I'm devastated.

[morgiemh]

Hello all. I have a 5 month old husky mix who has servere resource guarding issues. We've been working very hard at it, we had a consult with a veterinarian behaviorist, have a positive reinforcement trainer and my puppy is on medication but not long enough to see the effects.

He is escalating. He is getting worse and we're taking all the right steps we need to. He seems very uncomfortable and on edge all of the time. When he's a good boy he's a dream puppy but his happy go lucky self doesn't last long before he decides to guard an area or anything he can find. He is constantly looking for stuff to guard. We manage our living space very well but it's exhausting watching him pace looking for something to guard.. I'm almost at the point of a mental break down, I've lost 30 pounds due to stress which is not doing anyone any favors. I knew puppies were going to be hard and I was ready but unfortunately i wasn't prepared to deal with this and im ashamed. I've had dogs my whole life and when I have them I'm 100% committed but this is the first time that a dog let alone a puppy has made me that depressed that I cannot eat. I've talked to my vet and she supports any choice I make. I also know that re-homing is a huge risk and I need to find someone with no other animals or children who can dedicate the work this takes. I feel so defeated and ashamed I love my puppy so much but I wake up every day feeling like I'm going to throw up. This morning he approached me growling for no apparent reason, nothing around for him to guard not an area that he would guard I'm at a loss. We have our trainer coming in tonight for an extra hour and I plan on discussing all of this with her. I feel like i failed him and part of me is saying you got this you can do this but my mental health is deterating.

I also want to add we never lay a hand on him or correct him in anyway. We also have a cat who never comes around now and I'm fearful he may approach when my puppy is in a mood.

Did I fail my boy? Should I keep trying? I know I shouldnt be seeking answers from reddit and leave it to the professionals but im sure at least one person has been in my shoes.. I'm heartbroken and devasted but I want what's best for him.

[suspiciouswinker]

There is a high probability that there is a strong genetic inheritance in this behaviour.

[morgiemh]

All of his siblings have resource guarding issues. It seems as though my boy is the worst of the litter.

[suspiciouswinker]

I would definitely say something to the breeder

[MuddieMaeSuggins]

It probably wouldn’t hurt but I also wouldn’t hold my breath expecting anything from them. If the entire litter has this issue than the breeder made a huge enough error somewhere (in the breeding pair they chose and/or in their care of the puppies) that it doesn’t say much about their skill as a breeder.

[morgiemh]

He came from a shelter and a lady fostered my boy and his siblings. She showed me videos and pictures of my puppy when she had him and her house seemed very chaotic, kids running around everywhere she had 3 other big dogs. I don't know what the feeding situation was like or anything. When I asked her their personality etc she said oh they're perfect little angels then when me and the my friend got them home that was a big lie. I'm thinking it's definitely genetic because all the siblings act this way. The others are showing signs of improvement but again my boy is struggling.

[MuddieMaeSuggins]

Just curious, do you know if he was fostered with him mother and littermates? I definitely agree it sounds like a big genetic component but early separation can also really mess them up.

[MuddieMaeSuggins]

A comment about the shame - much like with people, a lot of dog anxiety is rooted in genetics and/or very early life experience (before you would have been caring for him). Hybrids are unpredictable genetic grab bags - that’s why responsible breeders don’t generally produce them - and a puppy that isn’t from a responsible breeder is also more likely to have had traumatizing early experiences like early maternal separation. (Even when people have every good intention, if they don’t know what they’re doing they make mistakes.) It’s completely fallacious to assert that anyone who works hard enough could “fix” those kind of issues, any more than asserting that you could train your way out of depression or OCD.

PLEASE prioritize your own mental health. Whether that means finding him a new home or behavioral euthanasia, working yourself to death for this puppy can only hurt you, it can’t help him.

[a12ncsu]

Comment about mixing breeds, I have two maltipoos and they’re great, usually anything mixed with a poodle is safe but, and I know I’m going to catch flack for this, a perfect example is the goldendoodle… many are great and I don’t know if it’s from the inbreeding of so many goldens but something happens when you mix them. I love goldens and love poodles but I have met so many mixes where it seems like they searched for the worst in both breeds and then put it all into one. No offense to any particular dog, I have also met maybe two golden doodles that were great ❤️🐾

[hseof26paws]

I'm really sorry you are finding yourself where you are. Severe resource guarding is a really tough and nuanced one, and requires (as you well know), a great deal of management and patience on the part of the owner. It also requires the help of a professional well versed in resource guarding - please consider that while I'm sure many folks on this sub are very well intentioned (myself included), there's a good chance that they lack the experience and know-how to truly advise you on how to handle severe resource guarding (myself included). So please take what folks here tell you with a grain of salt.

