I think my dog hates me..
To preface i’m a college student (sophomore) and have only been gone a year. I’ve had my german shepherd mix (like 40% gs we don’t know what else but she’s ALOT smaller than a gs) since she was a puppy. She’s six now
Since I have been home for the summer, I have noticed that she seems a little standoffish towards me. She doesn’t like me petting her, it’s not that she growls at me. She just walks away. She never comes up to me, never wags her tail when she sees me- the wagging tail is fine because she’s had a prior tail injury so that doesn’t bother me at all. She’s not scared of me or aggressive towards me at all. She’ll still go on walks with me and take treats from me, but she never seeks out attention or affection from me.
This is what’s confusing me because she doesn’t act this way towards anyone else in my family. Not even my other siblings who have gone to college, and she’s as happy as can be to see them when they come back.
I take her on walks, I take her on drives, I make sure she has something to do so she’s not bored. No one else in my family does that. I’m just so confused, and a little heartbroken (okay maybe a lot). Just because I’ve been at college doesn’t mean she’s not still my baby.
Is there any other way besides physical activities to bond or connect with her? I don’t want to force a connection.