Living in Fullerton, there are so many households with dogs.

When I go for a walk in the neighborhood, sometimes I recognize the dogs before the people.

Even if I don't know their names, I think, "Oh, that's the golden retriever from that house," or "There's the Maltese and Pomeranian duo that barks all the time."

However, I recently saw a photo online that made me laugh for a long time.

A chihuahua was unresponsive when its owner called, so the owner thought it had gone blind and took it to the vet, only to find out it was just ignoring the owner out of spite.

It seems we've entered an era where we need to care for dogs' mental health too.

In fact, dogs can feel stress, anxiety, and boredom just like humans.

Especially dogs that are left alone at home all day can show signs of separation anxiety, and their behavior may change if their living environment suddenly changes or if they spend less time with their owners.

Thinking about it, the lives of dogs in Fullerton are quite varied.

Some dogs go for morning walks with their owners at Hillcrest Park, then spend the afternoon at dog daycare, and enjoy organic treats in the evening.

In the summer, they get the air conditioning cranked up, and on their birthdays, they even get cakes.

Compared to the dog I had in Korea when I was young, they live like the pampered youngest child of a wealthy family.

But even with all that care, it seems dogs can still have complaints.

If their owner is busy for a few days and takes them for a rushed walk, or if a new puppy comes into the house, or if they don't get cuddled like before, their behavior can change.

They might stop eating well and seem lethargic, or lose interest in toys they usually love.

The problem is that dogs can't talk.

If they were human, they might send a text saying, "I feel like you've been ignoring me lately," but instead, they just lie in the corner of the sofa and give you the silent treatment.

Especially chihuahuas have such serious expressions that make you wonder what you did wrong when they stare at you.

However, it's also dangerous to assume that a dog is depressed just because it seems down.

If their appetite suddenly drops or they just sleep all the time and don't move, it could be due to pain or another illness, so it's best to check with a vet first.

If there's nothing physically wrong, then we can consider stress or anxiety as possible causes for the behavioral changes.

Ultimately, managing a dog's mental health doesn't have to be complicated.

It's about taking them for regular walks, playing with them, not leaving them alone for too long, and maintaining a somewhat consistent routine.

In the past in Korea, people thought that just feeding and giving water to a dog was enough to raise it.

But after coming to the U.S., I've seen that dogs go to the dentist, have insurance, attend daycare, and now we even have to consider their emotional well-being.

Who knows, we might see a day when dog therapy centers open up, and owners sit next to their dogs saying, "Doctor, my dog hasn't been making eye contact with me lately," during consultations.

But looking back at the chihuahua's expression in the photo, it's not really a laughing matter.

With that kind of expression, it seems like the owner might have done something wrong. Haha.