Category: Top Dog

Hello, I recently, 4 weeks ago, rehomed a 1 year old pug. Before I got her she was owned by a 70/80 year old housebound woman who was in poor health. Due to this my dog had never been left alone, ever, she was also never toilet trained 🙃 now she won't let me leave her at all. I have managed to crate train her and she is very happy in her crate (sleeps in there all night and goes in regularly on her own accord) so I have been trying her in that when trying to leave and it's helping a bit. So far, I'm building it up slowly, couple minutes away, come back etc. I have just started her on calming tablets to try and help too. I don't feel like we are making any progress at all though. Has anyone else ever been in this/ similar situation and actually managed to successfully get to the stage of comfortably leaving the dog and them staying calm? If so any tips and how long did it take? Tia

Hello! I'm going to provide a little backstory incase any information may help:

I have a 7 year old male chihuahua who is neutered. He grew up with 2 male cats and a female chipin. I got him when I was a teen, he is trained for basic commands/recalls and does love to perform and get treats.

That being said, he wasn't that friendly with other dogs or small kids. Over the years he has gotten way better, I've noticed that I think it's a boundary issue. He will be chill with them but if they get close to him/touching range then he will get defensive.

Now fast forwarding a bit to current times, he lives with another old female chihuahua and a male pit puppy- who is much bigger than him. He's chill/kept to himself just doesn't like when the puppy gets in his face.

The "issue" presumably, that I've noticed is (he does this with any dog) he will go to sniff their butt, focused on it like a mission, then go ham with licking. I have to intervene a bit if he starts licking because he won't stop. I can manage the sniffing/licking before it happens by telling him no (he backs off).

I know dogs do this to greet, but it feels like mine does it excessively, he already knows and lives with these dogs, and would continuously do it if I didn't stop him. Why is he doing this and how can I prevent it? Thanks for any help!

TL;DR: My 7yr M chihuahua (neutered) continuously sniffs and licks dogs butts unless I intervene to stop him. What is this & what can I do?

Hi everyone,

About three months ago we adopted our dog Brody (7.5 yrs, neutered male English Setter) from a shelter in Italy. He had lived in the shelter for about a year. Before that, he spent around six years with a hunter where he was used for bird hunting. At some point the hunter decided Brody was no longer good enough for hunting, and after he was diagnosed with Leishmaniasis, the hunter apparently wanted to shoot him. A neighbor noticed this and informed animal welfare, which is how he ended up in the shelter and eventually with us.

Brody is a wonderful and very sweet dog (can't imagine a life without him anymore), but we're currently struggling with one issue… he keeps peeing and pooping inside the apartment.

I've read through the wiki on house training, but our situation has a couple of specific complications that I couldn't find addressed there.

We think the main reason is that he previously lived in an outdoor kennel his whole life and never learned the difference between inside and outside. He has access to the garden at least ten times a day and gets three walks daily. About 75% of the time he pees in the garden without issue. On walks it's rare. He's too distracted by smells and birds, and he's not a fan of rain either. That remaining 25% is where the problem lies. Birds especially trigger his hunting instincts, and when he can't settle enough outside to go, he eventually relieves himself indoors.

We worked with a trainer who recommended blocking off the room where the accidents first happened using a steel net, since it wasn't a room he regularly used anyway. She also suggested getting him outside as soon as possible in the morning. We followed that advice, but he's since started going in a new spot closer to where we all spend time, near the couch area. The block-off approach isn't solving the underlying problem.

We've cleaned all affected areas thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner, and we don't use a crate or tether. He has free roam of the apartment.

Do you have any tips, training ideas, or strategies that helped your dog learn the difference between inside and outside and become reliably house-trained? Especially interested if anyone has experience with former hunting dogs or dogs that spent their lives in outdoor kennels.

Thank you and all the best

I have had my 13 week old, 8 pound puppy for about 4 weeks now and he is a cavalier mix. I am having a hard time potty training him in my apartment.

His potty spot is one of those dog turf patches that I have on my balcony and if I am outside with him he knows to go on that patch. I take him out about every hour when I am home and within 5 minutes of eating. When he goes, I will give him verbal praises and a treat. However, he takes FOREVER to potty when we are outside or will only poo but not pee. I always assume he is done when he sits by the door and I will take him back inside.

