Hey everyone,
Just need to vent a bit and maybe hear from others who’ve been through something similar. Our pup, is 10 months old now. We got him when he was 6 months, and he was already really fearful from the start — never aggressive, just scared of almost everything.
There were periods when things actually went really well — he met other dogs, played happily, walked together and seemed to be opening up.
But lately, things have gotten worse. Now, if he sees another dog from 20–30 meters away, he completely blows up — barking, whining, pulling, just losing control. It’s not an aggressive behaviour but it’s because he desperately wants to get close and play. Walks are stressful again, and it feels like one step forward and two steps back.
It’s also really hard in daily life — we can’t socialize with him, can’t have guests over, and he’s constantly on edge outside. I don’t even mind that it’s uncomfortable for us — what hurts most is seeing people judge us during walks because he’s whining and they probably think he’s being mistreated but he is just very vocal about his frustration. People have no idea how rough he had it in the shelter before he came to us.
I’m guessing we’ve hit the teenage phase and everything just intensified. A behavior therapist is coming soon, but right now I’m just feeling pretty down about it all.
Still, I really hope that with a consistent routine, patience, and helping him feel safe, he’ll eventually overcome this fearfulness. Deep down I know he’s a sweet, playful dog — he just needs time and the right support. Has anyone else been through this and seen their dog come out calmer and more confident in the end? I just want him to be happy and not anxious anymore. I could really use a bit of hope right ntow.
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