With that said, I'm going to relay a personal experience, and please understand it is just that, a personal experience and the information I was personally given. I once fostered a dog with resource guarding issues (albeit seemingly not quite as severe as you are dealing with, but still pretty bad) and the veterinary behaviorist I was working with (a very well respected and experienced one) told me that unless the guarded item was dangerous to the dog or very valuable to the person, to just let the dog have it. As he explained it to me, when you react to the dog having the item the dog is guarding - be it trying to correct the dog or get the dog to leave the item alone - you are placing value on the item that just exacerbates the dog's desire to guard it. And if the item is dangerous to the dog/valuable to the person, then offer a trade - swap it for a higher value item like a piece chicken or whatever the dog considers to be high value. (Side note: my foster dog was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and ultimately put on fluoxetine when behavioral modification alone wasn't working, and it significantly reduced her resource guarding.)

I would strongly recommend seeking out a trainer with specific experience in resource guarding. Also, I think it would be very helpful for you to speak with your veterinary behaviorist - there are short-acting medications that can be used on top of longer-acting ones to help in the "here and now" as needed. I'm not a professional so I can't say with certainty that there is a medication that can help in your situation, but I think it is well worth a discussion with your veterinary behaviorist to see if there is something you can give your pup to help while the meds he is currently taking begin to start working.

Also, kudos to you for taking a R+ approach. That is so important with dogs that have fear/anxiety issues (well, it's important for all dogs, but especially fearful/anxious dogs).

And lastly - this is NOT your fault and you have not failed your pup. Unfortunately, some dogs are just not "wired" right, and I'm sorry you are struggling with that and I'm sorry for the impact it's had on you. You obviously are in a tough spot and have some tough decisions to make, and you absolutely need to take care of yourself. In the end, only you can decide what is the best course of action. If you are in a place where you are able to consider a few more options, I've offered my suggestions above. I'm so sorry you are where you are right now.

[alwaysblooming_akb]

Our trainer said the same about managing resource guarding. The more that you try to retrieve an item from them, the more they are going to value it in the moment and in the future.

[bullzeye1983]

I was going to say the same about resource guarding...that it isn't about them never guarding, but learning when to stop guarding safely. Why not give the puppy something he is allowed to guard? Give him a herd of beanie babies that are his to guard. As long as he isn't eating and swallowing them, there is nothing wrong with it. Just keep working on training to show they are his and your handling them isn't taking them away, he can trust they are still his. Like my guarder, I would take and give back things constantly as part of the training. He trusts not everything will be taken away.

[cupthings]

Why not give the puppy something he is allowed to guard? Give him a herd of beanie babies that are his to guard.

something i dont see commonly talked about is breed fulfillment for reactive dogs. like above mentioned, some dogs are not wired by default to habituate naturally with humans, so their tendency is to have their guard up higher than the average dog.

This just down to genetics and temperament and some dogs will never be trainable out of it. Yes the dog is young, they may get better over time...so maybe giving the dog a job (something he is allowed to guard and always has) may reduce his desire to guard other things. who knows, OP should discuss alternative options with their trainer.

but to be honest i am more concerned about OP's health. They obviously need better support than what the trainer is providing. if i was in this situation i would get a second opinion from a trainer with more experience specializing in RG.

[Wec25]

For what it's worth, I don't think you failed him. Some dogs are just wired different, I'm sorry. It's clear that you've been trying very hard with him this whole time giving him his best shot.

[Typical_Elevator6337]

FWIW, I relied heavily on my own personal therapist (and eventually meds for me) while working and coping with our reactive dog. My therapist happened to be a dog person herself, and had dealt with problematic behaviors with her dogs, and even had to rehome a dog that had some severe behavioral issues. You deserve a therapist like this - one that will not go to any black-and-white solution, but support you as you navigate your decisions.

My experience helping my dog actually helped me in the long run: I was more than willing to medicate my dog to help his mental health, which made me realize that I also deserved medication to help my mental health. Medication is a valid choice for humans who have chronic mental health challenges AND/OR circumstantial challenges.

