Hi everyone!
So, I’ve got a bit of a problem and I’m not sure how to handle it. I can't seem to love my puppy.
A few months ago, my girlfriend and I decided to get a dog for hers because he was very lonely after losing his playmate, whom I never knew. He was constantly crying; he'd never been alone before, so we thought the best way to make him happy was to find him a new friend.
We looked at a lot of breeders. My girlfriend was adamant about getting a puppy because her dog is very dominant and she felt he’d never have accepted an adult dog. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the idea of getting a pup, especially since the little guy was meant to be for me too, but I didn’t feel ready to train a dog. I’ve only ever had one dog in my life and she was always very calm and obedient—I never really had to do much training.
We talked at length about potential breeds, but the only one I really wanted was a wolfdog, and there was no way I was getting one without feeling capable of training it and providing all the space it needs. In the end, we adopted a Dalmatian from a breeder that left a lot to be desired, but we really fell for him.
He’s so stubborn; he keeps getting into the same mischief even after I've tried everything to stop him: jumping on the kitchen worktops, raiding the bin, pooing on the rug at night and sometimes even urinating, despite being house-trained during the day and being able to hold it all night—he’s done it before. He’s 6 months old and since we got him, I just don't feel anything for him. When I see him, I feel resentful, even though I’m doing everything I can to bond with him. I walk him, I play with him, I feed him, but nothing works; I feel like I’m forcing myself to stroke him or show him any affection. I don’t know what to do anymore. My girlfriend is very strict about what her dogs should and shouldn't do, and I was counting on her for the training, but I’m the one who spends the most time with the dogs while she's at work. I can’t take the stress anymore; all our arguments are about the puppy and his training, and I’m starting to think things were better before he arrived. But I can't bring myself to separate the two dogs. I just feel like a heartless monster, and it’s horrible to realise how much I resent a puppy who’s just going through the same phase as every other dog before him.
If you have any advice, I’d be really grateful. Thanks in advance! 😊
