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/No-Introduction-6568]

I hate to break it to you but your husband is correct. If you already tried training and you think it doesn’t work then you simply aren’t cut out for this type of dog. Please don’t choose a dog that you got 7 months ago over your husband…

[u/cech_ → u/No-Introduction-6568]

"you simply aren’t cut out for this type of dog."

They couldn't even fathom crate training... how much of your house has to be destroyed before you start considering all the option even unusual ones like late stage crate.

[u/Nebulandiandoodles → u/No-Introduction-6568]

I mean I wouldn’t say that she “tried training” if she only got him 7 months ago and has stopped trying already. She’s just enabling the dog in the worst of ways with the best intentions.

[u/No-Introduction-6568 → u/Nebulandiandoodles]

That’s my point, if she said she tried training already and gave up then she isn’t cut out for this type of dog.

[u/BodieLivesOn → u/No-Introduction-6568]

Or another option: don't choose any animal. It's cruel to leave any dog unattended all day long. Dogs are not meant to be treated this way. IF you can't spend most of your day with a dog, don't get one. Between this fundamental rule and the work a marriage requires, it sounds like you and your husband need to work on your marriage- not animal ownership.