Thanks ShadowFox.
Sometimes when I start feeling overwhelmed with his barking, I look up online on tips to use positive reinforcement (I only believe in positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement, as I I would remove the reward until the negative behavior stops and they start showing the desired behavior, then I transition to positive reinforcement if adding the reward). I try to ignore his barking and acknowledge moments of his quietness.
However, I think sometimes I am already at this high stress level, that I can't commit to the training session of ignoring the barks and rewarding the calmness.
I use to make primary training sessions of rewarding him with treats before he barks at the noises, but I see that he notices them
I have explored this topic with my breeder before, they were open to boarding him and help training him/reevaluating him as well. While talking to the breeder she was rooting for me and him to stay together and that's why I have him at doggy day care as one of the solutions for him to get his energy out and give me some breathing room. I'd say it has helped some.
I have considered him and I having this endless cycle of our energy/stress rubbing off each other. I think it's mainly worse when I forget to take my medication in the morning. I think when I do take my medication everything, is usually doable/tolerable.
In addition, to answer the question of seeing how I feel when I'm without him. When he was with his foster parent (I was hospitalized for a few days and I was also handling a pest infestation in my apartment). He was gone for about a week and a half. I didn't really miss him and I wouldn't ask for any updates, but the foster parent would do it anyways. I noticed I would feel relief whenever he was gone.
I also feel like he didn't really miss me either when I came to pick him up from the foster parent. I notice everyone loves and adores him, which I'm grateful for. But sometimes, I don't think I always appreciate his qualities. I try to love him and play with him. I think I've been trying to shape my mindset to where I can appreciate him more.
However, I don't know if it's my medication suppressing my feelings for him or if I am honestly just tired and frustrated with him.
However. I know if I do rehome him I want to make sure that he is with a owner/family who will appreciate him and live him.
As a side note, I have been able to meet all his medical needs, feeding him. I take him on short walks to go potty and from time to time I will go to the dog park or take him out on long walks to mentally stimulate him.
I have been in high stress situations, and to tell you something about myself, I take meds to deal with anxiety and depression as well (although I am doing so much better atm). One thing I will suggest is to make sure you are taking your meds everyday at the same time. If I forget to take my meds, I'll know it at this point because I'll get brain zaps. All I know is that I'm off that day or even into the next if I forget. So I keep track of taking my meds every morning. The other thing that helped me so much is our daily walks. It has helped me become more social and honestly as I learned to train my current pup, I became more patient and understanding.
