I almost don’t know where to begin with this post - please take 5 minutes to read and respond - your advice and comments would mean the world right now.
If you are able to view my old posts you will see that we raised concerns over Watsons anxiety when we first got him at 4 months old. Unfortunately things have really been spiralling over the last 2 months and the situation 2 months on is worse than ever.
I can’t stress this enough - my husband wants to rehome our dog and I have no idea what to do
Since we took Watson home he has been completely obsessed with my husband. My husband doesn’t have a moments piece - the dog follows him from room to room. Even if we have a stair gate up , Watson will go crazy - howling, barking, crying, biting himself, drooling. I will be in the room with him but he will not even pay attention to me he just wants my husband.
If my husband goes to the toilet it’s chaos until he comes back. If my husband needs to go to the shops ( I don’t drive) then I have an hour of the dog going crazy and scratching the doors to escape. I have tried ignoring the behaviour and only responding and praising when he’s quiet , it makes no difference. The neighbours have complained twice to the RSPCA as if we aren’t caring for the dog. We really are. He is so well cared for and he isn’t left alone for more than a few minutes because of these issues but they have said that we must not be caring for him as he has periods where they hear him going rather crazy. And he is LOUD.
I have been doing training where I leave and come back into the room and trying to build it up. I am lucky if I get past 5 seconds without him going crazy.
I have approached a few trainers who are not able to visit due to lockdown and both have said it’s a very extreme case and he may even need medication. My vet doesn’t agree with medications as he isn’t reactive. I am trying to book some training sessions with one of the ladies but she has no availability right now and the advice she is giving is already the steps I am doing.
My husband really has no bond with the dog and says his mental health is declining - he feels trapped and as though he has no freedom since he came along. He is extremely overwhelmed. The first few weeks I put it down to puppy blues - it’s a big life style change , but he certainly isn’t himself right now. I know you might be reading this and thinking my gosh that’s a bit extreme - but I do understand where my husband is coming from. It has been a very difficult few months. We looked at getting a dog for a few years, so didn’t expect to feel like this in a million years.
I adore Watson and feel absolutely awful that this is happening, I feel awful that he gets so anxious but it’s also a huge strain on me and my husband. We work from home and we have had occasions where Watson has just lost it during important work calls, eg if my husband has had to go upstairs because I am on one downstairs, and become incredibly anxious and we have had to come off the call. My husband has been pulled up by his director regarding this.
The local dog Walker and dog day care won’t take him at all due to the behaviour issues and for fear of making him worse.
I am at my wits end - I can’t stop crying, the atmosphere in the house this week is bloody miserable as my husband wants me to find the dog a new home - I’m sure as dog owners you can imagine how much the thought of that breaks my heart. I know Watson has his issues but it’s not his fault that he is like this, he has a lovely personality - yes, a little nutty and mischievous but he is as gentle as can be.
I suppose we were well prepared for sleepless nights, toilet accidents, potentially chewed clothes and furniture but this wasn’t a scenario we foreseen.
To make matters more different we have 2 cats who we obsess over and adore - since Watson arrived they don’t like to come in as he chases them. One is a very large cat who will happily stand his ground and swipe Watson , but the other is tiny and Watson will not leave her alone - he almost locks on to her and won’t stop barking until she is removed from the room . Of course we are also working on this and keeping them separate but it’s another reason for my husband to be upset - he treats this cats like children!
Please pleas does any one have any advice. Please try not to be too mean or judgemental. My husband is generally a good man and loves all of ours pets - I didn’t forsee this outcome AT ALL or I would never have taken Watson into our home as now we risk him having to leave which will not only be hugely upsetting for us but very distressing for him too.