I hate my dogs

[theogcd]

I’m just using this as a space to vent because I can’t post it anywhere else
but I’ve come to hate my dogs.
i have 3, too many for my small house.
when I got my first 2, i had just moved into this house. I actually because a dog walker and it really took off.
i spent all my days with dogs and it was a good laugh.
and then my mental health took a serious turn, I feel like my whole personality changed. I hated my job and my dogs just started to frustrate me.
fast forward a bit, I got put on anti depressants and I became euphoric. Life was the best thing ever and I loved everyone and everything to the max, and I got another flipping dog.
dont get me wrong, the dogs are all well trained, usually well walked and basic care always kept on top of.
but I just hate them. They annoy me so much, I hate the constant licking and looking for my constant attention.
I know it’s my fault, and I feel like a fraud because people know me as this huge dog lover but I’m just not anymore. I dislike dogs in general and the whole culture around them now.
I feel like I could never rehome them because the guilt would be so deep, and I’d be so embarrassed. They don’t have a bad life, but I do ignore them sometimes and get annoyed at them for just being here.
i know it’s not their fault, and I do love them deep down. But I just regret having them and if I could do it over again, I wouldn’t.

anyone else feel like this? Or am I just a complete asshole. Probably!

How old are they? How long have you had them and how long have you felt like this?

This might sound odd but I’m not sure I actually believe that you hate them. I don’t see how you can go from how you used to be , to hating them tbh. I suspect it’s more to do with your medication & mental health than the dogs. I also wonder if you really appreciate that if you didn’t have dogs to walk etc would you really leave the house? You strike me as vulnerable and I wonder how much the dogs are actually providing you with some structure.

The other thing you could do would be to have a rest. It can be unrelenting if you live alone to also be walking the dogs all the time - any chance of getting someone else to do all the walking for a week??? So you can have a proper break. Best of luck. I think you will regret separating yourself from them. Kindly - they also won’t be there forever; the same as none of us will. Xx

Please rehome them, they deserve to be loved and adored! What breed/s are they?

It sounds as though your mood is affecting your relationship with them. I think you need to address that, and then work on falling back in love with them.

Dogs are needy fuckers, and when we’re low, we can suffer from compassion fatigue.

They actually are so well trained. I’ve dedicated about 10 years of my life working with dogs. Qualified dog trainer. I’ve fostered and volunteered. I was also a dog walker for about 7 years, all my dogs have been out in group walks so very well socialised too.
but i like that you read one sentence of that and ran with it. Exactly the kind of comments people want on here.
like I said, the post was a rant. And it’s my mental health that’s doing this.

Do they actually deserve to be “loved and adored”, whatever that means, or what about living in a relaxed home where they are well looked after?

This isn’t the same as people in a loveless marriage who separate in hope of finding a soulmate🙄

I’d go back to the GP. It’s not normal to go from loving dogs and them bring a big part of your life to then hating them.

How old are they? Younger ones are of course easier for the kennel to rehome than older ones.

If you've truly decided you don't want them, then do what you feel you need to. I won't comment on your getting another one when you weren't in any fit state to. Your post was a painful read. I adore dogs. We were offered the most beautiful tan coloured, bright blue eyed puppy recently (by the RSPCA, we have adopted from them regularly in the past) but sadly had to say no as we already have two dogs of completely opposite ages and I didn't want the dog to come third.

Can’t you just ride it out until they die? They’re animals and being pushed away for licking, mithering and demanding attention is not cruel or abusive.

I can’t imagine ever feeling this way about my lovely dogs. It sounds like they will pick up on you informing them and the fact that you hate them is concerning. I would look to a reputable charity who can find them a home where they can be loved as they should be.

Dogs convert inedible meat into dog shit.

There is a woman around the corner from me who collects dogs that are about to be put down; she has about 7 at last count. Utter nut job.

What breeds are they? Could you contact breed specific rescues I’ve looked at Labrador and spaniel ones before where they sometimes take dogs into foster homes (it was a while ago, so not sure if they are still running)

What about all the sheep, lambs etc that are being slaughtered to feed her dogs?

This country puts them on a par with children. Do not feel guilty for rejecting the fur baby hysteria. Feed them, walk them when you can, visit a vet but do not feel guilty for not liking them. Be kind to yourself.

Rejecting? She is literally a dog walker and she chose to get dogs, then got more when she knew she wasn't in any position to.

She can have a change of heart and suddenly find them annoying.
Not loving them but meeting their needs is doable.

I totally get you OP. I loved animals, had multiple careers involving animals, and I had 2 cats and a dog at home. Then I had kids and multiple bouts of depression. And I just can't with animals anymore. It's the demand from other living things. It's too much for me now.

I haven't had depression for many years, but I've never resumed my love for pets. Two of my three died from cancer, so I'm down to one elderly cat. Once he goes that's it.

Are you still working with dogs? It sounds like you may be worn down from being around dogs 24/7 and your mental health isn't too good right now. The cycling of moods is worth speaking to a professional about as it could be helped with a change in meds or therapy.

If you'd written the same post about your children and your job was teaching, I can guarantee many of the responses would be very different. It seems like you don't want to give up on your dogs and are meeting their needs at the moment. As a trainer, your bar for taking care of them is likely to be much higher than some random who decides on a whim it would be cute for their kid to have a dog to play with. Do you really hate them, or are you just going through a tough spot with your mental health and are not able to be as attentive as you usually would with them?

Of course if you're feeling this way for an extended length of time or your mental health continues to get worse, then you may need to reassess things. Don't let perfectionism get in the way of being good enough for your dogs.

What an awful thing to say they didn’t ask to go to your house, you choose them. Get a pet charity to take them asap.

Except as the poster above you say it’s not like they will end up with loving families, they will (if lucky) go to kennels, might be rehomed and will probably be split up so as well as losing op will lose each other.

These are living, loving beings and saying “just dogs” does them a massive injustice. I hope you aren’t as heartless as you seem.

I am going against the grain here and say you shouldn’t rehome them. They’re your responsibility, they love you and you’re their whole life. You took them on so find a way to make it work. I felt like this briefly about my cat when I was perimenopausal but there was no way I’d have parted with her.

The dogs will pick up on this and you need to also look after yourself. Rehoming would be for the best.

I have rescue pets so unlike previous comments I think yes there are homes and people waiting out there in the wings.

This thread confuses me. On another thread a poster said her puppy was affecting her mental health and the overwhelming consensus was to rehome.

In this thread kind of the opposite.

I am firmly in the camp of dogs are not humans. That said I do believe as the humans we have the responsibility to make decisions that are sometimes painful but necessary.

OP - completely understanding that its your mental health talking (I have similar struggles). I hope you are ok. I do think the dogs would benefit from either a temporary foster arrangement / rehome, to give you the space to get well. You have shown real self awareness, now it might be time for the self care you owe yourself.

Best of luck.