Category: Top Dog

Hi! This is a combined vent but ALSO a real request for community advice on this issue. We've adopted a 6 month old puppy from Greece 1.5 weeks ago. He is amazing in all ways: so cozy, great with other dogs, nice and polite to people , smart and fun. BUT he is terrified of noises outside, and just being outside in general really: he does his needs and then wants to run inside.

We have made some progress in the last week (mostly from walking with other dogs, then he gets a lot more confident) but that progress all sets back to 0 if we are outside and a big truck goes by/someone slams a door when he's nearby/a plane flies above – then it doesn't matter if another dog is there or not, he panics and just wants to run off. Literally anything that makes a loud noise will have our little guy completely panicked.

We live in a city so we are not able to control his environment everytime we go out, even though our street is fairly calm (but not entirely noise free still). And I feel like I'm traumatizing him even more every time we are outside and there's a loud noise, and that makes me feel terrible thinking we won't ever have a safe and happy dog outside.

He's lived in a great rescue during the first 6 months of his life, so he hasn't been traumatized by sound, so I think it mostly is that he's never experienced loud noises before.

I've read a lot of advice online and we are in contact with a dog trainer who will help us in the coming weeks, so I know some classic things to do – but still would like some input from this great community.

Does anyone have any experience with this or a similar issue? What did you do? And how long did it take to get a secure and confident dog outside?
I just hope that he won't be like this forever…I see so much potential in him becoming a secure and happy dog but right now I struggle a bit with hope on this front as I've read so many "horror" stories of dogs never being able to get over there noise fears.

Thanks in advance.

We have a 14 weeker and he pulls sooo hard on the leash. Hes in puppy classes and has a trained and he just won’t stop! We have a martingale, regular collar, no pull harness. He’s big at 30+ lbs. it hurts!

So my 6 month old boy doesn’t resource guard anything EXCEPT for pig ears. I’m curious if most think it’s something that should be addressed and fixed or is it something that’s not that big of a deal as long as you are content to just leave him be when given a pig ear? Could it progress to other things if not addressed?

I guess this is an update to my post yesterday about the dog with separation anxiety. Now I think I'm the one with the separation anxiety because she acted the same as she did the day before as I left (trying to chase me, pulling at the tie down and seeming scared) but I had to leave her. But now im here at work terrified that I am going to get back and she is going to be injured or god forbid dead and I can't focus. There's a hurt in the pit of my chest and I hate it. She should be alright but I cant help but get the feeling that she is in danger and I don't know what to do to help it

I’m dealing with a slightly crazy 7-month adolescent cattle dog rott mix. I keep reading that around 18 months to 2 years, dogs start to mellow out or calm down. But what does that really mean? How did your dog’s behaviors change after adolescence? What are some examples of them “mellowing out”?

Do they start ignoring other dogs on walks better? Do they start ignoring other people? Are they less aroused by the environment?

Bought 2 chow puppies from Spain and im trying to book flights from madrid to copenhagen airport for the middle of december when they're ready to travel. They'll be about 10kg each and unable to fly in the cabin i think as they will be too big. Any ideas?

Is there such a toy? My dog would love it!

I'm really questioning why I thought getting a dog was a good idea. I thought I wanted a dog. I did so much research and even made myself wait a year before going through with it and now it feels like I've selfishly imploded what's supposed to be my cat's golden years because I just had to have a puppy.

I grew up with dogs but as an adult, I've only had cats and I've never experienced blues like this. I'm trying not to compare them because they are two different species and my cat and I have had years to build a close bond while it's only been a couple weeks with the puppy.

On paper, she's everything I was looking for in a dog. A standard poodle that's going to grow to be on the smaller end of the standard size from calm parents with low prey drive.

Unfortunately, she gets excited and barks when she sees the cat and my cat constantly hisses at her. The only time my cat is fine is when she's asleep in her kennel.

I'm just worried about a lot of things now and second guessing myself. I'm worried she might end up having a prey drive and now my cat will never be safe in her home. I'm worried I'm actually a cat person and made a mistake getting a dog. I'm worried everything I'm doing is still not enough for my puppy because maybe she needs someone who's 100% a dog person to take care of her.

I'm hoping this is just standard puppy blues (she's only 10 weeks) and it'll get better but I'm also worried that maybe returning her to the breeder is the right thing to do and I'm avoiding the inevitable.