Category: Top Dog

My 15 week old schnoodle has started barking for attention with increasing frequency. We do play with her a ton, give her enrichment toys, chews, lick mats etc. She is still 3 weeks off being fully vaccinated so can't go for outside walks yet. She takes frequently naps as well but the barking tends to come in short bursts when we are occupied with other stuff eg cooking dinner and she becomes bored with or finishes whatever chew/toy/etc she had to occupy her.

My question is is it better to ignore the barking completely or redirect somehow? My concern is any form of redirection would involve some kind of play, toy, or treat so it feels like giving in. Therefore I feel like ignoring is the best method but I have read conflicting advice online. I don't want to crate her as a punishment or time out. She is learning to "go to her mat" but still needs treats as encouragement so that also feels like a reward for barking. If we just tough it out and ignore the barking does it stop eventually?

Hello! I have a 17 week old Jack Russell, he came home when he was 7 weeks old (I know it was too early but their owner advised us to take him since mom had stopped feeding them and dad was being aggressive towards pups and had sent two to the vet). When he first came we started crate training him (he never slept in our beds during the night) but he never got used to being in the crate during the day, he will nap there during the day if I take off the top part tho.

Anyways, I’ve always known he’s too attached to me, but I though he would slowly grow out of it but I want to know what can I do to make him more independent. He’s always following me, even when I went to the bathroom he would start crying at the door (he’s stopped doing that a bit and if he cries he stops it after a couple of minutes). Before, I tried to train him by leaving the house for 1 minute, then 5, then 10 and so on, he seemed to understand and gradually stopped crying during the training sessions but outside of that he just starts crying whenever I leave. If I’m not home he usually stays with my mom or sister (and my other dog) but yesterday I went to the market and he stayed with my mom, apparently he kept going to the door and crying (lowly) my mom kept taking him to her room but he kept going back to the main door to whine.

But this is worse when he is left alone with no people, we put him in his kennel because he obviously can’t be trusted with “freedom” but I make sure to take him outside to play and I put toys and a kong with food to keep him entertained (I also leave some relaxing music playing in the background). But this doesn’t stop him from SCREAMING his guts out, he cries like this for around 2 hours and it can be heard even from way outside the house, he just screams like he’s being kicked or something and it stresses out my other dog. I don’t know how to get him used to staying alone??

Also, he doesn’t seem to cry when he’s outside without me. The dog trainer takes him out on his own twice a week and he never complains, she my mom takes him out he also doesn’t cry, and when I took him to the vet for a bath they told me he didn’t cry either. So I want to know how can I make him comfortable when staying alone at home. My other dog wasn’t like this, he whimpered a little but never cried as much as this puppy so I’m completely at lost. And if my puppy has separation anxiety is there a way to reverse it? I know it’s my fault since I’ve been taking care of him 24/7 since he came but I don’t want him to be like this forever.

Puppy fear

My Samoyed girl Zuri is 4 months old now. She used to love walking, I’d take her out 5 times a day to potty train her. 3 weeks ago she heard a loud car noise during our walk and got scared.

At first I tried to force her to walk because I thought she would get used to the fact that nothing is happening to her. Then I saw her get worse and did some research, so now I carry her downstairs and outside, put her down at the end of the road and let her walk home and give her treats when she’s calm. I also play some car noises sometimes at home because my apartment is very quiet and I wanted her to get used to the noise.

I go to a vet uni and I take her with me. She loves uni cos she meets her friends. I carry her to the bus stop and then she’s fine to walk the street from the bus to uni, then I carry her home.

It’s been a few days of this therapy and tbh I haven’t seen much improvement. I let her run around in the uni garden and today she heard a motorbike and got spooked even if she usually feels safe at uni.

Am I doing something wrong? She was so close to being potty trained it’s just so sad to see her be scared of outside when she used to love it so much 🙁

Hi I just adopted a cavapoo 8 week puppy 4 days ago, and she doesn’t seem to be food driven (never seen that in a puppy before – granted the few puppies I’ve interacted previously were labs), but I’m starting to suspect that it’s bc I don’t use any very stinky treats…

We went to the vet yesterday and she was crazy about canned soft cheese, but I recently lost my dog very suddenly (most likely undetected cancer) and I would prefer to start my pups life with healthy foods etc.

