Category: Top Dog

Recently acquired a 2mo old Bernese mountain dog (it’s only day 2 so completely understand we have a long way to go) but was looking for advice on her insatiable appetite for poop, her own, the cats, whatever she can get her lil mouth on 😂 I took a quick gander at the wiki on here and couldn’t find tips there, but maybe I’m blind lol.

It’s been hard to get her to focus on any real training with so many distractions in the house (another dog and 3 cats, one being a kitten) so I’m wondering if I should do training outside where there’s a bit less going on as well

HI everyone,

I am fairly new to reddit and have mainly only used it to look up advice or training for my new puppy. I want to preface this post with the fact that I have had a dog before (he is 9 now) so I have raised a puppy before. I was on a waitlist for a mini dachshund puppy since September and was told I probably wouldnt get an available puppy until August. However, this specific breeder (very ethical might I add) had an accidental litter and was unable to advertise said puppies as it would not be good for her reputation, therefore I was offered one and picked her up last week.

I had done all the preparation for months, I had thoroughly researched all breed specific training and spent a lot of money on specific enrichment toys, crate, special carry bag for their spine etc. I was so ecstatic. However, once I picked her up I had this massive sense of dread and fear at what I had done. I have cried every single day since I got her, I keep thinking it was a mistake and that I desperately want to return her. I feel trapped and so flat and numb. Now, I know this sounds dramatic but I genuinely cannot make sense of these emotions and they have not gone away even slightly. She isn't even a 'bad' puppy, just a regular puppy and she is cute and its fun to play with her and she likes to cuddle which makes the whole situation worse.

Now just to add some context, I am 23 (f) and recently moved to central europe from the UK (August) and have struggled for months. The country was so difficult to integrate into, I struggle hugely with the language, the people are cold, I had to navigate the housing market alone and organise my visas as well as applying and reapplying for the visas for my partner to join me. I also struggled a lot with my new job too and as of around a month ago I finally felt settled and happy with the job and settling into the city. My parents dont think this is really about the dog at all and more that I have struggled for so long and finally felt okay again and now I have 'trapped' myself with another responsibility when I shouldn't have.

I did reach out to the breeder to try and express my struggles but she has not been understanding at all and it has mainly been more of a guilt trip. Now I know I am cruel and I deserve to be guilt tripped and I promise there is nothing I could hear that is harsher than what I have been saying to myself. But I just wanted to ask for some advice on whether this truly was a mistake because I dont really think I can trust my own judgement anymore. I just want to do what is best for the puppy because like I said, this breeder is desirable and I have no doubt a new family would be found soon and I'd rather she goes to someone who can give her what she deserves incase I can't pull it together as I would hate to evetually resent her when she didn't do anything wrong.

I appreciate any advice or insight anyone can offer.

Is there such thing?

Just shy of 10 months and he’s been completely toilet trained for months now.

For the last few days it’s like he’s forgotten how to let us know he needs to go to the toilet. I take him outside several times and even when he does signal at the door he wants to go out but he doesn’t go to the toilet. We stay out for 5-10 mins, if he doesn’t go, I herd him back inside. He’ll then have wet paws and I know he’s peed somewhere but they’re oddly not in the spots he used to go as a puppy either.

Is this just the joy of adolescence? 🤦🏻‍♀️

We have a 9 month old Brittany Spaniel, and overall training has been going well! We are crate training and he loves his crate, naps in there by his own choice, never has a problem going in when told to.

But for the past 2-3 weeks he has developed the most annoying habit and we don’t know what to do about! His crate is in the living room, about 20 feet from our bedroom. He used sleep in his crate through the night with no issues. Now at around 5:30am he starts crying and barking. He doesn’t need to go out and use the bathroom because if one of us goes into the living room and goes back to sleep on the couch, he will go back to sleep and stay in there as late as 8:30! If we let him “cry it out” he just will, he’ll get increasing upset for 30-60 minutes until one of us has to get up for work anyway.

