u/AnimalLoose2402

My Maltese Pom mix is 5. We have had him since 13 weeks.
The good: he’s very lovable with our family, he’s adorable, he’s great with my kids and their friends that come to our house.

Cons:

He has to go out 6-7 times a day. If we miss a window by a fraction he will go in the house. We have cleaned the carpet professionally with enzymatic cleaners, we have tried crate training nothing helps.

He barks at everyone not us. Babies, old people, disabled people, everyone.

Walking him is a nightmare. He circles us the entire time and when he isn’t circling he will walk for ten steps then stop ten steps stop. Bark and lunge at other dogs.

He hates the car. Will scream like a human and whine the entire time. We have tried holding him, giving him treats, nothing works.

He hates the groomer, the vet, and anytime I leave him with people. He will scream, and lose his bowels in a nasty mess.

He is an escape artist. We have to be extra diligent or he WILL sneak past your feet to get out and run away to terrorize and bark at everyone in our neighborhood. Grabbing a pizza delivery and forget? He’s gone.

I’m at my wits end. Is this just the breed? He’s only five and I find myself anxious for when he can just die and I have my sanity back.

I’m gonna show my impoverished upbringing a bit here, but I’m always surprised by how many men in this sub say they always grew up thinking they would get married and have children. I’m reading it as, it was seen as something as normal of an expectation as graduating from high school.

My parents are divorced, many of my friend’s parents were not ever together. I never grew up thinking marriage was a given.

It reminds me a bit of people complaining that they can’t afford to buy a home, which does suck, but sometimes stems from folks not being able to have the same purchasing power as their parents.

I’m not framing it as a debate, just a genuine question from curiosity.