Regret

[Rockbottom42]

This won't be a popular opinion but I regret getting my animals, I'm in tears daily, it's not the puppy/kitten blues because they are 6 and 8.
I really struggle to afford them and they make my anxiety worse especially the dog. I dread to think this is my life for the next 10 years I've already done 6 and 8 😭
Wonder if anyone else feels the same?

My daughter can't walk him he's to strong for her.
I wouldn't let a stranger walk him.
People don't take any notice when told not to stroke him and stroke him anyway, if I'm not quick enough to get out of the way, I don't know what's wrong with people...they get all huffy when he barks at them.

I think that having him PTS without exploring other options isn't ok.
You might be surprised at how he adapts in another environment, dogs do adapt well when they have to.
I would be speaking to a local charity about him & asking what help they might be able to provide & rehoming might be one of the options or not, but if you don't ask you'll never know

Rockbottom42 you should ask your vet about a fluoxetine trial. It can be very helpful in managing the sort of severe anxiety you've described. It's not terribly expensive stuff. A 6 week trial would tell you if it helps. It might not do enough.

You are absolutely not a horrible person.

This forum is quite insane at times in its tendency to guilt trip animal owners who are struggling.

You are a person and you are entitled to a reasonable quality of life too. It's ridiculous that you should feel condemned to spend great chunks of your one and only precious life in stress, poverty and isolation because of some misguided belief that an animal's life is more important than yours.

If you posted here that your dog was crippled with arthritis and he was in constant distress, you'd get a flood of replies saying "let him go" and "better a month too soon than a day too late". You're describing an animal who is racked with severe and permanent anxiety, a worse condition than any amount of physical pain.

Animals are supposed to enhance your life, not ruin it.

Try the fluoxetine and if it doesn't effect a real positive change, let that dog go. The current situation is terrible and it's untenable for both of you.

I regret getting a frenchie. I’ve had him since he was 10 weeks old - he’s now 6 and still pissing and shitting in the house on a daily basis. I feel depressed at the thought of another 6 or so years of this. It’s disgusting, my house must stink.

@Rockbottom42 please don't let the fact that he's a Velcro dog put you off rehoming him.

Could you get in touch with a breed rehoming charity and talk it through with them?

We adopted a dog through a specific breed charity last year.

She was very bonded with her
owner and also doesn't like other people or dogs.

She settled super quickly for us. We knew what we were getting as her behaviour is typical for the breed, probably a bit more neurotic though.

The fact that we are able to walk her regularly, I know the lady owners couldn't, and the fact that there are enough of us so that someone is usually home seems to have helped her a lot.

So please don't rule out rehoming

@AllHailKingLouis that must get you down. If you've tried everything already and you're getting depressed, have you thought of talking to a rehoming charity like Frenchie & Friends?

What breed is your dog?

This.

If you are at rock bottom, OP, you must reconsider some of your assumptions. You sound miserable but also very dug in to your perceptions.

It is quite possible that rehomed to a more active household the dog would get more exercise and have less anxiety.

It is quite possible that rehomed to a more active household the dog would get more exercise and have less anxiety

That's exactly how it worked for our DDog

The poor thing has rashes and hair loss do to her anxiety. People stop us know to comment on how shiny her coat is.

Yeah I would rehome in a heart beat - I think he’d be better off with someone who is home all day and can give him 24/7 attention but DH won’t hear of it.

What breed is he?

Yeah I would rehome in a heart beat - I think he’d be better off with someone who is home all day and can give him 24/7 attention but DH won’t hear of it

It must be difficult if DH doesn't want to rehome.

Is he the one cleaning up the mess?

Yes he is to be fair (well, when he’s home he is, if he’s at work then obviously I have to do it).

im so paranoid my house smells, I mean - it must do.

As you have mobility issues is there not a possibility of dog walking services free in your area you could always phone the advice service for your condition and ask them also food banks do pet food ask your gp to refer you x