So I’m here in hopes there are crazy neurotic ppl out there like me who reads every ingredient on a package, thank you

Hello!! 3 days ago we got a 8-9 week old lagotto romagnolo. Hes a crazy little guy and a sweetheart and is getting out of his shell quickly. Id like to crate train him as soon as possible while he's still young. He sleeps in my room and makes no issues during the night, but I've read about a lot of benefits from crate training, so we got him a crate. Naturally, he's scared to go inside despite my encourages and treats that I put in. I put his blanket in too so he feels more comfortable. Today he poked his head inside to try and get the treat, but backed out and whined. Its too soon to assume anything yet, but i feel like im not doing quite a good job. Im probably just overthinking though because hes tiny, he just got here and everything is still new to him. I also put his food bowl inside (close to the exit) in case that might encourage him. Im looking for some advice, critique or experiences!

I've seen a few posts about a partner or older child coming home with a puppy they have adopted without the other family members knowing.
How does that work? is it different in the US from state to state?

In the UK to adopt a animal you have to have a home check and also pay a fair amount of money and you don't get the animal right away and not at all if you don't have a secure garden, or small children or cats if the dog has not been tested around them. many won't let you have a cat if you live near a main road, or a dog if you don't have a garden.

I feel the UK is a bit too strict but the USA not strict enough, or not?

I have two 11 week old male corgis (I am a crazy person I'm aware) they've been with me for about a week now and are both responding really well to training. They're quick to pick up on commands, doing really well with potty and crate training and are both a ton of fun.

However, I am already seeing the major differences in their motivation and personalities. One is very food/treat motivated, it's easy to get his attention and he's already doing great with recall over small distances, the other is more interested in just about everything other than me and really only joins in certain activities because his brother is getting treats.

I would like to start leash training now that we're almost fully vaxxed but I'm not sure whether or not I should do it together or one at at a time?

I know I’m about to get downvoted to hell, but why are “no-kill” shelters so highly praised?

From what I understand, there are far more dogs than there are homes, and that number keeps growing. Realistically, not every dog in the shelter system is going to get adopted. At the same time, animals don’t really have a concept of the future, hopes, or dreams the way humans do—they’re experiencing what’s happening right now.

Why is the focus on keeping every dog alive indefinitely in shelters instead of prioritizing overall welfare? Long-term kennel life can be extremely stressful, especially for highly reactive or behaviorally difficult dogs that are already unlikely to find homes.

Wouldn’t focusing resources on adoptable dogs— while humanely euthanizing those that are unsafe or unlikely to be placed improve quality of life for the dogs that can realistically get homes?

I have a 17 year old shih tzu mix that is driving me up the wall. Help! She always wants me on the bed. In the livingroom she moves from her chair the couch and her dog bed over and over . Seeming uncomfortable!? Or annoyed shes away from bed? she makes little disgruntled sounds and stares at me. If I get up for anything food, check laundry, answer door ,maybe get a book or craft. All of a sudden she will run/jump playfully wagging tail trying to get me down the hall to the bedroom. I want to enjoy my livingroom:( help pls

Moving from Australia back to New Zealand later in the year with two 12 year old dogs that will both be almost 13 when we move (Irish Setter & German Shepherd).

Their regular vet has said they both have the health of dogs half their age and has no concerns about them travelling from a medical perspective. Their only regular medication is preventative Cartrophen.

My main concern is our German Shepherd is a weenie. Externally he looks like a wolf, internally he has whippet tendencies. He won't eat if it's too windy outside, or if any doors are open. If he stays overnight at a familiar house but if as primary people/ guardians we're not there, he loses his appetite, can't settle and is not okay the next day. The flights should be okay but I'm worried about the time in between flights and kenneling.

Will require one of the following itineraries using JetPets for flights and kennels:

a) 1 overnight kennel 4hr domestic flight 2-3 nights in kennel 3hr international flight

b) 1 overnight kennel 6.5hr international flight 1 night kennel 2hr domestic flight

c) 1 overnight kennel 6.5hr international flight 4 day road trip staying together

Currently leaning towards c) as our GSD loves a family road trip, but would love to hear anyones thoughts!

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