I'm in the same boat. I have a female staffordshire terrier whom I've had to give to my step brother after I had her for 3 years. I always thought I was a dog person. But having her, made me start hating dogs. The constant need for attention. The destructive behavior, the seemingly never ending walks that seen to do absolutely nothing to help with expending her energy.

I dont like playing with her. I tried many times engaging her with over a dozen different kinds of toys, got a few lick mats, even filled a kong with peanut butter and put it in the freezer for her when I went to work. Nothing helped. She just kept pissing and crapping everywhere because "she wasn't getting enough attention"
Bullshit. This dog was attached to my hip for 3 years and no matter how many walks I took her on, and no matter how long they were, they NEVER did a god damn thing. 7 months ago I gave her to my step brother because he and his girlfriend lived together and had her father there to keep her company. Then less than a day into my vacation in Michigan to commemorate my mom's first anniversary of her passing, he called me and said she had started fighting with his dog because she was getting overly possessive over his girlfriend and felt like she wasn't getting enough attention. Again.

They pressured me into taking her back and now I'm stuck with her again. And I know it's only a matter of time before I start hating her the same way I did when I first had her.

I tried making it clear to them that I wasn't going to be stepping into the same role as I did the first time, constantly trying to meet her every need, and want, and need, and want, and need, and want. Over, and over, and over again, for absolutely no gain. Nothing I did helped. And I think this dog is just broken. This is the third time she had to be rehomed and I don't have the knowledge, tools, or patience to deal with all of her problems.

One thing I tried to make very clear to them, I WAS NOT going to be a prisoner in my own home like last time. If she needs to go to a shelter. That's where she's going. End of discussion

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. I have a female staffordshire terrier whom I've had to give to my step brother after I had her for 3 years. I always thought I was a dog person. But having her, made me start hating dogs. The constant need for attention. The destructive behavior, the seemingly never ending walks that seen to do absolutely nothing to help with expending her energy.

I dont like playing with her. I tried many times engaging her with over a dozen different kinds of toys, got a few lick mats, even filled a kong with peanut butter and put it in the freezer for her when I went to work. Nothing helped. She just kept pissing and crapping everywhere because "she wasn't getting enough attention"
Bullshit. This dog was attached to my hip for 3 years and no matter how many walks I took her on, and no matter how long they were, they NEVER did a god damn thing. 7 months ago I gave her to my step brother because he and his girlfriend lived together and had her father there to keep her company. Then less than a day into my vacation in Michigan to commemorate my mom's first anniversary of her passing, he called me and said she had started fighting with his dog because she was getting overly possessive over his girlfriend and felt like she wasn't getting enough attention. Again.

They pressured me into taking her back and now I'm stuck with her again. And I know it's only a matter of time before I start hating her the same way I did when I first had her.

I tried making it clear to them that I wasn't going to be stepping into the same role as I did the first time, constantly trying to meet her every need, and want, and need, and want, and need, and want. Over, and over, and over again, for absolutely no gain. Nothing I did helped. And I think this dog is just broken. This is the third time she had to be rehomed and I don't have the knowledge, tools, or patience to deal with all of her problems.

One thing I tried to make very clear to them, I WAS NOT going to be a prisoner in my own home like last time. If she needs to go to a shelter. That's where she's going. End of discussion

This is a ticking time bomb.

I adopted my dog from a rescue when she was just under 1.5 years old. She had been re-homed after 1 year with her first family. When I first adopted her (almost 10 years ago now) I felt angry and sad towards her first family wondering why they decided to give up the dog so young. Fast forward 10 years, she's such an amazing part of my life and I love her so much that I think how lucky I was that her first family gave her up so that I could have her in my life. She had a rough start but is well adjusted now and living her best life. As long as you have given it your best shot and you are responsible about where you surrender the dog to, do what's best for you and the dog.

I'm in the same boat. I have a female staffordshire terrier whom I've had to give to my step brother after I had her for 3 years. I always thought I was a dog person. But having her, made me start hating dogs. The constant need for attention. The destructive behavior, the seemingly never ending walks that seen to do absolutely nothing to help with expending her energy.

I dont like playing with her. I tried many times engaging her with over a dozen different kinds of toys, got a few lick mats, even filled a kong with peanut butter and put it in the freezer for her when I went to work. Nothing helped. She just kept pissing and crapping everywhere because "she wasn't getting enough attention"
Bullshit. This dog was attached to my hip for 3 years and no matter how many walks I took her on, and no matter how long they were, they NEVER did a god damn thing. 7 months ago I gave her to my step brother because he and his girlfriend lived together and had her father there to keep her company. Then less than a day into my vacation in Michigan to commemorate my mom's first anniversary of her passing, he called me and said she had started fighting with his dog because she was getting overly possessive over his girlfriend and felt like she wasn't getting enough attention. Again.

