Category: Top Dog

Hi friends! I picked up my now 11 week old Pomeranian last Saturday, and was hoping for some guidance.

Once we got her home, I figured she would be tired from the 3 hour car ride with us, so I put in the playpen I got her. It had an open kennel inside with a bed, food, water and toys, and I covered it with a blanket to reduce stimulation. Didn’t last long though because she screamed absolute bloody murder when she couldn’t see us.

We took her out and played, and when we tried again it was more of the same. I realized that that night I should probably not cause her so much stress so I did what I read about on this sub, which is to move a crate in my room so it’s right next to my bed so I can smooth her and reach in when she cried. It was irks pretty well, did that for a few nights but she got really scared of something one night and woke me up crying with her back against the back of the crate, and was scared of one side of the kennel.

The last two night, I moved the pen in my room on the floor next to my bed with lots of cozy things. Last night I added a heartbeat puppy stuffie, which she seems to like okay, but she still cries because she hates the pen even during the day. I also have a calming pheromone plugged in nearby, and I also ordered the spray to put on her bed and stuffie. Tonight I am trying a slightly bigger kennel again, and that hopefully we have a better outcome than before.

In the pen, she cries unless she is touched, until she falls asleep. I am a bit stressed because I have been letting her go around the living room while I’m in there to keep an eye on her, and there is totally relaxed. But the minute she is put in a pen, which is still big at 36”x36” she acts like I’m torturing her.

This sub seems mostly on the side of being attentive to them in the crate, but I’m also worried I’m creating separation anxiety. My boss has a one year old at Bernard and used the cry it out method and thinks I just need to do that.

So here’s my question. She’s still a little baby and is adjusting really well to my house outside of this issue. But I’m not sure if at 11 weeks this something I should approach with softness or tough love. How long did this stage last? What worked for you? She’s my third pom but first I’m raising from a puppy.

I don’t want to create problems for her as an adult, and it’s giving me a lot of anxiety and causing me to have puppy blues. Any advice is welcome.

Have a 5ish month old male neutered puppy, had him on a schedule and he had never stopped to squat and pee, with a few small accidents. But had been great for a while and on a schedule.

Since then, the last week or so he keeps peeing a very tiny amount (walking, no squat) in the same spot(ish) near the back patio door, and before that in my guest room or on the kitchen floor. The problem is sometimes he’ll be playing or sometimes mid run and all of a sudden stop and smell the ground as if he was just as shocked as me that he peed a little. It’s always very small amounts and could be cleaned with a single paper towel. He sleeps all night with no accidents for 8+ hours.

I’ve gotten really good at recognizing his behavior to know when I have to search for the tiny puddle or spots. I’m 50/50 on if it’s a health issue, or just behavioral and he has started marking a little while trying to hide it. Was wondering what the symptoms of a dog that actually had a UTI or something else causing the issues looks like.

I had to leave my house just now and go for a drive cause my puppy is overstimulating me today. Let me start by saying some days are definitely better than others. I've been home with him all day cause I'm off and fiancée is at work. I gave him a puzzle this morning and he finished it in 3 min. I played with him a little then sat on the couch.

When we're in the couch he always roams around the couch/hops on and off/ walks on top of me/ sniffs around. I tried everything the internet suggested. I gave him a teething ring which he finished in 5 min then started roaming again. I redirected him several times to his spot on the couch. He stays for 5 min then starts roaming again. So we both took a nap for 3 hrs then when we got up I played with him again for 10 min then sat on the couch to get some work done but he kept roaming and climbing on top of me!! Will this phase ever end?? It's like he has no chill. Will this phase ever end?

SB: he just got neutered 2 weeks ago and he's 6.5 months.

I have an almost 14 week puppy, we’ve had him almost 3 weeks. He sleeps in his crate at night and for naps during the day. He has a play pen where he plays independently or be alone when we are doing things around the house. When he’s out of the crate + pen, he’s on a leash at all times pretty much. We have been giving him more time outside the pen (while he’s ok in the pen, he has been protesting a bit more.. which is to be expected I guess with more time outside of the pen). How long did it take for you to start giving your pup? How did you implement the slow changes? He’s doing pretty well with potty training, but he will have an accident here and there if we miss the signs of him having to pee (twice last week). I’ve read lots online and people say giving too much freedom too soon, is one of your biggest mistakes. Thank you in advance!

