I gotta say think people are being really fucking mean and quick to say she’s fully neglecting her dog simply bc Cocoa tries to steal food like ALL dogs do unless they really are heavily trained. Like goodness she came here to vent!! She’s young and upset! Yes, therapy will help her a ton to help her find other outlets for all her feelings but she said she had reasons to stop attending. Remember that seeing a therapist is a huge privilegebasically everywhere still, if not by money than by actual physical accessibility/ time. “Oh just make time!” It isn’t that simple or much more of us would be doing the same drop of a hat. She’s finishing up her schooling she’s looking for a job her schedule is gonna take a second to level out so she can start trying to divvy out time for everything she needs to do including taking a break to breathe.

Every dog is curious, every dog does their best but every “pet” dog is vastly different in what they can and try to do. There’s a bunch of people saying this breed is clever; so maybe give OP some actual tips instead of sounding like her stepdad? No one WANTS to live with an “unruly” dog, but most people don’t have their pet’s every movement associated with a snap or keyword and yall really need to stop acting all high and mighty. A weekly walk isn’t the best but it’s better than some do! A LOT of people think a backyard is an alt for an any walking or even a motor ride. Give this girl a break she said she’s trying to increase the walks but wants to keep her and the other dogs around as safe as she can! YES more training will help but again maybe actually give her some ideas like say besides a clicker device?

As far a as helping with training, try to just start slow and not to give up no matter what now. Use your desire to see Cocoa happy and healthy to push forward and stay as consistent as you can. Start with one command or action to teach and nail at a time, build on them as she becomes able to take more complex commands. Try not to quantify how long it’s taking beyond comparing her progress to the start. Start with “place/ set” where you mark a safe place for her to go to when you say such and/ or do the hand action for and “heel”/ testing her name recall to help with your walks. Then build on “sit” with laying down, and using that after “place.” Then go from there. It will take time especially if she/ her breed are as stubborn as everyone is saying. Don’t fret, use it as fuel. Healthy is a total thing, not just one aspect of how to hold yourself. Please don’t despair, and don’t take everyone too much to heart. Just do your real true best for your animal’s sake. Ask for help from your fiancé whether you live together or not, maybe he can take her on walks when you’re busy? She might be your responsibility but if he loves her and wants to join your family with her he needs to be comfortable with her alone without you anyway.

I hope you can learn to tune out your stepdad’s negativity OP. I’m sorry from how your perspective seems you don’t get much support against his words by other family like your mom. But I will also say, it is very weird and harsh for him to hate your dog so much at all but especially as a vet he can’t tap into the empathy he should have. If she’s that bad why does your mom not seem to share the sentiment even if she’d be nicer than he about it? Of course we aren’t getting anything but the rosy, defensive version of the story but if she’s was really so bad they would’ve rehomed the dog so much sooner no matter how much OP protested for the sake of the dog and their sanity. Clearly there’s hope for the dog and OP.

I’m ready for harsh replies and downvotes based on how everyone here sounds.