For the dog owners out there

Okay, so this is not 100% just OCD, although it has been triggered quite a bit and I do need some advice from you guys if that's okay. -- So for starters, I have a 3 year old corgi and he is both great and sometimes another thing. I love him a lot and what I say doesn't mean that he's a bad dog, but sometimes I do feel a bit worried. For this year we decided to include my dog in for presents as it's Christmas and it was a really cute idea- both a blanket and a giant bone and we knew he'd love it. I love giving him stuff but there's a problem, he's also very protective over his things and I feel sometimes stuck for when it comes to his behavior. On one hand, he knows how to sit, twirl, stay, be gentle, paw and tricks- he does it almost instantly when a treats in hand but when there isn't he sometimes struggles or just doesn't listen at all. He also hates when people go into my room and jumps and bites them whenever that happens- sometimes even treats don't 100% work. Anywho, we gave him the gifts and he LOVED it, we were all super happy- and he was instantly all over it.. everyone was laughing and enjoying the moment, although knowing his protectiveness I did feel a bit skeptical, I tried testing the waters by touching the ends of it and petting him and he didn't do anything. UNTIL.. when he ripped a chunk out- I decided to get closer and tried to pet him and take the piece and he snapped and barked at me/growled. My dad instantly took notice and got up in concern for me- he scolded the dog and tried getting the piece of bone, my dog barked at him again and growled and my dad wasn't having it so he put him back in his spot (like his.. border thing? If you guys know what I mean- not a crate hut something like that) and he kicked the piece to the opposite side and took the entire bone away. My dog barked and snapped but he still listened. -- After that I tried to laugh it off, my parents said that he really needed to learn to respect which I agreed and felt at least a bit better that we were all in the same page, but I still felt uneasy and now excused myself for the night. -- I love my dog. I never want him to go away and I see him as my baby- but I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. He loves cuddling when he feels like it, he gets along with people and other pets in public, pet groomers love him, he's not a typical aggressive dog.. but he does bark when I jump around or stim, he barks when dancing is involves, he barks and jumps whenever someone tries to get into my room like I said earlier (which I HATE since I used to invite my sib to hangout there a lot) and my parents sometimes go inside to pass me something, he whines whenever everyone's out and he's very clingy, he whines when it's late at night and I want to hangout with my sib or he barks, (he also has a "bedtime" for himself so that checks out), and then there's the overprotectiveness over new toys he gets and stuff like that. -- I feel scared as well. I love him to death and that's why sometimes his behavior stresses me the heck out. My mind tells me that he'll one day snap and bite me or someone else really bad- or that he'll get more aggressive later on and that it's too late due to his age. My intrusive thoughts tell me that his behavior will lead to someone putting him down or something like that happening- that he'll run away since he doesn't listen sometimes and something awful will happen to him. That people will see as a horrible person or an animal ab*ser (I am NOT a perfect owner and sometimes I feel like I suck at some stuffs- but I really do try my best. : () But he's NOT an aggressive dog.. but I DO believe that he may have some aggressive traits. -- So this is where I ask you guys for help- or at least some advice.. what can I do for him ? Is there any useful tools that I could get for training ? What training tips is useful for these kinds of behaviors ? Anything. Just what can I do ? Let me know please !! I really do love him just UGH sometimes I just get so stressed about it. (Also if any of you guys have your own stories- let me know about that as well ! 🥹)

Harm OCD

notsohappynow

Date posted: Yesterday

hey! i have an older dog too, not aggressive but can snap and has bitten groomers and vets when stressed. he’s not even reactive to other dogs, and often is okay with everything you do to him. i think you just need to help by training. desensitization is your best friend! but remember, they’re also animals. my dog, no matter how much i trained him, was still aggressive about certain things. sometimes, we have to just learn to work around the aspects of our dog that can’t change. i wish you the best!

VVbee

Date posted: 21h

I'm glad I'm not the only one ! I just sometimes get a bit frustrated since others have such cooperative dogs while mine sometimes just doesn't listen . There's times I've been told that I need to get him to start acting right, which is true but I also just think in my mind "what do you think I'm trying to do ?!" :,) What do you personally do whenever your dog acts up or gets reactive at certain things?

notsohappynow

Date posted: 21h

@VVbee honestly- i’ll keep doing the thing he hates till he stops and chills out. he’s not always great ab stopping the biting, but at least he knows i’m in charge. like i said, sometimes they bite and there’s not much u can do besides correct. wish u luck!

Vee92

Date posted: 15h

I don’t know much about dogs but I know a lot about pet OCD. It’s one of my main themes; I obsess over the wellbeing of my cat. She has had behavioral issues (biting really hard, attacking) and I had an obsession that I’d have to put her down, but that’s your choice. No one is gonna make you do that. As for being a pet owner, my girlfriend helps remind me that all pet owners are good, so long as they aren’t flat out neglecting or hurting the animal. By feeding and housing your pet, you’re giving it a better life than it would have on the street. Maybe sometimes you don’t do the right thing, but guess what, that’s what parents deal with too. No parent is perfect and no pet parent is perfect. You love that dog and that’s what’s important. Lastly, try to remember that you have OCD, and you’re very likely projecting your OCD and fears onto the animal. That’s what my aunt tells me, she has a severe anxiety AND is a vet. She says we project our fears onto our pets. Try to do your ERPs or whatever helps you, try to remember they’re just thoughts and anxieties.

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