The Regal Life of Dogs Because Every Pup Deserves a Crown (Who definitely lives to serve Her Majesty… the dog)

BY TRACY MCQUARRIE

Let’s be honest, dogs are royalty. Always have been. Always will be. From the moment they strut into our lives with that confident “I own this couch now” attitude, they remind us of their noble heritage. Some wore jewelled collars in royal courts; others herded sheep with the precision of a general. But make no mistake, every dog carries the bloodline of greatness.

Think about it. Every dog, from your sausage-shaped Dachshund to the scruffy rescue with mystery parentage, was designed by nature, and a few creative humans, to do something brilliant. They’re experts. Professionals. Specialists in loyalty, sniffing, chasing, guarding, and melting hearts. That Border Collie pacing the yard isn’t being “obsessive” she’s genetically programmed to manage an empire of sheep. Your Terrier digging up the flowerbed? That’s a royal excavation mission. Even the dignified Pug, once bred to sit beside Chinese emperors, knows how to command a room with a single snort.

In today’s world, our dogs have moved from the fields to the sofas, from the kennels to our beds. They’ve become our children, we celebrate their birthdays, cook them special dinners, and talk to them in baby voices (don’t deny it). And while that love is beautiful, we can’t forget their dogness. They’re not mini humans in fur suits. They’re creatures of instinct, emotion, and purpose, navigating a world that makes about as much sense to them as a squirrel in a suit.

When a dog barks at a passer-by, chews your shoes, or sprints after a hadada, it’s not “bad behaviour.” It’s instinct, the noble language of their ancestors. In their world, those actions are magnificent. It’s us humans who’ve created a kingdom of rules they’re trying their best to understand.

Sadly, not all royal subjects find their palace. Many end up in shelters, not because they’re broken, but because their brilliance wasn’t understood. The herding of children, guarding homes, or chasing movement. Their regal traits, misunderstood, become their undoing. Yet, in the right environment, with people who see their brilliance, these same traits shine like crowns.

But here’s the truth: every dog deserves to be treated like the king or queen they are. They deserve people who honour their heritage, nurture their instincts, and help them thrive in our mad modern world.

When you walk into a room full of dog lovers, within five minutes, everyone’s whipped out their phones like paparazzi showing off their most prized celebrities. “Look at my baby!” Before long, it’s a full-blown royal parade of fur, floppy ears, and wagging tails. Admit it, your camera roll is 80% your dog’s face (and maybe a blurry tail or two).

There’s truly nothing more magical than the bond between humans and dogs. They love us in all our chaos, make us laugh when we least expect it, and remind us what loyalty really means. To us, they’re not just pets, they’re our little kings and queens, our best friends, our couch companions, and the reason our hearts feel full (and our beds feel smaller).

And it’s no wonder we treat them like royalty, many dogs literally were. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was bred to warm the laps of English monarchs. The Pekingese were once so sacred in China that only emperors could own them. Tibetan monks trusted the Lhasa Apso to guard their temples and bring good fortune and Marie Antoinette had a few Papillons fluttering around her palace.
But here’s the thing, whether your dog’s ancestors ruled palaces or roamed the streets, every single one carries the same noble spirit. My little brown dog, with his mismatched ears and unknown heritage, might not have a royal bloodline but in my world, he reigns supreme. Because when it comes to love, devotion, and heart-melting loyalty, every dog is born to wear a crown.

So, let’s raise a toast (and a treat) to the dogs who rule our hearts. Let’s admire the pointer’s point, the retriever’s joy, the hound’s howl. Let’s celebrate the courage of the rescue dog, the empathy of the therapy dog, the devotion of the family dog. They are not just pets, they are masters of love. Embrace their quirks, and celebrate their greatness. Because once you’ve loved a dog, truly loved one, you’ll know, no crown in the world shines brighter than the light in their eyes.

And if your pup happens to demand belly rubs, takes over the bed, expects their dinner at exactly 17h00, not a minute later and acts like they own your house, well… they probably do.

Thank you for helping us Save More Lives Tracy
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