They pressured me into taking her back and now I'm stuck with her again. And I know it's only a matter of time before I start hating her the same way I did when I first had her.

I tried making it clear to them that I wasn't going to be stepping into the same role as I did the first time, constantly trying to meet her every need, and want, and need, and want, and need, and want. Over, and over, and over again, for absolutely no gain. Nothing I did helped. And I think this dog is just broken. This is the third time she had to be rehomed and I don't have the knowledge, tools, or patience to deal with all of her problems.

One thing I tried to make very clear to them, I WAS NOT going to be a prisoner in my own home like last time. If she needs to go to a shelter. That's where she's going. End of discussion

Anonymous wrote:Y'all know dogs can be rehomed, right?

People who can't make good decisions shouldn't be responsible for other lives. Admit that you bit off more than you could chew and rehome the dog.

Only the stupidest of idiots would judge that decision, so if anyone gives you grief, thank them for letting you know they suck as people and move about your day.

It's okay to admit you made a mistake/error in judgment. You don't have to live a miserable life, and neither does the dog you don't love.

Sometimes the decision that seems to you to be the best in your life turns out to be the worst AFTER TIME. Unfortunately, we don't always know how the decision will affect us. Who knows? Only time...

Life is not a fairy tale. People make mistakes (not even knowing these are mistakes!)

I can't give my Dalmatian up for adoption - according to the law, it is the property of the breeder (I live in Europe). Besides, in the country where I live, giving up a dog is something terrible and is socially stigmatized. You gave up a dog? You are a demonic person who deserves nothing! That's the attitude here.

Not to mention that I would be crossed out in the breeder community and foundations. No one would ever give me another animal.

Besides, as I wrote - my husband loves this dog. And he will never agree to give him away.

Leaving him living on my parents' garden is an option but my husband would be lamenting, saying he misses the doggo and wants him back... Ugh...

It's not that easy!

Y'all know dogs can be rehomed, right?

People who can't make good decisions shouldn't be responsible for other lives. Admit that you bit off more than you could chew and rehome the dog.

Only the stupidest of idiots would judge that decision, so if anyone gives you grief, thank them for letting you know they suck as people and move about your day.

It's okay to admit you made a mistake/error in judgment. You don't have to live a miserable life, and neither does the dog you don't love.

I'm so glad I found this topic. I thought there was something wrong with me because I HATE MY DOG. I wanted a small, lovely dog ​​of a small breed and I got a 90lbs barrel-dog that's too big and too heavy and I'm just struggling with it.

He's a Dalmatian and this breed is really difficult. Especially males! I trained him as best I could and he's actually a great dog. So I know other people envy me having dog like him, but still... He gives me nothing but sadness and anger! He's never destroyed anything and doesn't make noise. But he was awful as a puppy and took up a lot of my time and energy! Now... my life with this dog is hard and miserable. Sometimes we take him to the countryside to my parents so he can play with another dog of them and have a garden at his disposal. My husband loves him, but I hate him. Unfortunately, the dog was our joint decision and I can't give him up. I wanted to have my own dog because I always wanted a dalmatian (and I've read ALL about this breed not to be disappointed or shocked by the breed's characteristics) and I always owned dogs, I thought I cannot live without one. My flat was empty without an animal. But oh God, how PEACEFUL and QUIET it was! I had different thoughts after buying this dalmatian and all I wanted was for him to die. In any way. I started believing I am a bad and evil person for thinking about this... But maybe I am not!

