A clingy dog can quietly dismantle your entire daily routine.

You plan your day around traffic, work, errands—and then remember your dog can’t be left alone for five minutes without unraveling. That one detail shifts everything. Suddenly, simple tasks require backup plans, emotional gymnastics, and constant guilt management. The more you avoid the issue, the more it spreads into every corner of family life.
Some families accept this as the new normal. Others spend months trying to fix it while walking a tightrope of noise complaints, shredded furniture, and canceled dinner plans. If any of this sounds familiar, here are ten struggles you probably know too well—and how to finally do something about them.