How do you deal when you hate having a dog?

[Anonymous]

We all have had relationship, boyfriends and girlfriends, that didn't work out. Nobody would shame you for breaking up with a human, why should we feel ashamed for breaking up with an animal. It doesn't make us bad people, it just means that it didn't work out as expected. If you're hating having a pet, re-home it, don't wait, do it now and start your life being happier.
I wish I could re-home my cat and dog. If I did it break the heart of my 3 kids, now 19, 16, 13. I'm gonna just suffer in silence for the sake of my kids and the first kid to get their own apartment after college will take the pets, I hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We got our dog about a year ago. We did a lot of research, I have experience with dogs, we all thought we wanted one.

Turns out I hate having a dog. Everyone else in the family is happy, and everyone does pitch in for her care. I just hate all aspects of being responsible for a pet.

As she gets older it’s gotten a little easier, but I’m so bummed I have to spend the next 12 years or so dealing with this. It’s such a contrast from having kids, my kids bring me SO much happiness, and the dog just feels like a total drag for me.

Anyone else been there? How did you cope?

I hate my dog too
She’s 5 years old now. For the first year or a bit more, she was pooping and peeing everywhere. I would get up in the morning and spend at least 40 minutes to clean all ground floor before heading to work. Then again the same after I got back from work. For almost two first years of her life she was basically gradually destroying my rented home. She’s 5 now, and only stopped peeing from happiness around 1,5 ago. To this day she’s peeing when she did something knowing she’s not allowed. I moved to a brand new house, I have everywhere wooden floors, so when she pees it’s easier to clean. Except for the stairs. Wooden stairs it’s not a good idea, someone could slip easily so I put a brand new carpet. She was never allowed upstairs, in my old house I could just close the door leading upstairs, but there is no door in the new house. Before I leave the house I must put a barricade made of chairs and all I can use to block the stairs and yet I come back home, she’s there. With barricades somehow untouched. She gets upstairs but can’t go back down because of all these obstacles. I yelled at her so many times, and even recently so hard I could barely speak the next day. I thought she got so scared of me she’ll never try to go upstairs ever again. How naive was I. Next day she went upstairs and when she heard me coming back home, she peed all over herself, my new carpet and the walls. I hate her! She always smells like wee. My home always smells like wee! My mop smells like wee from all the wee!!! She’s scared of absolutely everything. If a larger fly files into the house, she tries to hide in the smallest spaces! She hears people outside, heart attack! Hears noises, pees under herself. German Shepherd for f***k sake! I thought the older she gets the better she will be, more confident, that was naive too!
She’s very obedient during walks, I have no problem with calling her back to me even if she tries to chase a cat or a rabbit, even half way, I call her, she’s immediately gets back to me. She waits, stops when I ask, very smart, learns fast, etc, but as soon as I take her of lead, she runs in circles. I hate that in her. It’s so hard to eliminate that. I see results but it’s a such a slow process. I think it’s some kind of anxiety or something! This becomes very excessive when I take her places she’s never been before. I'm honestly ashamed to let her off the leash. On the other hand if I don’t, she’ll be pulling my arm off. About trips. I’ve got a large car, cause I wanted her to have a lot of space during our trips, and this was a mistake. Now she has so much space at the back, that she’s walking all over the place and whines aaaaalll the way, even for hours. This is getting worse the longer trip becomes. Making noises as if a pack of wild dogs was raping her back there. All this resulted in my decision of not taking her with us anymore. I feel always very guilty as some places would be perfect for her, loads of water or space for running, but she ruins every trip for us. I so want to give her away.
She’s a nightmare, she’s a weight! only reason she’s still with us is that my daughter loves her. I can’t think of a single benefit of having this dog and I’ve been thinking for months now. Not a single one. She destroys, acts like an idiot on a walk, timid, idiot in the car, idiot in new places, and for all that idiotic behavior she gives me I still have to spend money for her food, dental and medical etc. She’s a parasite! That’s how I started seeing her. A parasite! Now I know there’s never going to be a bond between us. It’s been 5 years and I hate her every day more and more. Before I got her I loved dogs, now I only counting the years that have left for her hoping there aren’t a lot

[Anonymous]

PP above, you need to hire a trainer. Those are mostly fixable bad habits, and your dog doesn’t understand when you “scream so much you can’t speak the next day.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We got our dog about a year ago. We did a lot of research, I have experience with dogs, we all thought we wanted one.

