A woman has been left heartbroken after her husband admitted he wants to return their seven-month-old rescue dog.
Looking for advice on Reddit, the woman explained how they adopted their dog from Puerto Rico about two months ago.
The tiny dog was discovered in an abandoned house after a hurricane ripped through the Caribbean island.
Hoping to give it a second chance at life, the couple picked up the pup from a rescue centre and took it home with them.
The woman wrote: “She was a little shy but warmed up to us right away.
“Now that we’ve had her for a little over two months, she is as comfortable as she can be around my husband, me and our other dogs.”
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But it’s when their friends or family come to visit that her behaviour changes, becoming “extremely fearful and skittish”.
“She will warm up to people after a little while, but definitely takes some time to get used to new things and new surroundings,” she added.
“With us, she never leaves our side and is the most gentle and loving dog when we are at home.”
However, the woman's husband has a problem with the dog's skittish behaviour, saying “it isn’t what he signed up for”.
She added: "He said he would be much more comfortable if we gave her back and let somebody else help her through her anxiety.
“I try to explain to my husband that this is just because of everything that she went through in her life and that she will totally be a different dog in a year or so but we just have to give her time.
“When she is around strangers, she is not aggressive in any way or shape, she just wants to be by herself and not let them touch her or pet her.
“She does not show teeth, growl or bark, she just doesn’t trust them and will run to the other side of the room if they reach for her.
“This is most likely because of her past experiences, but at the same time it is disheartening to see because we know that the people we bring her around just want to love her like we do.”
The couple have begun to argue over whether they should keep or return the dog, with the woman refusing to give up on her just yet.
“I tell him there is no way that I’m giving her back, and that she just needs more time, but there’s a little part of me that can see where he is coming from because our other dog is so good with anyone and everyone that he meets immediately,” she said.
Believing her husband wants to return the dog to control his own anxiety, the woman has been seeking advice on how best to handle this situation.
She doesn't want their new dog to trigger his anxiety, but is adamant the dog’s own anxiety issues will naturally ease over time.
The woman added: “His anxiety about the dog makes him constantly bring up giving her back which gives me anxiety because I don’t want to, which gives him more anxiety and so on and so forth.
“I know it’s hard to have to handle a dog that doesn’t warm up to strangers right away, but at the same time I don’t want to give up on this little puppy that has been through so much and finally has a home that loves her.
“I want nothing more than for my husband to see the potential in this dog that I see, but I’m not really sure how to go about making him do that.”
While waiting to hear back from a trainer, the woman has sought out help from dog owners who have experience with anxious animals.
One user said: “Dogs should be polite around everyone, but they aren't obligated to love and want to interact with everyone.
“I know people want to love on her, but they need to love her by respecting her boundaries right now.
“Your husband needs to understand this is a living being that is allowed to not want pets and interaction.
“She is incredibly young and will definitely get better with gentle training and confidence building, which will be important for vet trips, groomers, and so on, when she needs to interact with strangers for her health.”
While another user wrote: “Dogs who are extremely shy and skittish probably aren't ever going to relax much in situations they deem stressful, like being around strangers.
“Two months is a short time, but I don't think the dog is going to change much.
“The dog may actually be better off in another home with owners who aren't also prone to anxiety.
“Your husband’s anxiety is feeding off the dog's anxiety, your anxiety is feeding off his - and it's likely that it's going full circle back to the dog.”
Do you have a dog story to sell? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
