A dog anxiety post
I sit with one puppy on the couch next to me and the other on the floor at my feet. They are never far away. They are extremely attached to me. Even Billie Jean, who prefers to do as she pleases and rarely seeks affection, is rarely out of my sight. Over the past year, I have dedicated a great deal of time and energy to these dogs. I follow countless dog trainers on facebook, have taken them to classes, and read everything I can on dog communication and behavior.
And yet, we have now reached the point where Billie cannot be within 20 feet of another dog when she is on a leash. I watch her here at home and she lounges around on her back, fully vulnerable. She plays with her younger brother all day long. She has even had days where she didn’t bark at the mailman! She goes for walks with me and sniffs along happily. But as soon as another dog is nearby, she lunges, barks, and bares her teeth.
I’ve read enough to understand that this is common and is caused by anxiety. I’ve also heard from many trainers that anxiety can be a genetic predisposition or caused by chemical issues. But I still wonder constantly what I did to traumatize her.
Then I look at Barney Frank and how he does sometimes bark and people and dogs on walks, and wonder if he too will soon enter all-out attack mode at the sight of another dog. Again, I wonder what I should be doing.
With Barney, at least, he hasn’t been to dog parks more than a few times. I’ve read that dog parks tend to be filled with stressed dogs and can contribute to anxiety. Billie used to go almost every day. Also, we’re starting counter conditioning to people and dogs on walks earlier with him.
But their anxiety increases my anxiety. I have to be careful where I take them for walks. I worry about taking them to the vet and finding a lobby full of dogs for them to bark and lunge at. I worry about encountering off-leash dogs in places where dogs are supposed to be leashed (we can only keep our distance if your dog keeps theirs).
But mostly I feel inadequate and as though I’ve failed them. They’re sweet and loving and completely dependent upon me. And yet it feels like there’s little I can do to help them through this.
Just wait until we have foster kids.