I always had dogs in my family home and I loved them, but... Exactly. We had a house with a garden and it was like salvation! And my dogs were smaller and lighter. And of easier personality (Dalmatians are just stupid, dominative and of strong personality, very clever and determined to get whatever they want). I always dreamed of having a Dalmatian and when I moved out and got married, a friend who was a breeder offered us his puppy. And I gave in! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WANT TO TURN BACK TIME AND NEVER GET THIS DOG! Unfortunately, we currently live in an apartment, we can't afford a house and we probably never will. We don't have a garden where a dog could live. I believe that large dogs of great weight and size should live in the garden, but not inside an apartment. We are doomed to be under one roof with a dog. This dog is too big and too heavy for me. When he comes back from a walk and is all muddy or just dirty, I can't lift him up and put him in the bathtub to wash him. The dog has to walk on the floor with his paws and dirty it himself! He doesn't fit in the bathtub. Bathing him is very challenging. The fur constantly clogs the drain in the bathtub, sink, and filters in the washing machine and dryer! I love walking him, but sometimes when the weather is not good, when I am sick, or just don't feel well, I hate the thought I have to walk him anyway. When this dog farts, the stench spreads throughout the whole flat, all the rooms! When he eats something bad, he gets diarrhea and I can't handle the stench and the amount of liquid poo I have to clean up (he usually gets diarrhea when we're at work. When he feels like he's going to have diarrhea, he lets us know and squeals, but when we're not home for 8-9 hours and he suddenly feels like he has to poo... Oh well!) Luckily, he's adapted to a crate, because if he had the whole house at his disposal, I'd go crazy!
Do you know what scares and depresses me the most? That this dog is only 3 years old. And he's going to live a long time. What am I going to do for the next dozen or so years with this dog, who is a real problem for me and is like a ball and chain, a pain in the a**?

God, give me strength... What have I done? What the devil tempted me to take this dog?

I have two cats and two dogs at home. I gave in 4 times for my wife and kids. I absolutely hate them in my house. They are gross. Dogs, Cats and all animals as pets are consumers of time and resources.
It’s a huge waste of time and money.

I have two cats and two dogs at home. I have in 4 times for my wife and kids. I absolutely hate them in my house. They are gross. Dogs, Cats and all animals as pets are consumers of time and resources.
It’s a huge waste of time and money.

Was looking for something else online but I found this interesting question.
Is owning pets a waste of the planet resources?
It was in an article that says, in the U.S., the 70 million dogs kept as pets largely eat meat-based diets. If you put all the American dogs, cats and other pets on their own island, they would rank fifth in global meat consumption, behind Russia, Brazil, the U.S. and China, and that pet dogs and cats are responsible for up to 30 percent of the environmental impact of animal agriculture in the U.S.
So, if we are trying to consume less and encouraging people to eat less meat, should we be feeding so much to pets?

I have been in this place and went ahead and just rehomed him. Life is too short to be miserable. Those that judged me just judged me. I decided not to let it get to me. Do what’s best for you. You never know what your dog is going to end up being like and it’s hard being stuck with one that you despise.

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 considered a dog during covid and we even began the process. I recognized that if we got a dog it would be mine with all of my responsibility. Could not do it. Hearts were broken and I would have been broken if we had gotten a dog. Sorry you are in this spot. Not sure what you can do.

Anonymous wrote:Some of you are so judgmental, I love my kids but the dogs drive me nuts now, they roll in poop, they eat poop, they sniff poop, one pees in his sleep, the other has a smelly bum, when we leave the pee in the house and have to crate them, they tear things apart, we can’t have anything nice and the whole house has to be deep cleaned all the time or smells, they constantly are at your feet tripping you, and people come over and say how well behaved mine are! We tried to let them wander the house when we leave, but they get into garbages, they pee, we put them in a room and they literally broke down the door… dogs are a lot of work. I loved them before but the constant everyday wears on you. If I could rehome them I would but they are my husbands

It's not judgmental to point out that dogs can be trained. You can train them, you can hire someone to train them, or you can complain until you hate them.

Choices are being made here. It's not "judgmental" to point out the facts.

Some of you are so judgmental, I love my kids but the dogs drive me nuts now, they roll in poop, they eat poop, they sniff poop, one pees in his sleep, the other has a smelly bum, when we leave the pee in the house and have to crate them, they tear things apart, we can’t have anything nice and the whole house has to be deep cleaned all the time or smells, they constantly are at your feet tripping you, and people come over and say how well behaved mine are! We tried to let them wander the house when we leave, but they get into garbages, they pee, we put them in a room and they literally broke down the door… dogs are a lot of work. I loved them before but the constant everyday wears on you. If I could rehome them I would but they are my husbands

Anonymous wrote:I hate dogs I hate my dog and every dog. My wife went behind my back and got that nasty mut. I told my son who is 17 that when he moves out to take that dog and if I ever see him again I’ll end him and I mean it. Dogs are and our dog in particularly are useless. Bring nothing to the table just a pure cost and nasty. Why would anyone want to live with an animal that licks its private parts and eats it own crap. They nasty and should be outside. If a human did that people wouldn’t let them sit on the couch but they will live with a dog just nasty. I hope our dog dies

I...

I think you may need therapy, PP.