What the Dog Knew: How Covert Narcissists Treat Their Pets

How someone treats the family dog or cat can tell you a lot about covert narcissism, and it can reveal what you’ve been living with all along. In this episode, Renee Swanson explains how a covert narcissist treats their pets: as supply, as a trophy, as something to control, and sometimes as a pawn in separation and divorce. She shares the story of her German shepherd, whose reactions confirmed what Renee had spent years doubting in herself. If you’ve been walking on eggshells, wondering whether your reactions were reasonable, this conversation offers validation and a new kind of evidence: the witness who had no reason to lie. Renee also covers love bombing and neglect, triangulation, and practical steps for protecting your pet during narcissistic abuse recovery. Renee’s book, This Is Not Okay: Escaping the Invisible Grip of Covert Narcissistic Abuse, is available now on Amazon and Audible. Learn more at www.covertnarcissism.com Ready to move from understanding to action? Join Renee’s coaching program at covertnarcissism.com . Subscribe to the Covert Narcissism Podcast so you never miss an episode. The information provided by Renee Swanson, the Covert Narcissism Podcast, and CNG Life Coaching is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be used for diagnosis and is not a substitute for professional clinical care. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. The content discussed in this podcast reflects general patterns of narcissism and is based on Renee Swanson’s personal experiences as well as stories shared with her over many years. Nothing in this content claims that any specific person has narcissism, and it should not be used to refer to or identify any specific individual as a narcissist. Linking to or reposting this material to support such a claim is an unauthorized misuse of this content. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.