Freddie keeps biting. hes 8 weeks old, and an imperial shih tzu. I know hes teething, but he gets more aggressive when we're in bed.

he snaps at me constantly, and my hands are full of scratches and cuts from him. Last night he bit my chin, and went for my eyes. thankfully I wear an eye mask in bed, and it fell down, so he couldn't get to me.

other than that, hes a brilliant boy. he eats loads, hes already mastered recall, and is so close to mastering potty training. this is my only problem with him.

I have a new puppy who is almost 11 weeks old.

He came from a large litter and my understanding is that the foster didn't train any of them and fed them together. This is no judgement, just context.

He is OBSESSED with food. To the point he would prefer to train for treats instead of play independently. On the one hand, he is pretty easy to train, and is learning fast. On the other hand, he needs to play and even "calming" food options like puzzle feeders lick mats, bones, tend to all get him excited.

I feel like this makes it hard for him to settle in his crate for naps. Oh, and his crate is the best bet to get him to sleep! If he is out of his crate, he just looks for food or engages in destructive behavior because he is too tired but won't settle.

I promise you, I am feeding him plenty of food​ according to the guidelines on the bag and other sources, so he isn't underfed!

I read it can be boredom, but I try to engage him with play and he is mentally engaged theough training and puzzles.

Oh and his training "treats" are literally just his regular food. They are not special or "high value"​. All food is high value to him 😂.

He also tries to eat leaves or anything he can get in his mouth when we go outside and chooses to focus on that instead of walking. But of course, if I tell him to "leave it" he will, if he thinks there is a treat involved.

Do I feed him more? Is this normal? Am I messing up my fur baby?

Understand, I don't mean to cause any arguments, but it just seems like almost everyone thinks that if you don't crate train and set a strict schedule for your puppy, he/she is just going to be aggressive, unhealthy and out of control.

I'm 52 and have had dogs/puppies my entire life. I have never had any of my dogs on any kind of schedule; I followed my old vet's advice to just let the puppy ebb and flow in their own rhythm…in other words, sleep when they're tired, play when they want to play etc…and it's worked fine. None of my dogs ever had behavior problems or anxiety or anything like that.

I now have a nine week old golden retriever puppy. The only schedule she is on is a potty schedule, along with eating at certain times. Other than that, we let her run and play. She crawls into her pen when she's tired. She's happy and healthy. She already knows "sit", "stay" and "come" commands…as well as "no bite"…all without crate training or schedules.

I'm wondering if anyone else has ever not gone the crate route. Did it work for you or did a schedule for better for you?

**I'm NOT here to argue or defend myself, so if you post argumentative comments, you will be immediately blocked.** I'm simply looking for other views and thoughts. Thanks.

I have a 7 month old pup who is absolutely terrified of harnesses. We've tried multiple sizes, models, etc and trained for a long time but nothing worked well. Now I've been using a collar for a week and it's already working way better for her. However, the collar can obviously move around and the weight of the clip from the leash pulls the leash down, and then she keeps stepping over the leash. I have to untangle her like 5-6 times every walk. Anything I can do about this?

I have boots that I can put on them to protect their little feet…. they are both 80 pound dogs, and they start to lose their mind if they don't get walked. But it is -20° C (13°F for the Americans) and other than their feet, I don't know if it would be harmful to keep them outside for any length of time.

Edit. Thanks all! My roommate had me 2nd guessing myself. Taking them out for a walk now 🥶

We just adopted a 1 year old puppy almost two weeks ago & she is definitely a super chewer. She doesn't try to eat anything, but wants to chew and destroy everything- furniture, blankets, toys, pillows. I fill her kong with peanutbutter & freeze it, but that only keeps her busy for about 10 minutes. She does love the woof pupsicle, but those get a bit pricey. We just subscribed to the superchewer bark box in hopes that it will help. What toys/ mental stimulation tactics have worked for you? We're also going to look into obedience training for her, but in the meantime are there any videos or strategies you suggest?