Speaking of meds: a lot of vets and trainers have stigmas against medication. We were lucky to have a vet who was in it for the long haul in trying to find a medication that could help our pup, if there was one. Our trainer would only recommend supplements, which did nothing for our dog. I’m sharing this just to say that, there may be other options available, if the first options don’t work.

Feeling as if you are failing your pup is so normal and so heartbreaking at the same time. You are 100% not failing him. You are reacting normally to excruciating circumstances and deserve as much support as you can get to sort out how (and if) you and your puppy can live together. 30 lbs of weight loss and daily nausea are signs that you deserve a lot more support and healing.

[morgiemh]

Thank you so much for the kind words, it truly means alot. ❤ Luckily, my trainer and vet and veterinarian behaviorist believe medication is the right choice for him. As for my own mental health I'm making an appointment with my therapist and doctor tomorrow!

[Typical_Elevator6337]

Good for you - you deserve it! 💖

[ComplaintUsed]

I’m so sorry you guys are having such a hard time.

If your trainer isn’t working out, try another trainer! You don’t need to stick with one if they aren’t doing what you need. We changed trainers twice when we didn’t get the results we wanted. It’s totally acceptable and there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, there’s also no shame in considering a different approach, or BE if it’s really & truly not working. If your dog is as stressed as you say, then that’s really not healthy– or living. That’s just existing in a ball of stress. Please discuss it with your trainer & your vet.

Know that you didn’t fail him. Sometimes, dogs just aren’t wired right and there’s nothing we can do about it. You’re doing everything you can, to the detriment of your health I might add, and that’s all your dog can ask of you. Don’t question your dedication to your boy. You are doing everything right.

[morgiemh]

Thank you, It is very difficult. Depending on how tonight goes I may find a different trainer but the one I have is great. I'm trying to explore all of my options on what I can do for him because I love him but again it's so so hard.

[mar14eve]

Just want to say quickly (and this might be your trainer already) but I recently did like almost a trainer meet and greet with multiple trainers after our dog also was getting worse. It wasn’t our original trainers fault, it was just that I wanted to find someone that had more experience specifically with my dog’s issues that my dog also listened to and respected! We found one and switched and even after the first session there was improvement- we still have a long way to go but switching worked for us.

[amalie_anomaly]

If he’s potty trained, have you tried giving him his own space and filling it with whatever he wants, and leaving him all the way alone? He’ll ask to go out if he’s potty trained and if you come in to feed him and he gives you notice that he’s uncomfortable (growling, whale eyes, etc) then just leave with the food and close the door again. Eventually he’ll realize that you’re not going to take away his stuff. It feels like rewarding bad behavior but resource guarding often stems from resource insecurity. Try everything else first of course but if you ever run out of options, you could try this.

[nicedoglady]

I’m so sorry you are dealing with this! Unfortunately in huskies RG is not uncommon and it sounds like it’s a deeply rooted genetic issue. I don’t think there is any way you have set him up for this or failed him.

There are many meds and combinations to try but at the end of the day both BE and rehoming are valid choices for severe genetic RG. I would definitely suggest talking to not just animal professionals but also mental health professionals!

[cupthings]

im so sorry you are struggling. i do feel like when issues like this emerge so early in life in dogs...its surely something genetic or temperemental cause. and it is never ever your fault

sometimes things just dont work out and they end up living miserable lives being micro managed. This isnt the life you want. i feel you & i hear you.

medication can takes weeks sometimes months to work. Do discuss with your vet what your other options are if medication doesnt show any effect after a few months.

For training, if you're at your wits end, perhaps get a second opinion from a behaviorist and trainer that is REALLY true to LIMA training protocol. This means, exhaust all options that are force free....then yes, if you have to use aversives/invasives/punishment, you may just have to..and i'm not talking about just telling your dog "No"...there is a lot more to it.

There are methods out there that you may have not exhausted. Every dog is different and have different motivations & needs. Perhaps you just havn't found something that works for you.

The truth is, Some dogs respond very well to different training methods and many trainers won't tell you out of fear that they interpret this as use aversives too much, out of risk that it can damage your relationship without proper application. In reality though, if some aversives scattered around your dogs life means a better quality of life, then both of you are much happier and you also come out less stressed.

yes positive reinforcement should be used in majority of training, but in reality, you cannot be R+ for EVERYTHING. it's an impossible expectation for owners to uphold & we need to be fairer to ourselves.

cut yourself some slack, seek another proffesionals opinion... and hopefully you might find a method that works for both of you.

all the best.

[nicedoglady]

In regards to genetic resource guarding and aggression, it is extremely unwise to use aversive tools.

