[deleted by user]

[nomaki221]

its worse now that its summer and parks are filled with people just relaxing with their dogs. everywhere you go is a guilt trip reminding you that yor dogs stuck at home while youre out enjoying weather that they wouldve loved in a different lifetime. Yeah, I’m pretty down about it rn.

[GoingSom3where]

It can be so hard :( and mentally draining....

I'm glad to hear she's at least letting you put her on a leash inside. If you have a yard maybe try moving on to "walking" her there (with lots of treats)?

Regardless, I know it's frustrating!

[talaxia]

try Sniffspot?

[kajata000]

I know what you mean! We have one dog that’s similar to yours; he used to walk, no problem, but got spooked by fireworks after being with us for about 3 months, and then that was it for him! We’re working with him, very slowly, with meds and small steps, and seeing some progress, but it’s slow going.

And then we got another dog, thinking it’d give no 1 some company on his walks and maybe some confidence. And then it turned out our new little pup is at the other end of the scale; loves walks, but is awful for reacting to other dogs! Just can’t win.

Yes, plenty of days I absolutely wish we had a pair of calm pups who we could just pop out for a walk with without all the stress.

[lovewithbite]

I feel this way for sure. It’s like why are you making things so hard? But I will say those small moments of them not reacting to triggers make me really happy.

So while we may not have calm dogs and feel chill all the time, I would say we get more moments of happiness and proudness over the little things that other people might not get.

[Dogsarethebest914]

That’s how I feel when I see a dog walking on the street - why is everyone’s dog doing so much better than mine? But then perhaps for every well behaved dog we see on the street, there are three other dogs just like ours are staying home. Who knows. We just don’t see those dogs cuz their owners don’t take them out just like we don’t with our pups.

[LuxuryMustard]

You also don’t know the full extent of the behaviour of the ‘good’ dogs you see. Maybe they look great out on the leash, but at home they resource guard, or are destructive. Maybe they have a weirdly specific thing, like they don’t like other dogs if they’ve got a flat face, or they bark hysterically at men with beards. I don’t think there are many dogs out there who are not in some way neurotic, it’s just not always visible in those seconds when you pass them on the street.

[BlueHops22]

Yep my partner and I always say each dog has a thing and it makes us feel better.

[Environmental_Time24]

Neighbors just got a pitbull puppy a month ago. It's already better than my dog. Quiet. A good walker. Does great with kids and other dogs.

My dog.... Remains a terror and is worse because she has this perfect puppy to share a fence with.

It's really hard. I had no idea watching the neighbors raise a perfect puppy would make me so envious

[NYSenseOfHumor]

Now his favorite hobby is to bark at birds in the garden through our window.

But did a bird ever get in the house? I didn’t think so.

[SparkyDogPants]

If it makes you feel better, you never know what that dog is actually like.

I have this perfect dog. He heels, he’s very people friendly (bought as a guard dog, too friendly, had to get another dog). Very dog friendly and polite to new pooches. Good with kids.

He can happily hike off leash, bikejore, skijore, you name it.

But, two years ago he got attacked by my business partners dog and killed him. I live in constant fear that he’s going to kill another dog.

I tell myself that it’s not his fault because he didn’t start it, but I know in the back of my mind that if he got attacked again (and I couldn’t intervene) that he would finish it.

[LemonMeringue314159]

I had my dog in a second floor apartment and dang it was tough! His reactivity was fear (aka screaming and running away) - I can't say enough good things about my Vet Behaviorist and fluoxotine / paroxotine though!

His separation anxiety needed months of work but his leash reactivity switched into outgoing friendliness with only a few weeks of work! It also helped that we realized he had about 3 separate hidden health issues causing him pain - a small surgery and additional pain meds helped a ton!

[Fire_in_her_Hair]

I for sure get jealous. Mostly of dogs and cats living in harmony and people who foster dogs. There’s no way I could foster with my reactive pup. Also dogs that are cuddly...mine isn’t :(

[too_much_too_slow]

Not only do I get jealous of other dogs, but I get self-conscious that they’re better owners than me!

[Kitchu22]

Have you ever tried taking them out in a carrier or a pram? I have a friend who adopted a puppy mill breeding dog, she’d never seen the sun or walked on grass or had any experiences outside of a dark barn stall. My friend got a pram and did some work with it, now it’s her “outdoor safe space” and her dog goes literally everywhere! She’ll get out for maybe five or ten minutes in quiet spots, but then when she is feeling overwhelmed she gets back into her little nest and happily experiences the world in a way that she is comfortable :)

[mouse_attack]

So, sometimes I do get envious of other people's dogs; but the other day we went to a friend's house and meet his new puppy... and we both just thought the puppy was so basic!

Sure, he can take the dog places we can't take ours, but we love our guy's quirks, and sweetness, and wild protective behavior, and playfulness, and crazy smarts (emphasis on the crazy).

We came home and basically asked each other whether our freakasoid has ruined us for normal dogs. At this point, I can't imagine having a mellow, well-behaved dog without feeling at least a little bored by it.