Any thoughts??

for context, i have a 6 month old cocker spaniel female puppy who i got back in october 2025. she is a really kind dog, and very sociable. we took her to puppy school from 9 weeks old until she was 4 months old, which taught us a lot of handy skills like place training, sit, down, etc.

we are now 3 weeks in to an adolescent class with the same trainer (absolutely love her, she is incredible) and my puppy has started to become unable to settle in the car unless on my lap and in the classes, and will not take treats which is very unlike her, as she is VERY food motivated.

in the classes, she whines CONSTANTLY. she will jump/walk around our chair area and try to lunge at the other dogs and trainer. yesterday our trainer came up to us and told us that she's a little concerned with pup's behaviour, since she knows our pup has separation issues, but being unable to settle in class and in the car could be caused by anxiety. she says this is worst case scenario, but it is a little disheartening to hear. and she also said it COULD just be a typical 6 month old cocker behaving like this and then settling down after teenage phase.

i KNOW i am doing everything i can for my pup, but she is so difficult (obviously not her fault). i also adjusted our routine recently to include 2 walks per day to ensure she is getting enough stimulation and exercise, and it has helped her separation anxiety in the daytime (i walk her at 6/7am, then leave her alone 8-11am, sit and play or train with her until 1pm, leave her to nap then walk again at 4pm). am i doing something wrong?

we have booked in for a private training session, but it wont be until april as my family is going away (i am staying behind but would like my parents to attend as we all need to stay on the same page about training).

just hoping someone here might have had or is going through a similar experience!

All the ones I seem to find I fear are too big

Currently theyre biting each other and our fingers

My 14 week old Aussie puppy has been sleeping through the night pretty consistently since maybe 10 weeks or so. I usually have to get up around 4-5 and let her out and put her back until 7/7:30 but tonight she is whining or crying or barking and I just want to sleeeeepppp. She’s been out multiple times, she’s peed and pooped. No diarrhea or anything. She was fine all day. I feel bad because I had to move her from my bedroom to the living room because she keeps waking up my actual baby who still sleeps on my room and my husband. I can still hear her and can’t sleep though. Also the living room has the added distraction of the cat who she is now whining and barking at on top of it all. I’m currently laying next to the crate trying to calm her down. I just wish I knew what her deal was today! She slept from about 10-2 after being way more barky before settling and then my baby woke her up and she has been up since. It’s now 3:30. She usually doesn’t make any noise at all when the baby wakes up to eat. She might adjust in her crate or something but not wake up barking. Just of course this comes on a night I was already sooo exhausted all day.

This is not my choice, it is my health and a question about my sweet pup's health.

When I'm awake, I take my 7 yo Husky out for loads of walks every 4-6 hours – she is my soul dog. Without any nasty comments, can you let me know your thoughts on if it is dangerous to her health to go so long with out going outside when I am asleep? I try to walk her right before I fall asleep (kinda challenging since walking her wakes me up which postpones me falling asleep), and I walk her almost immediately after I wake up…but yes, there are several days a week when she sleeps with me on my bed for the whole 12+ hours without going outside and has NEVER had an accident. She doesn't seem to mind at all and this has been our life ever since I adopted here in 2019. In fact, she patiently waits until I am dressed, etc. before our first walk – she's not acting frantic to go out or anything.

I've read all about the 8 hour "maximum time" as well as many really mean comments to other posters who have to work 10-12 hour shifts and then commute. Please don't be one of those people.

Getting a dog walker isn't an options since I am asleep and live alone, and as I've said, she seems fine – in fact she was just at the vet and was told she is in excellent health om all fronts (other than she needed a teeth cleaning which I had done last week).

I have a theory that since it happened gradually and over a long period of time that she has physically and mentally adjusted. Her and I are in sync. Thoughts?

My dog peaches we just had to put down today and I don’t wanna get in the details but my dog Emmy they’ve been together for years and I’m worried she’s gonna get lonely and die of a broken heart what can I do?

Hi there for reference first of all I am a 22 yr old female who grew up with at least 3 dogs in my family’s home at all times. Two of which being English mastiffs. I rode and worked with horses for a living for many years. I have always been around animals. Now I am in a position where I am taking time off from school to focus on working and building a routine. (Need to do some growing up before going back to school) I have never had a problem getting to work. Just with school. I think with my mental health being worse than usual it could be the best or worst idea I’ve ever had. Do you think a dog would help me build a routine and boost my mood? Or hinder me?

FYI – I would do much research and wait for the