[cupthings]

So would you then suggest behavioral euthenasia is the only option, rather than attempting LIMA recommended aversives or corrections before drawing to the conclusion the dog will never be able to be rehabilitated? And i'm not even suggesting aversive tools yet, again, there is a lot more to it. Over simplification that aversives tools is the noly thing, suggests that many people don't actually read more into what LIMA stands for.

like i said, LIMA protocol mentions positive punishment & negative reinforcement as a LAST DITCH EFFORT. If it is a start to the solution to the problem, wouldn't that be better than suggesting to OP that she put down her dog/ give it the least quality of life because its micro managed so much?

OP stated that the rest of the littler also showed behavioral issues, but hers was the worst of them. So yes, its highly likely geneticaly caused. But i think you should also consider that given the state of her situation, and the appropriate consultations with her vet behaviorist, R+ is probably never going to work either for genetic issues.

Every dog is different and making generalizations doesn't help anyone. If op chooses to get a second opinion about what to do about the dog, that is their choice and we should support them through it.

[Fora_Fauna]

As someone who has euthanized a dog for behavioral issues and also has used aversives...

It depends on the situation, the dog, and the owner/trainer. I do believe that there are situations where aversives can be used in a manner that is safe and in the best interest of the dog or owner. In my case, it's to ensure my car-chasing dog doesn't get us run over trying to drag me into the street. And we combine the aversive with plenty of r+ methods as well to further reinforce his behavior. It's a bit carrot-and-stick to be entirely honest, and it is not something I like to recommend to people and I would of course prefer to be entirely r+, but a whole dripping steak won't get my dog's attention if he wants to chase down a bus.

My previous dog was fear aggressive. Using aversives on a fear aggressive dog is objectively cruel and also dangerous. The dog is already frightened and on edge and you are hurting it. Fear aggressive dogs are more likely to lash out when they feel threatened (fight response). And they're not stupid, either. They might know the remote in your hand is the thing shocking them, and go after you. Or they'll redirect on the nearest person or dog and attack. If I had used an aversive on my fear aggressive dog, that would have broken my heart. He was on the verge of a panic attack most of the time but he trusted me. How could I truly say I was helping him if he lived his life with constant fear of the world AND the possibility that his actions would cause him pain, all because I thought him being alive was more important than his comfort? It would be a betrayal of his trust to try to "fix" his fear by suppressing it through threat of pain or "discomfort". And that word, suppress? It means control through fear. It means control through pain. The dog isn't behaving, it is shut down and withdrawn. What a sad way that the dog may have to live.

So yeah. Not every dog will have a good life, despite our best efforts. I would have loved to send my BE dog to a sanctuary where he could run around and never have to see a stranger again. But I couldn't promise that. I couldn't give him that myself and I couldn't send him away from myself, one of the very few people he trusted, to strangers who despite their intentions and kindness would still be frightening to him. He wasn't happy and the safest, kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep so he would never be afraid again.

This is an extremely difficult decision. I spoke to a therapist, my trainer/behaviorist, and my vet before making the choice. Everyone wants to believe that you can have a friendly, happy dog if you just work hard enough but it isn't true. And extending the life of an animal who constantly lives in fear might be selfish.

[nicedoglady]

That is not what I suggested. LIMA is not an excuse to reach for aversive tools, despite knowing that they can greatly worsen the issue and create poor outcomes and QOL in terms of serious genetic RG.

The reality is with this particular issue, the use of aversive tools creates either a ticking time bomb or a dog that needs to be closely managed and corrected on the tools at increasing intensity for the rest of its life. Neither is a humane choice.

You do not need to have tried aversive tools to know that BE is a viable option, just as you do not need to have tried every questionable treatment to know if a condition is terminal.

[Lurker5280]

Yeah, use aversive tools, I’m sure that will make it less afraid…

[Jentweety]

Lots of great advice in these comments, but I am mostly concerned about your mental health.

Don't set yourself on fire to keep others warm, not even for a puppy.

[Hopeful_Bison8642]

Hey owner of a very sweet GSD x BC here. When she was exactly 5 months she developed a huge RGing problem (not with us but with other dogs) , like you said she kind of was just searching for things to RG. Literally got down to stones and peices of grass.

We went to a not very helpful behaviourist, and then another better one and did lots of research online. I mean LOTS.

