Dog Stress

@ladym33 (10979)
United States
January 23, 2013 1:39pm CST
As I look at my beautiful dog I am very much filled with love for her, but she has really, really stressed me out on more than one occasion and these occasions were really bad. We have a German Shepherd who we adopted when she was nearly 2 years old, so we did not have her during those important formative puppy days. I think she would be a whole different dog if we had, had were when she was a puppy. About a month after we got her I think she was really not sure about us yet. Although she loved my husband from the the get go. I had just gotten a call from my mom saying she was in the hospital. My youngest was in kindergarten at the time. I was going to drop him at school and then go see what was going on with my mom. I was already upset and worried when my son opened the door and the dog ran out. I thought I would be able to get her back in but it became quickly obvious I wasn't. She still didn't know me enough at the time I guess to listen to me, and she seemed to think it was funny to let me get close to her and then dodge me the second I got close to her. This went out for probably about a mile, I also had 2 of my neighbors join me in trying to get her back. 1 on foot and 1 in his car, I was dragging my 5 year old along with me the whole time because I could not exactly leave him behind. My husband just happened to take a half day off of work that day and he came driving down the road that my son and I were on chasing the dog. He was very confused and didn't know why we would be on that road so far away from home on foot. I told him that the dog had ran off. At this point we had lost her and could not see her anymore. So my husband called for her. Upon hearing his voice she came running out from behind some houses and jumped right in to the window of his car. I was glad we got her back but upset that she obviously had no trust or bond with me at that point. A couple of months later I let her out and she didn't come back to the door as quickly as she normally did. Then I looked outside and saw we had a huge gap in our fence, one whole panel had fallen down and the dog of course left the yard. I panicked and was about to get in the car to start looking for her, but decided to call her name out first. After just one call she came running back in to the yard to greet me. That's when I knew she had now started to trust me, bond with me and obey me. She did one other really bad another time but I won't get in to that. But has your dog ever done anything that was really, really stressful to you?
2 people like this
5 responses
@inu1711 (5285)
• Romania
23 Jan 13
My previous dog got lost two times because she was terrified by loud noises. There were fireworks involved both times. She run away and I couldn't catch her. She was too scared to hear my calls. It is really frustrating to call your dog and see no sign she listens. So I understand how frustrating was for you when your dog run away from you. The dog I have now didn't give me any reason to be stressed. She's a good dog, even if she does some silly things to embarrass me. For instance, if someone stops to pet her when we are walking, she starts to sniff that person's pockets. And this is really embarrassing!
2 people like this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Jan 13
I know what you mean every time we have visitors my dog has to smell their butts before she is comfortable with them. I have to tell people just let her do it, it will only take a second then she will be fine.
@urbandekay (18278)
23 Jan 13
I have 3 Brder Collie b!tches, gran, mum and daughter. They roam around the woods where I live, when I need them to come home, I call the oldest dog, she comes quickly. When she arrives I say, 'Call them' and she barks, then the others come running. The pup caused me some stress when she was a little younger, joining people who were walking their dogs, I spent a while looking for her till I got a call from the vet, to whom the dog walkers had handed her in all the best, urban
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Jan 13
The oldest one sounds so smart. My dog growing up was a Border Collie, she was a great dog.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 Jan 13
When I had my dog he went missing for four days. I drove around everyday looking for him...the kids were upset, I was upset then on the forth day he came walking down the street like nothing was wrong! I was so pizzed then at him but certainly glad he finally came home. They are a joy but sometimes they are also a pain!
1 person likes this
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
23 Jan 13
Oh, That must have been awful. I am glad you found him.
@Octav1 (1419)
• Romania
24 Jan 13
It really is stressing to have a dog that doesn't listen to you, especially if its safe is involved. That's why I never let our dog free. Whenever I walk her, I have her on leash, because I think it is safer this way. I couldn't run after her, and my voice isn't loud enough to call her. My wife is the one who give her the 'free' moments, because our dog listens to her and obey all her commands.
@mebuhalog (110)
• Philippines
24 Jan 13
Hi, Not my Llassa Apso doggies,though they characterized as a guard dog they only bark to stangers just one point of my fingers they will stop.So smart loving and cute,this fur doggies gives me a real joy and happiness when i'am creating fassionable fur style with them.