Turns out I hate having a dog. Everyone else in the family is happy, and everyone does pitch in for her care. I just hate all aspects of being responsible for a pet.

As she gets older it’s gotten a little easier, but I’m so bummed I have to spend the next 12 years or so dealing with this. It’s such a contrast from having kids, my kids bring me SO much happiness, and the dog just feels like a total drag for me.

Anyone else been there? How did you cope?

I hate my dog too
She’s 5 years old now. For the first year or a bit more, she was pooping and peeing everywhere. I would get up in the morning and spend at least 40 minutes to clean all ground floor before heading to work. Then again the same after I got back from work. For almost two first years of her life she was basically gradually destroying my rented home. She’s 5 now, and only stopped peeing from happiness around 1,5 ago...

...I can’t think of a single benefit of having this dog and I’ve been thinking for months now. Not a single one. She destroys, acts like an idiot on a walk, timid, idiot in the car, idiot in new places, and for all that idiotic behavior she gives me I still have to spend money for her food, dental and medical etc. She’s a parasite! That’s how I started seeing her. A parasite! Now I know there’s never going to be a bond between us. It’s been 5 years and I hate her every day more and more. Before I got her I loved dogs, now I only counting the years that have left for her hoping there aren’t a lot

Ladies and gentlemen, theybies and gentlethems: THIS IS WHY YOU CRATE TRAIN YOUR DOGS.

Lordy Jaysus, have mercy...

[Anonymous]

I hate my dog too
She’s 5 years old now. For the first year or a bit more, she was pooping and peeing everywhere. I would get up in the morning and spend at least 40 minutes to clean all ground floor before heading to work. Then again the same after I got back from work. For almost two first years of her life she was basically gradually destroying my rented home. She’s 5 now, and only stopped peeing from happiness around 1,5 ago. To this day she’s peeing when she did something knowing she’s not allowed. I moved to a brand new house, I have everywhere wooden floors, so when she pees it’s easier to clean. Except for the stairs. Wooden stairs it’s not a good idea, someone could slip easily so I put a brand new carpet. She was never allowed upstairs, in my old house I could just close the door leading upstairs, but there is no door in the new house. Before I leave the house I must put a barricade made of chairs and all I can use to block the stairs and yet I come back home, she’s there. With barricades somehow untouched. She gets upstairs but can’t go back down because of all these obstacles. I yelled at her so many times, and even recently so hard I could barely speak the next day. I thought she got so scared of me she’ll never try to go upstairs ever again. How naive was I. Next day she went upstairs and when she heard me coming back home, she peed all over herself, my new carpet and the walls. I hate her! She always smells like wee. My home always smells like wee! My mop smells like wee from all the wee!!! She’s scared of absolutely everything. If a larger fly files into the house, she tries to hide in the smallest spaces! She hears people outside, heart attack! Hears noises, pees under herself. German Shepherd for f***k sake! I thought the older she gets the better she will be, more confident, that was naive too!
She’s very obedient during walks, I have no problem with calling her back to me even if she tries to chase a cat or a rabbit, even half way, I call her, she’s immediately gets back to me. She waits, stops when I ask, very smart, learns fast, etc, but as soon as I take her of lead, she runs in circles. I hate that in her. It’s so hard to eliminate that. I see results but it’s a such a slow process. I think it’s some kind of anxiety or something! This becomes very excessive when I take her places she’s never been before. I'm honestly ashamed to let her off the leash. On the other hand if I don’t, she’ll be pulling my arm off. About trips. I’ve got a large car, cause I wanted her to have a lot of space during our trips, and this was a mistake. Now she has so much space at the back, that she’s walking all over the place and whines aaaaalll the way, even for hours. This is getting worse the longer trip becomes. Making noises as if a pack of wild dogs was raping her back there. All this resulted in my decision of not taking her with us anymore. I feel always very guilty as some places would be perfect for her, loads of water or space for running, but she ruins every trip for us. I so want to give her away.
She’s a nightmare, she’s a weight! only reason she’s still with us is that my daughter loves her. I can’t think of a single benefit of having this dog and I’ve been thinking for months now. Not a single one. She destroys, acts like an idiot on a walk, timid, idiot in the car, idiot in new places, and for all that idiotic behavior she gives me I still have to spend money for her food, dental and medical etc. She’s a parasite! That’s how I started seeing her. A parasite! Now I know there’s never going to be a bond between us. It’s been 5 years and I hate her every day more and more. Before I got her I loved dogs, now I only counting the years that have left for her hoping there aren’t a lot

You have obviously no idea how to train and handle a dog. Poor dog.