In the apartment, he is restricted to his crate and play pen (half taken up by his bed and the other half by a vinyl mat). Within minutes of me taking him out (regardless if he actually went or not), he keeps peeing on the vinyl mat, never anywhere else in any of his spaces. It is almost like he is waiting to pee on that instead.

I have been told to not "punish" him when he goes inside and instead just clean it up in front of him then take him outside. However, it does not seem like he is getting it and the accidents in his pen are happening more frequently.

Note: He can sleep through the night and if he his crated while I am away he holds it for up to 4 hours. I am always in the room watching him when he is in his pen and he makes no sounds or any sort of warning, just starts peeing then whines at me after he has peed. I also clean accidents with an enzyme cleaner. I have had multiple dogs before that picked up potty training quickly, but this is my first small dog.

TLDR: I have followed (at least I believe I am) all the advice on any potty training website and my puppy is still peeing indoors. Any advice for small dogs is appreciated or if there is anything that I am doing wrong.

I've been involved in the dog training world for a while now, and something I've struggled with is the overall culture that seems to exist in many dog communities (social media, competition circles, and professional training spaces).

One pattern I've noticed is that interactions can feel very transactional. It sometimes seems like people only have time for others if that person is helping them reach a goal… whether that's building their brand, advancing in competition, gaining followers, or promoting a particular training philosophy.

I've also noticed a lot of pedestal-building and "fangirling" around well-known trainers, while newer or less established people can feel ignored or dismissed. It can create an environment where status matters more than genuine connection or thoughtful discussion.

Another thing I've observed is that many trainers enter the space very young, sometimes as teenagers, when they're still very impressionable. They often learn the culture of the community at the same time they're learning about dogs, and sometimes that culture seems to reinforce competitiveness, ego, or tribalism between training philosophies.

I want to be clear that I've also met some wonderful trainers who are humble, generous, and genuinely care about both dogs and people. But overall, the culture can sometimes feel surprisingly toxic.

I'm curious if others have noticed similar dynamics, or if you've had different experiences.

More importantly, I'd love to hear thoughts on how we can make dog training communities healthier. How do we encourage humility, curiosity, and kindness while still pursuing excellence in training?

Personally, my goal in working with dogs is to honor God by caring well for the animals entrusted to us and treating people with integrity and humility. I'm interested in hearing how others try to bring more good into the dog world as well.

Looking forward to hearing different perspectives.

Been trying to train my dog on good loose leash walking. I’ve begun to reward him every time he’s next to me and touches my hand with his nose. That’s worked well at encouraging him to stay by my side more frequently. However, now he immediately begins walking ahead again once he touches my hand and gets his treat.

How do I encourage him to stay by my side even after he gets his reward?

Hello! I recently moved with my dog into an apartment complex. Previously, we lived in a house with a private backyard and had a roommate with a dog. My dog frequently ignored her so I assumed she wasn’t a huge fans of dogs (not aggressive behavior, just very independent). Upon moving into this complex and having to bring her outside to potty every day in a high traffic area, she began loudly excitedly crying when she sees other dogs outside, which is multiple times every potty break. I’ve lived here for six months and the behavior has not stopped. I have recently tried bringing her favorite treats down with us to distract her and bring her attention back to me, but she does not react to it. Her attention remains focused on the dog. I could out the treat right in front of her nose and she does not care. I even try to put distance between the other dogs and her, but she still eyes them down from far away. To clarify, she is not scared of the dogs at all. There have been a couple times that we have allowed her to greet, and she has tried to play. She is very social and friendly. I am hesitant to allow this every time as I do not always know the disposition of stranger’s dogs. Please help me! I am willing to put in the work to fix this, I just don’t know where to go from here.

i have a 3 year old border collie mix. i got her when she was a baby but we have had this issue for a long time. shes very smart and knows a ton of tricks but this habit i cant seem to break. she knows its bad cuz when i see it and look at her she hides. she only does it when im not looking or home.

for backstory ig i got her while living with my ex and he wouldnt take her out when i was at work and just layed down pads. he continued to do it until she was 6 months old.

if theres anything that worked for u guys if u had this issue id like help.