Hey this is my first post here, it’s kinda long but I’m genuinely at a loss so-
I got my boy bluey (standard blue-tan dachshund), who was 4 months at the time back in February of this year, 8 months at the time of writing this, there’s been a lot of struggle, the big one’s being he’s very energetic, a little nippy and quite reactive, not that that energetic is a bad thing ofc, but I don’t feel I can walk him as often as I should because I am terrified of my neighbours, I feel it’s probably important to note I have borderline personality disorder so my heads not great, the neighbours bad mouth bluey alot, no matter how long he’s been outside for, I have a pretty big garden but the fence is broken so bluey could get out if I just let him out, so I have to take him in the garden on a lead, so I can’t really avoid hearing the constant “haven’t we heard enough?” Or “I’m not being funny but if you can’t make it shut up you shouldn’t have one” or on occasion just a “shut the f**k up” in the distance, which keeps sending me into panic attacks, I’d understand if he was barking at unsocial hours but it’s just a few 10 minute intervals while he does his business throughout the day
It got so bad the other week that I called my mum crying while having a panic attack begging her to come take bluey, in exchange I offered to take care of my parents dog snoopy, (as he hates bluey and they can’t really be housed together). Snoopy is pretty much the polar opposite of Bluey, doesn’t bark, quiet, chill, doesn’t really do anything, my housemate has compared him to a cat in a tiny dogs body, so I don’t have that same anxiety I have with Bluey taking him out, though I don’t have the fun of playing with him either as he doesn’t do anything.
I feel like a terrible dog owner because the thought has definitely crossed my mind that what if I got the wrong dog for me? I originally wanted a dog to help with my mental health but it the whole situation just makes me feel like I’m going to break, In hindsight I probably should’ve gotten an older dog or a less active breed, but since I’m already here I’d feel horrible changing my mind now.
My parents texted me last night asking me to take bluey back as “they’ve had enough of him” which I understand, he’s quite a handful, so I decided to post here, any advice? Will he calm down with age? Is it because he’s not getting enough exercise? And if so any advice on ways I could maybe tire him out before going out so I’m less likely to breakdown? Sorry this has been so lengthy, any help is greatly appreciated x [sup]w^[/sup]
I got my boy bluey (standard blue-tan dachshund), who was 4 months at the time back in February of this year, 8 months at the time of writing this, there’s been a lot of struggle, the big one’s being he’s very energetic, a little nippy and quite reactive, not that that energetic is a bad thing ofc, but I don’t feel I can walk him as often as I should because I am terrified of my neighbours, I feel it’s probably important to note I have borderline personality disorder so my heads not great, the neighbours bad mouth bluey alot, no matter how long he’s been outside for, I have a pretty big garden but the fence is broken so bluey could get out if I just let him out, so I have to take him in the garden on a lead, so I can’t really avoid hearing the constant “haven’t we heard enough?” Or “I’m not being funny but if you can’t make it shut up you shouldn’t have one” or on occasion just a “shut the f**k up” in the distance, which keeps sending me into panic attacks, I’d understand if he was barking at unsocial hours but it’s just a few 10 minute intervals while he does his business throughout the day
It got so bad the other week that I called my mum crying while having a panic attack begging her to come take bluey, in exchange I offered to take care of my parents dog snoopy, (as he hates bluey and they can’t really be housed together). Snoopy is pretty much the polar opposite of Bluey, doesn’t bark, quiet, chill, doesn’t really do anything, my housemate has compared him to a cat in a tiny dogs body, so I don’t have that same anxiety I have with Bluey taking him out, though I don’t have the fun of playing with him either as he doesn’t do anything.
I feel like a terrible dog owner because the thought has definitely crossed my mind that what if I got the wrong dog for me? I originally wanted a dog to help with my mental health but it the whole situation just makes me feel like I’m going to break, In hindsight I probably should’ve gotten an older dog or a less active breed, but since I’m already here I’d feel horrible changing my mind now.
My parents texted me last night asking me to take bluey back as “they’ve had enough of him” which I understand, he’s quite a handful, so I decided to post here, any advice? Will he calm down with age? Is it because he’s not getting enough exercise? And if so any advice on ways I could maybe tire him out before going out so I’m less likely to breakdown? Sorry this has been so lengthy, any help is greatly appreciated x [sup]w^[/sup]