Hi all! Hoping for some advice. We have had our dog for 7 years. We adopted him as a puppy from the shelter. He's a 50lb lab black mouth cur pit mix of sorts. He's been loved and pampered since he was a puppy. Doggy daycare until he was 2. He has a tiny geriatric 15 year old yorkie sister who is also spoiled. He is truly loving and a very sweet dog.
But he's anxious AF. We have worked with trainers to understand him. He's been on the max dose of Prozac for 5 years and it's still not effective. He is a Velcro shadow dog, gets underfoot and in the way, ends up tripping us or our toddler, is afraid of the wind or whatever weather or noise element.Barks at anyone he sees including the walker who he has seen every Friday for 3 years in a row. We live in a metro area and our house has a good amount of pedestrian traffic about 15 feet from our front door. We have had to block windows with film because it was constant triggers. We have to take him on solo walks (not as a family) because he is highly reactive and lunges and barks at anything. It's embarrassing since we have a very family friendly neighborhood.
We have a 3 year old toddler and even she has started telling him "no barking" and “go to your bed.” His anxiety is making all of us miserable. We don't enjoy his company unless he's cuddling with us in silence. It’s genuinely sad.
When we travel he stays with our who adore him. Their house is away from the street. Or we board him at a farm, which is a one and a half hour drive from our house. He thrives outdoors.
I already have anxiety so I feel horrible but his anxiety makes mine worse. It puts me in such a bad mood. I'm just at my wits end. I would have never considered rehoming him but frankly it's really wearing on me. Even my even keeled husband is worn out. Not sure what else to do.
Anyone have any advice?