From my time as a soldier to my time as a police officer, a term I heard all the time and adopted was the concept of taking ownership. This concept is very foreign to most people, especially today.
When you take ownership of something, you and you alone are responsible for everything to do with it. Lots of people have dogs, but few take ownership. You are bringing another living breathing creature with needs into your home and those needs have to be met daily no matter how you feel or what you have time for. Of course, a family owns the dog, but who in the family has taken ownership of it. Most families say they share ownership but that’s not true. By default, whether it is Dad or the kids who wanted the dog, it is Mom who ownership is forced upon. Face it, Mom usually picks up the slack that is left in the house. Moms are by nature nurtures so if the dog is not getting walked or fed, she is going to do it. Whether you have one dog or a pack, ask yourself who has taken ownership of each dog. Be honest who does the dog count on for food, water, space, toys, and attention? Is it the owner of the dog or is it someone else? Did that person ask for the responsibility??
When it comes down to it, most unwanted behaviors stem from the dog not having a specific person they can count on that consistently provides access to food, water and movement. The #1 issue is the dog not being bonded to at least one person by moving with them every day. People think because they have a yard their dog does not have to get walked. Imagine you live with three roommates. Two of them you just hang out and watch TV with, but one goes walking with you every day and makes you dinner every night. Which one are you going to bond with and have a relationship with? Which one are you more likely to pay attention to? Are you your dog’s roommate or have you taken ownership for them?