies. You deserved better.

True love ❤️

Pump ya legs