Thank you for acknowledging this duality. I’ve always had animals in my life and found them to be life affirming and then I got a dog who for the first year was a sweetheart turning into an anxious reactive time bomb at the age of one. He’s 7 now and to say that he’s caused family strain is an understatement. I have to manage his environment all the time, no days off, no relaxing the vigilance. He isn’t life enhancing but he’s my responsibility. When he’s had a good day I do feel some measure of satisfaction.
The dog I have right now was the worst mistake I've made. She is sweet and playful and loves everyone. She is a doodle. She also barks constantly and the only peace I have had in my home for 5 years is when she is staying at a friend's house. I feel so guilty and sad for her for articulating it here, but it is the truth.
I LOVE my dogs, but the first year of raising my ridgeback was sooooo stressful. And the year my coonhound found a house under the house and spent a literal full year trying to break into the crawl space and bite electrical wires to get to a mouse was STRESSFUL. They bring so much joy to me, but it’s not all roses and I love that you bring it up! A lot of people go into getting a dog without ever thinking about potentially long seasons of stress with them.
Thank you for acknowledging this duality. I’ve always had animals in my life and found them to be life affirming and then I got a dog who for the first year was a sweetheart turning into an anxious reactive time bomb at the age of one. He’s 7 now and to say that he’s caused family strain is an understatement. I have to manage his environment all the time, no days off, no relaxing the vigilance. He isn’t life enhancing but he’s my responsibility. When he’s had a good day I do feel some measure of satisfaction.
I so feel for you. Mine has made my life miserable.
Having cattle dogs can be so rewarding because their loving & hilarious personalities…but that occasional stubbornness!!!
The dog I have right now was the worst mistake I've made. She is sweet and playful and loves everyone. She is a doodle. She also barks constantly and the only peace I have had in my home for 5 years is when she is staying at a friend's house. I feel so guilty and sad for her for articulating it here, but it is the truth.
I LOVE my dogs, but the first year of raising my ridgeback was sooooo stressful. And the year my coonhound found a house under the house and spent a literal full year trying to break into the crawl space and bite electrical wires to get to a mouse was STRESSFUL. They bring so much joy to me, but it’s not all roses and I love that you bring it up! A lot of people go into getting a dog without ever thinking about potentially long seasons of stress with them.