I'm wondering if I'm too emotionally distraught to have a dog. I feel like the dogs I've had must have absorbed my craziness, i.e. anxious depressed vibes, crying. My last two, littermates, became aggressive toward other dogs. My current dog, 1 1/2 years old, large and energetic, seems to be increasingly aggressive toward certain other dogs, whereas he used to adore every dog he saw. This change is really alarming me. He got out of my yard 2 weeks ago, and a police officer reported that my dog bared his teeth at someone who reported it. I had him evaluated by a behaviorist last week, who thought that he's a great, sweet dog. She saw no signs of aggressiveness. Then yesterday and today, he went after a dog at the dog park. I got angry and yelled. He was shaking, avoided eye contact with me and was aloof for a while. All of that made me even more depressed and crying than I already was. Dogs are sensitive, and need a strong confident "alpha". I'm a lousy alpha, often in a lot of emotional pain, I live alone in a small house, am with him almost all the time. I'm affectionate with him, take him to run offleash daily at the dog park, a large trail in nature. He's an athletic 80 lb. german shepherd mix in adolescence.

Maybe this isn't the place for this issue, but I'm really suffering, feeling massive guilt for having a dog while having a crazy lifestyle and mental illness. Living on disability for depression, I don't have financial means for much beyond bare necessities. He has a nervous stomach and I wonder if the aggressive episodes are related to physical distress. The vet found all tests negative.

Does anybody who knows dogs and depression have any input? I don't know what's going on, but I'm blaming myself a lot. I want us both to be happy. I don't want this to escalate into something dangerous, as it did with my last 2 dogs. They injured another dog, were ordered to never leave my property, and that added unbearable stress to my life. I adore dogs, and wanted a sweet, easy companion, not a guard dog. I can't believe this is happening again. It must be my fault.

Also, if anyone responds, I am extremely triggered by any sad stories concerning dogs. They haunt me. Please please leave those out. And thanks.