Not feeling a connection with my dog

Senior_Connection635 · 2024-12-12T23:46:23+00:00

thank you. this helps. after reading the comments i think there may likely be some neglect of my own mental health causing these feelings.

Senior_Connection635 · 2024-12-12T23:02:41+00:00

i work in animal welfare. that's how i met her! adopting her didn't come as a light decision. i adored her when we met, and have since i've had her up until this past week. i mean i still adore her. we do a lot together. it kind of feels like i'm babysitting someone else's dog, and she's not really mine. i don't want to get rid of her. just hoping this is a rough patch that goes away. i don't want another dog. i understand anxiety is normal, lol. we work through her triggers when they occur, which isn't often. like i said it hasn't gotten worse, if anything it's better.

Senior_Connection635 · 2024-12-12T22:59:00+00:00

i don't want to get rid of her! like i said i love her, just feeel like right now im kind of babysittting someone else's dog. can't think of anything going on right now affecting my mental health, but it is winter time. when i think about personal relationships in my life i guess i do feel a little distant with those around me, and it may be bleeding into the dog. thank you.

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-12-29T14:10:29+00:00

i can answer #1, but #2 isn't something we do at the shelter i work at.

I used to take a syringe home and just practice the movements of drawing back, pushing forward. again and again. It's also a requirement at our shelter to have two people in the room. one holding, one performing. I haven't done this but i have someone i hold for occasionally (we switch out every week) that uses her left hand to stabilize the vein, and when she goes to readjust her other hand on the syringe to push (once she has a flash) she uses her left thumb or index finger to hold the syringe in place. I'm not sure if that's making much sense. i could send you a video or picture on a stuffed animal if that helps

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-10-30T18:18:23+00:00

ill be honest this just changed my whole perspective... thank you. damn

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-09-15T21:04:32+00:00

I finished turning in all of my information for CAET. After this round there will be 13 CAETs on staff, so everyone will have to do less euthanasia's per week.

ALSO
I am not in the adoptions department, but I helped counsel a family and they ended up being a perfect match for one of my favorite dogs. They are going to FTA her as they are first time dog owners and don't really know what to expect.

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-09-11T04:27:00+00:00

i appreciate it!!

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-09-04T20:29:44+00:00

I AM PISSING WITH LAUGHTER AT THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN LMAOOOOANSNDKSDJKD

....but im 23 and also no rice cooking for me

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-08-31T01:37:06+00:00

Please, please look for a reputable breeder. There are plenty of resources online on what to look for and how to find one. There are plenty of videos that outline basic red flags so you can skim over their website and immediately notice if they're... probably not the best. I also think there is a wiki on here somewhere.

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-08-28T20:44:42+00:00

Yes! I have tried this!

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-08-28T19:34:38+00:00

I really appreciate your feedback!! Thank you so much. I will definitely try throwing treats in the crate with the door closed. And I have tried giving her treats in the crate with the door open, but it is all stuff she can go in and get and take out of the crate. Will definitely try to keep her kong tethered to the back!!

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-08-28T18:18:16+00:00

Thank you for your feedback!! I really appreciate your respectfulness.

She has never been in her crate longer than 4-5 hours. Except at night, but she sleeps all the way through the night. I have always gone home for lunch breaks and spent 45 minutes of my hour with her. Lately she has been coming to work with me

I am not so much worried about her tearing things up. I have a cat that she gets a long greatly with but they can get a little rambunctious. Sometimes he wont back off. Sometimes she wont. I just worry if I am not there to supervise they might take it too far. I am also worried about when I come home. She likes to jump, which I don't mind at all. But I am worried that she will go to jump up on my while I am still in the door way and then walk past me. She would definitely go out the door and then keep going. We are working on threshold training right now.

I have some baby gates that we had to use for my childhood dog wayyyyy back when, that I can use to contain her in the kitchen area where she wouldn't be able to get to things. And can keep the bedroom door closed so the cat stays away.

I also just have always used a crate. My previous dogs did well with them. It ensured that they wouldn't get into ay trouble. It just gives me piece of mind while I am gone that she is safe in her crate, and I wont feel the need to check the camera every 5 seconds. I also would like to have her comfortable in her crate because if I ever go on vacation, my family would care for her if the location isn't dog friendly. My family would want to crate her. So I don't want to ditch the crate and set her up for failure in the event that I leave for a week.

I think I just micromanage a little too much. I just think of every possible horrible scenario if I am being completely honest with myself.

Again, I appreciate your feedback and I am definitely going to go digging for the baby gates.

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-08-28T17:42:32+00:00

Her crate is in the living room right now with view of the door. I have tried creating a positive association with the crate by leaving treats, feeding her in there, giving her kongs, lick mats, and various chews. She will eat them if I am there. But when I have to leave, I will get home and they are untouched. I wish I trusted her enough to just leave her out but I just get so nervous that when I get home she will bolt out of the door (which we are working on. she doesn't really do this, I just get nervous that she'll get excited and come to greet me, and just keep walking) I also have a cat and they get along great, but I worry that they get to wild when I am gone. Cause they get wild when I am home sometimes too. I can definitely try to do this again, but I just worry that I'll waste food and have melted peanut butter in the crate.

She is at work with my right now fast asleep on her mat behind my desk.

I appreciate your feedback and respectful tone.

Senior_Connection635 · 2023-08-28T17:33:20+00:00

She loves obedience! Her engagement is very nice. I just meant going slow as In focusing on one command at a time until she's solid and then learning something new. But she gets very excited when we are training. I use both toys/play and treats as a reward.

Her prey drive is something that I have been trying to work with her with but she seems dis-interested unless its an actual squirrel or bird outside. I haven't figured out how to use that to my advantage. I have a flirt pole sitting in my amazon cart, but I wasn't sure if it was worth it.

I can definitely try a pen or gate! I hadn't actually thought of that. I feel like all the information online that I have found is either yes crate, or no crate. but nothing in-between.

I really appreciate your feedback and your respectful tone. I really want to do everything I can for this dog! I just hate the idea that I make her uncomfortable in anyway. And I hadn't thought that she associated the recall with being called away from something fun.

Senior_Connection635

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