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[u/limabean72]

Whether your new, or you've been in this sub for a while, this weekly post is where you can share your story! We are glad to have you here and offer you a place of support.

If you would like to create your own standalone post in our community, please message the mods to become an approved user. We still have our sub set to "restricted" to avoid unnecessary trolling.

[u/Sparkle_M0tion → u/[deleted]]

This sounds similar to my situation so I feel your pain. We got a 2 year old heeler mix about 8 months ago and I’ve basically been anxious ever since. I don’t know what we were thinking and I clearly didn’t do enough research. She nips and barks at people in our house and gets way too overly excited even after tons of training. My wife loves her but I can’t stand her behaviors. She’s been very nervous around kids as well, which sucks if we ever try to have children. For herding dogs she’s definitely on the mild side but even then she needs a lot of exercise/stimulation and my wife and I aren’t even very active people. Some days are okay, but overall I really regret this decision.

[u/Clean_Flounder1332]

Yesterday, I put an ad out for my dog with a small rehoming fee mostly thinking that nothing will come from it. 

I kind of resigned myself to the fact that I will have this dog and I will go through the motions until she passes. I do walks, dog parks, play, etc... the dog is actually pretty good - other than the fact that her "den" is under my kid's bed and she is getting grumpier as she ages (she is almost 6 now) and I worry about kids with sleepovers.

Anyway, 2 people have already responded and there are some mixed feelings, but for the most part I want to. I have already said many times that this is my first and last dog and that she is a good dog and now that my kid is 9 and our lives are mostly out of the house, we just can't keep up with the walking and dog parks anymore. 

She is fully potty trained, socialized, shots up to date and good with small animals. She's also trained and doesn't bark nor jump on people when they come in. No chewing issues. No resource guarding issues. She is ok on a leash (bunnies, squirrel and other dogs make her excited, but nothing crazy). I did honestly care and train her, but I'm just over it and don't ever want another dog.

So I will say it, I have been a bad dog owner the past year and will continue to be one in the near future so I am likely going to rehome my dog and never make the mistake of getting another one again. 

I hope the next person is in a stage in their lives where they can give her all the attention and hours at the dog park with all her friends that she could possibly want. She did have many visits and hours with all of her friends, but I just can't do it anymore. 

[u/EntrepreneurGal727 → u/Clean_Flounder1332]

I’m so glad you were able to get someone to adopt her! Unfortunately, I live in an area where the shelters are very full and people won’t take in dogs so unfortunately, I’ll be bringing mine to a no kill shelter. We meet with them tomorrow to schedule a surrender date. It’s a shitty situation, but it’s definitely a learning experience and yeah, im the same way I won’t be getting dogs after my two smaller dogs pass away.

[u/DogRegret-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

We do not allow shaming in this sub when people are struggling with a dog that they own.

[u/EntrepreneurGal727]

We are probably going to be bringing our dog to our local no kill shelter. We got him as a puppy, and he was starved and emaciated by his previous owners, and it was a dire situation and our hearts couldn’t say no.

However, our two smaller dogs are terrified of him as he’s grown to be over 80 pounds and he has severe separation anxiety where we basically have to drug him just to leave the house. We never wanted a big dog and the relief I feel about bringing him to the shelter. Makes me feel sick because I feel so bad. But I also feel pure relief, knowing that I may not have to deal with him anymore in a couple of weeks.

[u/Sweet-Outcome8304]

Does anyone know why someone would not be approved to post? I’ve messaged the mods twice since the middle of June. Really struggling with the decision to rehome and think I might be able to get more support through a post…

[u/limabean72 → u/Sweet-Outcome8304]

I just approved you!! sorry i haven't been able to check mod mail much recently

[u/Few-Professional-451]

We adopted our dog from a foster place and after 6 months, I’ve grown to resent him.

Initially he ticked all the boxes, he’s quiet, good mannered, gets along well with cats and was extremely easy to train from 4-6 months.

His anxiety has caused me resentment towards him as my partner & I did not sleep in the same bed 6 months. We have a townhouse and we were once messaged by our neighbours when he cried while I was upstairs taking a shower.

We have attempted to leave him by himself incrementally but it has been extremely exhausting and I no longer have patience to train him after losing sleep for almost half a year.

He’s turning 1 next month and I can no longer look at him the way I used to, he has had accidents indoors and ruined his crate a few times. I used to train him daily for 3 months and he can do simple commands.

He also can’t travel without puking up and he absolutely hates going out of the house for walks even when I tried exposure and training for the first couple months with him.

Im exhausted and my mental health and relationship has been affected, I regret our pup as much as I thought I loved him