i really cant bond with our dog.. help me

[teigan]

hi everyone... well i have no idea what is wrong with me but ever since i found i was pregnant, my hormones are all over and i just cant get along with the dog, everything she does gets on my nerves. she is a bullmastiff, beautiful temprement, she is really my partners dog, and was ment to be going to work with him all the time as he had his own business but things havent gone to plan and she is with me all the time, i cant stand her smell, i cant stand her following me, i cant stand her pooing in the garden i just hate everything, ive never been a dog person anyway, but its just getting worse and all i do is shout at her, i just dont think its fair having a dog that you just dont like. its not as if i pretend to get on with her as i dont, my husband lets her lick him all over his face and when i go to kiss him he stinks, our bed stinks the house stinks, someone help me, as i cant be a dog lover if i feel like this, and no its not because the babys coming as i already have a son, im just so fed up, when i see her i just get ****** off and go in a mood staright away, what is wrong with me?

[whimzikal]

You're pregnant, that's what's wrong. Well, not WRONG.
When I was was pregnant I had something happen like that to me.
I left my ex and moved in with my folks at about 4 months along.
For some reason I couldn't stand the sight, smell, sound or thought
of thier chihuahua. (I never felt that way about her before)
So one day I said "Tina" let's have a girls day. I bathed her, brushed her,
pampered her ect and then curled up and watched a movie. I even
painted her nails, which my father ummmm didn't strongly support LOL
But it helped. It helped to just have one on one time. We both enjoyed
it. I didn't feel real close to her until my last month or so of pregnancy tho.
But it helped my exist in the same house until my hormones were
in a better way.
Try it it might help, otherwise explain to your hubby that you're pregnant
and need some help with the dog if she is going to stay.
I'm sure you'll feel better in time about her, but those pregnancy hormones can be brutal!!

[HeartSong]

Does she have obedience training? If not I think that it would be great if you would be able to train her on some commands. Training can be a great bonding experience for owner and pet and also has some great benefits otherwise as well.

She can also be trained to just poop in a certain area of the yard so that it's not all over the place. Talk to your husband about making it so that the dog cannot come into the bedroom at anytime. I don't know how set your husband is on letting your dog have whatever freedoms, but I don't think that it should be an unreasonable request to let her be in the rest of the house but just not the bedroom. This will give you a sanctuary that you know will always be dog free and not smell.

For the other smells, tell you husband that the dog can lick him all he wants her to, but he has to wash his face and put on aftershave or cologne or something that smells better than dog slobber before you will even get near him. For the rest of the house smell, a change of diet might help. What are you feeding her now? Some dog foods cause dogs to have more of an odor than others. You could also get your husband to start brushing her teeth daily, often the smell comes from their mouth more than anywhere else.

[Nightrise]

I have a dog who naturally doesn't stink and I don';t like it when other dogs stink and I'm not pregnant, lol. What whim said before sounds like an excellent idea. Try to improve what you don't like about the dog, especially that awful smell. Spend time with the dog in a way you'll both enjoy, the dog MIGHT grow onto you then. I mean, of course you're gonna get angry when he poops in your garden. How is that fun one on one time with you two? lol. I think there are some foods and treats that will help improve the smell. Tell hubby you need help with that.

[teigan]

Your posts were serious and really helped, other people just try to bash me, and say i just want to let go of the dog because im pregnant, but that is deffinatley not the case, she is perfect, training wise, shes 98 % there, but she is a bullmastiff, sometimes stubborn, but not in a bad way, just likes to think whatever shes doing, it was her idea, and its only for her, typical girl lol. she is such a baby, she is 1 year 5 months, and suckles on her teddys like it was her mothers teet, she will do this for about half an hour then fall asleep with it in her mouth, silly dog!. but she will deffinatley be staying as a dog is for life and all that, plus if i did let her go and then my hormones settle, i would feel so very guilty, not worth loosing an important, yet smelly part of the family. ( i was talking bout the dog, not the husband.. ). thanks for your thoughts, although i think ill skip on painting her nails, shes just had a manicure!!

love me xx

[teigan]

she has proper meat, like beef, pork, chicken, mince, bullmastiffs should never be fed on tinned food, she has vegetables and rice or pasta mixed in. winalot buiscuits for treats, and mackrel or sardines mixed in with an egg for her coat, she eats better than me. her poo is always firm, but sometimes she lady ***** and it empties the room, it makes me gag, but thats the fish. she is briliant on the lead, and with other dogs and children, she sleeps with my cats, although at the moment i have had a stray cat come in and its male, peeing up my back door, leaving flea eggs around, makes me cringe, she has never had a flea, but she is itching so had to get her to the vets and she has an allergic reaction to them. just one bite, so now i get wound up if i see her scratching, even though its not her fault. i think i do love the dog, as i am taking time to find out why i feel like this

[whimzikal]

I'm sorry but anyone who would bash you about this is WRONG and SERIOUSLY FLAWED! You do love her, like you said you wouldn't be here if you didn't!
As far as the hubby vs doggy smell, we know atleast one night in the last 9 months he didn't smell like doggy LMAO You just keep doing what you are doing and have a healthy pregnancy. Even if the 2 of you, doggy & yourself, aren't incredibly close at this time-it'll all go back to normal. Pregnancy hormones are chaotic for all of us.
I am sure she mumbles to herself often 'it's ok she's pregnant and those hormones are playing with her'
When are you due?

[Nightrise]

I really must applaud you. There are a lot of women who in your situation would find all ways to get rid of the dog. Yes, they'd probably feel guilty after the pregnancy but they'd still get rid of the dog. You on the other hand, are trying to make thigns work out. I'm very impressed. Hormones really get the best of the human race at different parts of their lives (puberty, "time of the month," birth control, pregnancy, menopause) and I really respect the oens who try to do the right things despite the ups and downs of the hormones. You'll be fine with the dog I think. You'll wanna be ****** off sometimes but that's just normal. I think you do love the dog since you're trying. You're doing the right thing and anyone who bashes you deserves to get a taste of what you can be like as an angry pregnant lady

Keep up the great work and yes, whena re you due?

[bernicesmama]

I think your effort deserves merit! I don't have childeren so I don't know about pregnancy first hand, but through friends and family I have learned it is very difficult emotionally. so, give yourself a break!

Have you tried greenies? they work well on doggie breath. also you can get baby wipes for dogs for a quick cleanup on them. After cleaning and during the week I use febreeze in my house along with an scented oil burner to keep the house smelling doggie free.


I hope this helps and just to let you know there will be no pregnant-lady bashing in this forum!!! lol good luck and congratulations on the baby!

[fostermommy]

I have 4 dogs... Ive never been pregnant... Three of my dogs are old and so they have bad breath, the other is a pup and never smells, but the older ones CONSTANTLY stink... wether its breath or their fur they stink. One of them has a skin problem that needs bathing every week to help with the smell... Have you talked to your vet about her smell? maybe its not just you... I would also talk to your vet about what you could give her for smell (I use greenies to help breth, but since you seem to have her on a certain diet, maybe the vet has something that would go along with the diet...) Good luck! Please dont give up the dog, its not her fault... Keep trying!!!