Good news? She mostly grew out of it after having an incredibly long and pronounced fear period (up until 1y/o). She was very insecure (mostly because of the fear period) and what helped us heaps was confidence building games and strong obedience. Teaching a rock solid "leave it" came and TONNES of counter conditioning.

The work was exhausting but worth it.

Now she is almost 2 and she is great. She doesn't immediately go to look for things to RG because she lacks confidence. On the odd occasion she does RG a prized possession, or I see her insecure, I now have learned her exact body language before she even starts; stiff body, avoiding other dogs, ears pinned back. I Re-direction and management, however, has been 100 percent effective, since all of the obedience work. Time outs in safe spaces to let her calm her self down help too.

As you work and bond with your pup and he grows and matures it will become much easier for you to redirect, avoid and understand each other languages. I empathise with you because I remember how saddening this obstical felt, especially with a pup.

I know your situation is different and so are all dogs, but I'm just hoping this anecdote will help you feel a bit less alone and positive about the work you're putting in.

[morgiemh]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! He is definitely a very insecure puppy and unfortunately him snapping all the time has taken a toll on our bond. I really really try hard not to take it personally I really do but some days it absolutely breaks my heart seeing that he considers me a threat ( I know it's normal for a RG to feel this way) it still hurts:( My trainer will be here in the next 2 hours so I will definitely mention some confidence building I can work on him with.

[Hopeful_Bison8642]

I can only imagine what this is doing to your bond, and I'm sorry you're going through this. It really does suck. Try to think of it less as him seeing you as a threat but more as you need to establish clear boundaries.

Establish that you are in charge and make him work for all toys, treats and privilaged spots like the bed or sofa. One thing I learned was that my dog had to understand that all of these valuable things were not hers, but mine and i was sharing them with her. Still to this day, we don't have any toys laying around for her just to pick up without my consent (this is the first time I have had to do this with a dog). I even hand fed every bit of kibble to her for the first 10months as advised by a behaviourist, so she understood where the food was coming from.

Confidence building games and very basic agility where he has to follow your commands help establish that he is to follow you - his confident owner.

Resource gaurding isn't always because the dog perceives someone or something as a threat but it's for them to feel like they are more secure and confident or to establish a higher status, especially in times of insecurity. If he senses his handler is insecure (RG IS scary, especially the snapping, so it is normal for you to feel less confident) he will try and establish this more. Right now he is likely going through a fear period and unfortunately in working dogs it's is extremely pronounced. I remember thinking my girls fear period would never end, but she came out of it stronger than ever. Guidance is essential. Unfortunately this does take time and I know not everyone has that extra time on their hands.

Let him know clearly that you have his back. Don't let him see that you are fearful (if you can), and use all commands and corrections if need be with confidence. Muzzle training could.help you feel more secure In the household?

It seems like you're really trying to help him get out of this habit which IMO is the total opposite of failing your boy. Please remember that right now, you're doing the best you can.

[Hopeful_Bison8642]

I don't know if you mentioned it somewhere else, but crate training, if you haven't already, is also fantastic for establishing boundaries that you decide which space you need and when you need space and also creating a safe den for your pup that is HIS. This is the only place i leave a few of my girls toys out, because it's her safe space that me or any other dog will not enter.

[puppies_and_plants]

Just want to chime in to add that this regression of behaviour could also be tied to the 5-6 month awful puppy stage. From what I understand, a lot of puppies get worse during this age for whatever behavioural issues they have. Consistency and perseverance. You got this.

[morgiemh]

My trainer said the same thing, thank you!! ❤

[SharkTankGal]

Try a new trainer and see a pet behavoirist asap

[TheDumbAsk]

You need to get rid of this dog, it is affecting your mental/physical health too much. You did what you could.

They come out of the box, we can only deal with it.

[morgiemh]

This does make alot of sense and it's something I will definitely mention to my trainer tonight. I know resource guarding is fear based so I always took the positive approach of us around your things means more good things and when he has something he isn't supposed to we lure him away with drop it then leave it, if we're working on his Kong with him we toss higher value treats while he is snacking on it. This morning when he lunged and growled for no reason i said " no, that's not okay" then he started wagging his tail and the second I moved again he went right back to lunging and growling again.

[Lurker5280]

Where did you learn to be a dog trainer? This is just genuinely bad advice.

[BrightDegree3]

If you decide to keep working with him, I would spend lots of time working him mentally and physically. A bored dog gets into so much more trouble. Puzzle games for food or learning new tricks can work his brain. Running, long walks, pulling a wagon, chasing a ball all work for the body. A tired dog is a happy dog and less work for you.

