Just shouted at my 6 month puppy 😞

[Youheshetheysaid]

I feel dreadful. So guilty. Puppy was constantly coming in to kitchen and finally almost tripped me and I just shouted “OUT!”

she immediately left and went straight to her bed, and then gazed out the window and now curled up dozing.

Have I impacted our relationship? Broken her trust?

sorry if ott just really cross with myself

Erm... In the nicest possible way, you're overthinking. She will be just fine. If you don't want her in the kitchen best start as you mean to go on. Nothing wrong with a stern bellow!

I shout the same word pretty much every day when my 5 year old boy starts hoovering round the kitchen floor in the hope of scoring a crumb from a crevice. He looks at me as if to say whatever and clears off with a long sigh and goes to sleep on the sofa.
Don't think your pup will be packing his bags any time soon.

Thanks, comforting

You're over-thinking it, honestly.

Please don't feel guilty, she'll be just fine. But in future, I would look into using physical barriers so that the dog can't repeat the behaviour that's frustrating you - baby gates, for example, or a pen or crate.

Lovely and supportive, thank you.

feeling much less guilty as sprawled across me

I shouted very loudly at my adult dog the other day as I dropped a small item he went to investigate and I panicked that he would eat it.

He looked shocked but two minutes later when he got lots of praise and treats I was his best buddy again.

Don't worry, she will have forgotten about it.

By that age they are pretty resilient. We all do it so don't beat yourself up about it.

It’s a dog.

Meant to add I saw a wolf documentary, and an adult wolf lost it completely with a young one who wouldn't get off the moose carcass.

No shit Sherlock!

Back to the topic, dogs occasionally need telling off. They are very forgiving (despite giving you sad puppy dog eyes at the time!) Don’t worry about it.

I shouted at my 18 year old cat today, she looked very hurt 😿 felt very guilty 😔picked her up,had a hug. We are best friends again 😻 don't worry x

Awww, bless you. It does make you feel awful doesn't it. In this case you just snapped and it will be a rare occurrence, I am sure. Your relationship with doggie will be grand as you sound like a lovely pawrent.

Having said that, I am not massively happy about the "just a dog" type comment above and anyone blowing off a dog's feelings because they are just a dog. Dogs to think, feel and remember. If a person constantly shouts at their dog etc. then yes, that would totally destroy the bond and relationship... of course it would.

Firm instructions are required occasionally. When my little PomChi decides she needs to loudly reply to every other dog in the neighbourhood, I have to shout "IN" and in she trots back into the kitchen, usually having the last word over her shoulder. She still snuggles again minutes later.

It’s normal to “lose it” when your buttons are really pushed. It’s language dogs totally understand (cf the wolf example from PP). I think they learn from it. As long as it’s an extremely rare occurrence then you need to forgive yourself! I remember the few times I’ve done similar. Forgiven (except for one incident in 1988 when I overreacted due to just having received bad news - that was not OK and poor DCat was totally blindsided as she’d never ever been shouted at in her life).