Hi all. I've had my girl Fiona (3, stopped racing in May) for 3 months, right off the racetrack. I started fostering her but decided to adopt last week and have been panicking since, she's my first dog I've owned on my own.
I live in an apartment with no yard, and since the beginning she's been a stubborn (I know this translates to anxious) gal. Her personality is coming out a bit, but her freezing has gotten much worse.
We started with short walks in the hot summer heat, and she did okay at first, but always froze a bit. I think it got much worse around July with the fireworks. Now, I can hardly get her out of bed to go out for walks.
We go to the park in the morning where she gets to play for a bit, pees and poos for a few times. After that, she refuses to go outside in the afternoon or evening. We've tried making a routine out of it but she simply won't even get out of bed anymore.
She used to wake me up excited to go out for about 2 weeks consistently, but now won’t at all.
She isn't food motivated when on walks, and I feel SO guilty for having pushed her to go out when she clearly didn't want to. I worry that did a lot more harm than good.
I don't really pull on the leash, rather push her bum. I'm worried about her ever being able to enjoy a walk, and even more worried about her mental health and physical health from holding her pee.
I feel so guilty and as if she is starting to hate me. I'm second guessing my decision, and feeling. so hopeless
PS She has no corns on her feed or any injuries/ailments, it's almost certainly fear.
PPS We have a vet appointment next week for her first real checkup after her spay
