This article continues our reflections on safety and compliance (see previous articles) in ourrelationships with dogs. It began as a conversation with friends, who would tell me, “He just wants to be near me now that he likes me.” And as I listened, I tried to explain what it really is… and what it is not. I realised how difficult it is to convey in just a few words and so I decided to write about it.

Lately, I’ve been noticing a recurring pattern in posts and conversations on Facebook that promote ideas such as “obedience in 28 days” or frame visible compliance as a sign that a dog is settled and well-behaved. Watching this pattern emerge has led me to reflect on what we may be observing on the surface, what might be happening internally for the dog, and how this shapes the relationship between human and dog. From that reflection, this short article emerged.