[Anonymous]

I am in a similar boat. My wife REALLY wanted a dog once our nest emptied. I did NOT but I told her I would sign off as long as it was her problem to deal with. She agreed but she has not curtailed her travel habits which means I am left dealing with it when she is away. HATE it. I get angrier with every trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in a similar boat. My wife REALLY wanted a dog once our nest emptied. I did NOT but I told her I would sign off as long as it was her problem to deal with. She agreed but she has not curtailed her travel habits which means I am left dealing with it when she is away. HATE it. I get angrier with every trip.

Put it in a kennel while she is away. You were clear about your boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all have had relationship, boyfriends and girlfriends, that didn't work out. Nobody would shame you for breaking up with a human, why should we feel ashamed for breaking up with an animal. It doesn't make us bad people, it just means that it didn't work out as expected. If you're hating having a pet, re-home it, don't wait, do it now and start your life being happier.
I wish I could re-home my cat and dog. If I did it break the heart of my 3 kids, now 19, 16, 13. I'm gonna just suffer in silence for the sake of my kids and the first kid to get their own apartment after college will take the pets, I hope.

This is a good way to frame it. I see people saying "you wouldn't return your child!" but that's a whole different level from a pet. I think boyfriend/girlfriend is more appropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try to empathize. I can't stand many aspects of parenting a toddler but then I remind myself she is an innocent, small being who just wants to be loved, and it humbles me and gives me perspective. For the day-to-day stuff that grinds me down, I try to "outsource" as this forum puts it.

Toddlers are frustrating but they are like that for 2-3 years max and get taught and learn how to grow up. I am struggling so much with a dog that indignantly will not go to the bathroom outside because he wants to sleep with us. He has no health issues, just separation anxiety. We even built him a platform at the end of our bed in hopes he will feel close enough to us and stop pissing all over the house at night but to no avail. Diapers it is, for a 6 year old dog. I’m at an absolute loss and cannot find it in my heart to not be so angry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try to empathize. I can't stand many aspects of parenting a toddler but then I remind myself she is an innocent, small being who just wants to be loved, and it humbles me and gives me perspective. For the day-to-day stuff that grinds me down, I try to "outsource" as this forum puts it.

Toddlers are frustrating but they are like that for 2-3 years max and get taught and learn how to grow up. I am struggling so much with a dog that indignantly will not go to the bathroom outside because he wants to sleep with us. He has no health issues, just separation anxiety. We even built him a platform at the end of our bed in hopes he will feel close enough to us and stop pissing all over the house at night but to no avail. Diapers it is, for a 6 year old dog. I’m at an absolute loss and cannot find it in my heart to not be so angry.

Crate. Train. Your. Dog.

Seriously.

Why the fsck do some of you let your dogs piss "all over the house"?! Cut off his water intake around 6, take him out for "last call" at 9, and crate him overnight. Puppies can handle this. That your 6-year old dog doesn't indicates a tragic lack of training doggie diapers aren't going to fix.

The crate works because dogs instinctively don't want to mess in their dens. Make sure it's only big enough for the dog to turn around and lie down, not so big that he can mess in it and escape to the other side. Problem should be solved in under a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m thinking of rehoming my dog for the same reason. She a great dog but just not the dog for me. Fortunately she is healthy and well trained so I know she will find a new and better home. She was my husbands dog who died during Covid.

No she won’t. Most dogs rehomed wind up euthanized. Even if you give back to a breeder they wind up at shelters and are usually euthanized same day. Pull it together. Tired of selfish dog owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m thinking of rehoming my dog for the same reason. She a great dog but just not the dog for me. Fortunately she is healthy and well trained so I know she will find a new and better home. She was my husbands dog who died during Covid.

No she won’t. Most dogs rehomed wind up euthanized. Even if you give back to a breeder they wind up at shelters and are usually euthanized same day. Pull it together. Tired of selfish dog owners.

Tired of holier than thou people demanding people keep pets when circumstances change or it's not the right fit. There is a lot of gray area between keeping a dog in a situation where no one is happy and guaranteed euthanasia.