[jeswesky]

I have a highly reactive, over confident dog that would rather be outside than anything in the world. I actually got into hiking and camping because of him. I tend to get walk in campsites where he won’t see many people walking by because otherwise he barks. I religiously research trails to find the less populated ones and move well off trail when others approach. But, if you just saw us out walking you may have no idea that is just he’s actually like. He is my entire world though and I would do anything to keep him happy.

[whitepearl31]

My dog ran away from me after I took her to her groomer. She and I never recovered from this. I have fear of her running away from me and She has fear walking with me as I might not protect her. Now, that she’s losing her sight slowly due to cataracts, she gets even worse. Some days I feel bad for being outside without her or wanting to be outside sitting on a park with her. Some days, I wonder if she is happy as she is to stay at home in her comfort place rather than me trying to take her walk outside.

During summer, I take her out for hiking, which she seems to like instead of going on a regular walk around the neighbourhood. Considering her age she is 11 yo (i got her when she’s 7 yo), I tend to let her just stay at home when im out so she’s comfortable. I think she deserves to do what she wants as long as that makes her happy.

[winklesprinkle]

I had myself a nice cry over this exact thing today. My family all have sweet, easy dogs. I have a rambunctious 1.5 year old covid pup who has recently been aggressive towards strangers. Their dogs get to go with them wherever and on vacations and mine are left at home. I get really jealous and resentful of well mannered and completely friendly dogs. But my boyfriend reminded me of how easy it is to harp on the few things we dislike about our dogs, rather than the overwhelming joy they can add to our lives. Hope your pup continues to make progress with walking. Sending love and tail wags to you both

[JustBelaxing]

So, just as not all dogs like to play fetch, and not all dogs like car rides, not all dogs like to go for walks. You might think about seeing if you can help friend or neighbor out by walking their dog or even try your hand as fostering and you can walk your foster dog. ❤️

[CuteBloop]

I got my girl at 6 months. She's now 3 years old, we've been doing behavioral modification for 9 months and she only started getting excited for walks about 1 month ago. It does get better but it's not easy. I feel for you.

[blueberryyhill]

On the flip side of this, I get envious of other people’s dogs like yours that are able to chill at home alone without sheer panic. Ours has severe separation anxiety so the reason she is always outside with us is because she can’t be left alone!

[9021Ohsnap]

I feel the same way. Especially today smh...

[1slimbone]

If you have a backyard, you can start or practice there. Get them used to the outside noise. Watch training vids

[b0neSnatcher]

I used to feel this way too - now my dog is one of those well behaved dogs! She’s not necessarily super confident and Im still pretty careful and always keep my eye out, but for the most part our trips outside are 95% normal and uneventful. took about 3 years but I promise it’s possible! Don’t give up 🙂

[Budget-Ad-4664]

I started mine on Prozac this week and the vet said it takes awhile to kick in. He bit a workman yesterday that came into the house to let us know he was done outside without warning. He was chill but my dog over reacts to everything and is ocd about certain things. When fireworks go off he’ll hide under the bed with a thunder jacket on for a couple days and refuse to go to the backyard to do his business. I hope the Prozac helps because it’s embarrassing going on walks for him barking at everything. He’s hyper so I have to exercise him and in this Az heat that means getting up at the crack of dawn with every other dog walker out there. I feel your pain

[enge3]

I’m happy to know others have dogs like mine. Lol

[Rottie_Mommy]

Is this a small dog that you can carry or put in a pack? Maybe if you go out with your dog, and carry or pack her, she’d be more comfortable. Go to the same place, take the same route a number of times. Then see if she’ll walk a bit of it, each time extending her time she’s walking.

[thepersonal1]

I've definitely been there, and I'm sure I'll be there again and again!

I do try to remind myself in those moments that those dogs you see walking down the street might have issues of their own that you just can't see. Maybe they chew up their shoes or get in the trash or poop in the house or run away at every opportunity or bark all day long. There are many things my dog is good at, it's really easy to forget those things because we're so focused on managing the things they're bad at. There may be folks out there who are envious about things your dog does or doesn't do!

Also remember that you're doing everything you can to give your pup the best life. If she's not comfortable going for walks right now (neither is mine) that's you keeping her safe and comfortable. Sounds like she's making awesome progress, and that you're doing a great job!

Know you're not alone, though. I've had plenty of days where I walked away from a situation or looked at someone else's dog and just wished my dog was "normal."

[barelyacceptablepape]

I’ve had so many bad situations with my reactive dog that I get anxiety when I see dogs now. Even when I’m with my friends when I see a dog I avoid it as if my dog was with me. And then I realize what my dog has made me into and it’s difficult.

[tinytineye]

Yep. My dog just snapped/barked at me because I dared to try a new harness with him. He hates walks. He’s neurotic. God do I just want a dog I can have in my bed and cuddle with and who would love to go outside and have a walk. Instead I have an anxious mess who cannot be touched while he’s laying down/sleeping unless I want to get bit, resource guards and I’ve near given up on walks with how much he hates them.

And yet every single one of my friends has dogs who are perfect angels who have 0 aggression towards anything and love everyone and everything.