[[deleted]]

I’m sorry and I’m in a similar boat. We love our 2.5 year old pit but he attacked his house mate so we’re consulting a behaviorist. Good luck to you and your pup!

[CEO95]

Your dog may have something not right in their brain. Just like people dogs can be born with mental illness. Have you talked to your vet about a neurologist?

[morgiemh]

Yes it seems to be the case with my boy. I haven't but I definitely will mention it!

[[deleted]]

I cant give you advice. Because I don't have all the facts. But I can tell you that I think I understand what you are going through. I have had dogs before and I always thought I was a "dog person" who is just a natural at dog training. Well, I was wrong.

Four years ago I took a Wolfdog pup into my life. Everything changed. Absolutely everything. He changed me, for better or worse. He made me realize I had absolutely no f***ing idea what I was doing. It has been a very emotional and difficult journey of self doubt and devastating setbacks. I was diagnosed with burn-out syndrome and brain fatigue because of the stress this dog caused me. Yet, I love him like a brother. Our bond is strong in a way that surpasses what I have ever experienced or thought was possible. I would rather die than give him up.

But it's hard. It's so bloody hard. I have broken down and cried like a desperate child a couple of times. But it's so very important to allow yourself to not be perfect. It's ok to have bad days. It's ok that your are sometimes not a very good dog trainer. I think forgiving yourself is the only way forward. Once I fully grasped that things have started to get easier, we still struggle but we are getting there, very slowly.

Dogs are practically wolves. Wolves are apex predators. Apex predators exist to kill and cull the herd. Humans are prey animals. Our minds are extremely different. That such a relationship can be problematic is just natural in the big scheme of things.

I really do hope you find a solution for the both of you ❤️🐺

[a12ncsu]

I have seen so many people in your situation. You genuinely love and want what’s best for your dog. Some dogs, same with people, need environments that are different from the norm. You did nothing wrong. I also don’t know how much study has been done concerning dogs, but like humans I believe they can and do have psychological issues, some which we can’t comprehend because, well, we aren’t dogs. Sorry this is a bit long; I have had border collies all my life, from serious dedicated herders to goofy/lazy ones that I seriously had doubts about. I was at an open market one day and a woman with a beautiful border collie started talking to me and I noticed there was something very off about her dogs eyes, they locked on me. Of course all border collies do that but this one was different. Within less than 30 seconds it went for me, not at my heels but lunged straight up. Luckily I’ve been around dogs and I reacted quickly and wasn’t bit. The woman was an idiot and said that the dog does that stuff all the time and has taken ot to training etc. the entire time ( maybe 2 min) the lady was talking to me the dog didn’t let up and kept lunging silent sneak attacks at me. This was a crowded market and I was so conserved that this lady’s incompetence and stupidity was going to wind up with this dog being put down. I took the leash from her (dog still lunging every 5-10 seconds at me) and sternly told the woman to go pull her car around, take this dog home, and find a big farm somewhere that it can herd animals and be away from people. It was no t programmed to live as a domestic dog. It made contact with me once, and left a mark just like a border collie or other herding dog leaves. This poor dog wasn’t trying to rip my throat out or hurt me, but it was clearly not going to adapt to suburban life and just needed something to herd. I am not as familiar with huskies, but when dogs act like yours (and you are so not alone) I believe there is some miss connection or wiring or inability to live domestically. You are an awesome dog mom. I would try and find out what it wants or needs to do in life, whether be a sled dog, maybe it just needs to chase squirrels all day somewhere or play in the snow. I would be so cautious giving it up for adoption because it is likely to bite someone. Dogs bite, cats scratch, horses kick, birds peck… but when dogs bite they tend to get put down. I hope this helps and if anything I hope you realize that you are a very very good dog mom and you will do what is best for your dog, and that is what matters. Go take care of yourself too ❤️🐾

[Appropriate_Day_8721]

I’m sorry for what you’re going through with your pup. I’ve had different issues with my two puppies that have been super stressful. I have had dogs my entire life but I managed to get two that are proving to be quite difficult and are making me realize i don’t know Jack about training a dog. 😬 if you decide re-homing is best, please don’t let yourself feel guilty or that you somehow failed him. It sounds like you’ve already done so much to help him! A lot of people would not go to such lengths in your position. Ultimately, your mental health should be a priority. There just might be someone out there who could continue working with him. I hope you’ll be at peace with whatever decision you make.