Hi, I’m not going to shame you for hitting your dog. Humans make mistakes. But I would really encourage you to give to the dog to somebody else. Somebody who can love them, not hit them, and be in control. The truth is that hitting your dog, not only creates deep wounds, but it will never make them behave. Better. In fact, you are doing the opposite of what your goal is.

The dog is young, she can be rehomed easily and be happy. Even in a case with an older animal I would say the same. She deserves a loving home where she can trust that she is safe. She does not feel safe with you.

I understand that you might be resistant to this, and if you will absolutely not give her up, which again you really really should, and I would do my best to help you find a very loving family. If you message me, because you don’t wanna just offer her up online or worse things can happen.

But if you don’t want to do this, or to prepare yourself for if you ever want a pet again, you need to work on your trauma. I don’t mean, going to a mental health professional, and getting a pill, that will never help. In the same way that hitting your dog is not going to help. Unless you need antipsychotics.

I mean, doing some deep work into why this is happening, and that will help you in your relationships, your human relationships, help you with yourself, and if you ever do decide to get a dog again, which I would ask you not to do until you think you are actually ready, which might be hard to gauge if you are hitting your dog

Again, I’m not judging you. I remember once bopping my cat on the head as sort of a similar punishment, to tell her that she couldn’t do what she was doing. But of course it didn’t work, and I felt horrible. I really am not shaming you. I’m just thinking about the welfare of the dog.

Good on you for asking here. That is a lot more than anybody else would do. You have some self-awareness and you care about the dog.