How do you live your life with regaurd to your dogs?
 

How do you live your life with regaurd to your dogs? I'm sort of having a hard time wording this. So for example, I'm terrified of my dogs getting run over, jumping our yard fence, getting hurt while walky dogging, running into an off leash little dog etc. but as much as I want to I try not to keep them in a bubble. I walky dog with them on the sidewalk look both ways twice before we cross, slow down enough at an intersection to stop if we had to. Supervise them during their romps in the yard. I take a hard stand in between my dog and an off leash one if it comes close. On our walks they at tightly tied to my arms and have prongs on. My husky won't learn to stop pulling but his recall on the retractable is great and he knows not to run across a street without me. It's silly little stuff; the worst case scenarios that really prevent me from being more active or adventurous...even walking Zeeva scares Me but her weight scares me more...

So how do you feel? Are you a worry wort but do everything anyway? Are you a worry wort and stay in a bubble with the dogs? Or do you simply live life at ease, with some fears but none you dwell on or conjure up to the point of bubble wrapping your dogs...?

I look forward to being very adventurous with Oscar when he is cleared by his vet (heartworms). He fears people and isnt well socialized. I really look forward to working with him though. I can't wait to take him on trails, to bring him to the barn to meet my friends, to take him to the store to pick out his own toys and meet the people behind the counter. I enjoy travelling and I expect him to come with me everywhere I want him to go. I would love to try agility wih him too. He loves to run.

My biggest worry is meeting another aggressive dog. I do not know how he will act. He tends to ignore other dogs in the neighborhood and wasnt interested in playing with a friends Chi when we stopped by for a quick visit. He is very submissive to us, and I am afraid an overly aggressive dog will make prey of him. I couldn't stand for him to be hurt like that. That doesnt stop me from taking him for walks in my little neighbordhood despite the amount of stray dogs that venture the area though.

LO

Yes I am one to worry. I am extra careful all the time. If I go somewhere to let my dogs off leash you can bet that I have fully investigated that its like fort knox. I don't take any chances with them. I just found a place to go with them and my son was very proud of me for letting them off leash..he actually told me that he knew that it took a lot for me to do that. Even though its really secure I am still nervous:crazy: My oldest dog was a runner back in the day and she gave me a couple scares. Now everyone thinks I'm crazy because when we move I want a 6 ft fence with coyote rollers on top to extend it and concrete along the fence line with bushes in front of the fence..I don't want anyone or anything getting out or coming in. I bet I get what I want:)

I'm not really a "worrier" as much as I'm a "planner." I cover all the basics - good recall, well-socialized dog, safe area if I'm off-leash, carry a stick if I'm walking.
I also play what self-defense instructors call "the what if..." game. By doing that, I know what options are available to me should something happen. It doesn't prevent any accidents by itself but it is very calming to have a plan if something does go wrong. If my dog were to get hit by a car, my husband is a short phone call away and my vet will meet us at the clinic in an emergency.
If a loose dog comes out, I've handled those before and know my options. etc etc

I am not a worrier by nature. But I do try to anticipate potential problems. I try to help my dog stretch her capabilities as much as possible within safe boundaries. She started out shy but with a lot of exposure has become less so. Not to the point of boldness but at least to the point of curiosity. If she is off leash she will go way around other dogs (she likes people) but on leash she will feel the connection with me and feel more confident. She loves to play with other dogs once she knows they are not aggressive.

I worry a lot, but I try to not let that stop us. I understand that, even with the most extensive planning, an accident can still happen. I would prefer to not vaccinate Finn the way we have, but I am terrified of him catching anything from another animal, so we get all the shots necessary to keep him safe. I used to keep him in a bubble, but he just wasn't happy with it, so I had to adapt. It's been hard, but it gets easier every time.

I think concern is natural (and planning ahead if a good way to lessen some of the worries); however, don't let it become so great that it becomes phobic. That isn't healthy and can negatively impact the enjoyment you get out of the activities you are trying to do.

You are lucky to have a plan for this, my plan is that if it gets hit by a car it will probably not make it:( I guess I do plan so that I do everything in my power for it to not happen...teaching a wait by the door or getting out of the car, always on a leash, and I can't tell you how many collars I've gone through because I don't want them to be able to slip out of them(my oldest is a pro at that).

Re: How do you live your life with regaurd to your dogs?
 

I have an anxiety disorder so yes I am a worrier haha. My fears are to the point of phobic. Eko does live in a bit of a bubble so I think he has picked up on my natural nervousness and he does tend to panic a bit the first time he is introduced to something. His first time at petsmart he threw himself backward against the leash and had a very loud fit for several minutes. I just waited til he settled down and it was fine. He is socialized well enough only because I worried if I did not he would bite someone and be taken away and killed. I do better now than when I got him at 8 weeks old I let him experience more and let him do things without me a little bit more. I get teased about how protective I am but I would rather protect him too much than too little. :)

hi amina, we all worry, but my philosophy is simple. on leash i maintain control. train as best i can. on walks, it is up to me to keep him safe from cars, other loose dogs and people. i also try and find time to let my dogs be dogs. most important for me, is to enjoy my dogs. life is too short for human and dog to stay in a bubble and not go out enjoy the things i enjoy doing.