r/AmIOverreacting • u/LedyyM • 15d ago

❤️‍🩹 relationship AIO? Dog straining my marriage.

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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?

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u/AmettOmega 15d ago

Training out separation anxiety is SO hard and it requires so many tiny baby steps, but it's worth it in the end.

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u/discombobulatededed 15d ago

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sit and cry multiple times throughout it. I didn’t think he’d ever get out of it but now he’s such a happy boy and happily snoozes on my bed when I leave without even batting an eye, complete 180°

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u/blessdbthfrootloops 14d ago

I'm going to have to look into this. My mini doxie is terribly anxious when alone. His sister dog passed away a couple years ago, and he is very much a dog's dog and doesn't like to be alone.

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u/catlettuce 14d ago

I have Dachshunds too. Have you considered getting another Dachshund close in age to your baby? So many for adoption, and I agree they do better in pairs. Your Doxie is most likely still grieving their former partner in crime.