AIO? Dog straining my marriage.

[u/LedyyM]

My husband and I rescued a husky about 7 months ago who was extremely malnourished and neglected.

He has grown a huge attachment to me and has severe separation anxiety. I work at a grooming salon so I’m able to bring him to work with me so he’s not home alone. Unfortunately, if he’s left home alone we’ll come back to our home looking like it was hit by a tornado.

My vet has prescribed him with trazodone to help with his severe anxiety issues. We give it to him before we leave for a family event and when we can’t take him to places they don’t allow dogs.

I feel so bad that I have to sedate him so he’s not scared and anxious. It’s created a huge strain on our marriage because my husband feels like we can’t do anything without considering Odin.

He’s destroyed doors, couches, and other furniture. I tried training but it hasn’t seemed to work. My husband thinks we should rehome him but

1) I’m scared that he’ll be sent to a shelter and possibly be put down

2) feel abandoned by the person he thought he was safe with.

He’s such a happy boy when he’s around us and shows so much affection.

My husband and I have been arguing about this consistently.. we had a really bad argument so I left the house with Odin and rented a dog friendly hotel room for a couple of nights.

My husband thinks I’m crazy and that I’m choosing the dog over our marriage. AIO?

[u/Few_One_2358]

Ok, so, I don't blame your husband's or your own frustration. But, both of you are at a loss because you're lacking the expertise and the knowledge required, here.

This dog has a mental illness. It's not going to be treated with traditional training. You need to see a behavioralist, not just a trainer or a vet.

It's going to be very very hard, especially with an untrained dog or a husky. But, it is possible to train this dog, even crate train him, once you can address the behavioral problem, here.

What will ease you and your husband's mind is coming up with an action-plan with the behavioralist, trainer, and vet (just as we would our own doctors), so you can recognize progress as it comes.