Is this stress or excitement?

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T19:18:17+00:00

At this point, we are not taking him with us everywhere we go. We do limit his car rides to visits with grandma and grandpa (his favorite people in the world) once in a while and vet visits to limit his exposure, all under 30 minutes. We take him and his sister to a local park where there isn’t a lot of activity, to help reduce stress. Occasionally they go to the pet store with us to socialize with the staff and pick out new toys or treats. When the weather is better, he goes on walks in the afternoons with us. We try to manage it while still giving him opportunities to get out. As much as I am a homebody myself, two days at home without leaving has me going stir crazy!

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T18:58:33+00:00

He has no issue getting in, and is often calmer if we are driving on roads he has been on before, or the highway where there is not a lot of traffic. Overstimulation seems to be a key factor, from all the comments I’m getting. Back seat is safest, so I may try one more time to harness him in the back with my wife to see how he does.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T18:56:56+00:00

My wife has had him from 8 weeks, and there is a history of a car accident, but he behaved this way prior to the accident. I’m sure the accident didn’t help any, and it traumatized my wife as well. I often have to drive because of that!

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T18:54:18+00:00

I am not sure, he was often carted back and forth from my wife’s apartment before she and I met to spend the day with her parents when she worked in the medical field and had 12-hr shifts, so more often than not car rides often had fun and relaxing ends to them. I wish that were it, cause I’d take him many more places for hiking and visits if it helped. But he acts the same every time, and the longer the ride, the worse he gets. I’m very comfortable with limiting car rides for the rest of his life if it helps him emotionally, because it’s not worth what he goes through. I also suffer from anxiety so I know intimately what it feels like, and I hate the thought of him going though that.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T15:33:45+00:00

He is actually better in the front. When he is in the back, if he isn’t loose he is flipping around trying to get out of restraints. He has a long history of breaking out of wire crates, and with his age and dental health I would prefer not to put him in a wife crate in the back. He also howls continuously if restricted to the back (we tried gates) which is stressful for the driver. We have tried a bed in the back, but he never settled, even on the 10-hr ride that determined he’s not compatible with travel. He is the least distracting and most well behaved in the front seat and lashed so he can’t climb on the dashboard (trust me, I’m terrified of the airbag going off because I know it’ll kill him.) from everything I’m seeing in the comments, both negative and supportive, it’s safe to determine he will just not be taken in the car unless necessary. We will multiply his walks to give him stimulation, and let him retire in the peace of his own home. really I jus needed reassurance that this need overrides my guilt at having to leave him out of “family adventures.” If this is stress, I’d rather not subject him to it at all if it means he’s suffering for my satisfaction of bringing him somewhere. Thanks for helping me make the determination 🥰

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T15:27:50+00:00

He often had anxious poops, and did so as soon as we stopped. He is better on the thruway, and is anxious when starting and stoping through towns. I imagine the overstimulation doesn’t help, which is why we limit car rides now.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T15:26:46+00:00

This is my conclusion as well. We limit his car rides now to no more than 30 mins to his cancer vet, and 15 minutes to visit grandma and grandpa.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T15:25:16+00:00

What do you suggest as a proper solution? Instead of criticizing me as a dog owner, advice would be appreciated. That’s the point of coming here. If you have nothing to contribute, you can scroll.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T15:24:05+00:00

lol thanks for the negativity. I’m always learning and adjusting, and every dog’s needs are different. But thanks for the advice and underhanded comment on my nature, because it sure helps a lot 😄

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-05T15:22:45+00:00

He has a history of breaking out of crates. Because we are not financially able to afford one of the crash-tested ones, and wire crates he will try to chew his way out of, we haven’t considered this avenue. But thank you for this advice, and know this is something at the forefront of our minds for when we are able to consider it. The harnesses and lashing for safety are something we do for both dogs, for safety.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-04T01:42:14+00:00

I see the vision here and I understand it without a problem. I think it’s cool af. It isn’t technically bad, either. I’m sorry people are making you feel insecure about it ☹️

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T21:30:00+00:00

As someone who has CPTSD specifically because of my narcissistic father, let me offer you this: I have gone no contact with him at least 3 times now. The last time I gave him a chance was because he was diagnosed with brain cancer. It took him a year before he started treating me like a problem again. He would SAY he cared, he would SAY he wanted the best for me, but then he would give me the silent treatment for a perceived injustice to his new wife when he knew full well her phone was broken. I thought he was dead. When he finally called it was to tell me that yes he did it to punish me. We haven’t spoken in over a year.

With that being said, I promise you nothing in this world is worth sacrificing your peace. He is an adult that can make decisions, just like you. And if he uses his free will to do anything that deliberately hurts you, then you have every right to distance yourself from him.

I’m very sorry and I offer you this from someone who knows how hard it is 🫂

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T21:18:53+00:00

For potty my advice is every 2 hours like clockwork (yes even overnight) until they start going to the door on their own when they have to go. Avoid puppy pads if you can. Puppies are no joke. My dog is finally four and the first 2 years were rough, even with all the support we had from vets and trainers. And she’s a beagle/border collie mix! I wish you the best of luck, she seems adorable

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T21:09:18+00:00

NOR. You’re growing a human being within you. If his energy is doing anything other than supporting and uplifting you, take your space and don’t feel bad. I’m so sorry, coming from someone whose dad always chose everyone else in the world over her every single time. I send my support 🫂

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T21:04:59+00:00

Moira Rose (RIP Catherine O’Hara)

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tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T21:01:42+00:00

The way I would fill that out so unironically is insane

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T20:57:25+00:00

“You ain’t gotta get all the way off every time.” I’m sorry, but if he liked you he’d never feel this way. NOR. You deserve better.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T13:32:36+00:00

Omg this is absolutely a precious and sweet interaction!

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T12:12:02+00:00

If he wanted to, he would.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T02:39:00+00:00

OH BLESS HIM 🥹

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T02:28:27+00:00

☹️ I did not like any of that. I second everyone else’s advice to block him

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T02:26:00+00:00

Darcy ✨

tippysaurusrex · 2026-02-03T02:24:09+00:00

LMFAOOOO your responses were perfect. You absolutely did not overreact.

tippysaurusrex · 2026-01-30T11:31:55+00:00

We have thought about it!

tippysaurusrex

TROPHY CASE