Category: Top Dog

I’m a PhD student in a research-based discipline (meaning I work in a lab for much of the day). A fellow PhD student who also work in my office and lab space (but works for a different advisor) adopted a 1 year old dog to ‘train’ herself to be a service dog. I’m not 100% what the service dog is supposed to do; it’s theoretically a mobility dog because this person has some knee problems. She still goes on hikes and skis, so I don’t really understand the extent, but that’s not the main issue and I acknowledge I don’t fully know what her injury is and it’s not my business.

The issue is that she keeps the dog in the office while she’s in the separate lab space, and whenever she’s away, the dog whines CONSTANTLY. So for multiple hours a day in the office, this dog is whining. It’s distracting and annoying to deal with. She has a little remote she will give to someone in the office when she goes into lab and tells them to press the button whenever the dog whines, causing the dog’s collar to beep. This doesn’t feel like a good form of training for any dog, regardless of service dog or not.

I guess my question is, is this allowed? Is there nothing anyone can do to have her stop bringing the dog to work since she says it’s a service dog? From what I’ve read, service dogs need no formal certification or anything, so she’s basically able to put a vest on the dog and say it’s a service dog and bring the dog anywhere. I understand why this is the law and agree that people with disabilities already have to deal with enough, and I’d never complain if the dog just sat there quietly, but I just feel frustrated feeling like this person is able to just claim her dog is a service dog, bring the dog to the office, and let the dog whine ALL day. Should I go to my advisor about it? A dean? The disability office?

Also to reiterate, I know it’s none of my business what her mobility disability is and/or why she needs the service dog/what it does. But it just doesn’t seem reasonable to have a dog sit in the office crying all day and not be able to do or say anything.

Sorry for the long post, TIA.

Long story short- we found a dog several months back running around. After searching for his owners/no microchip etc etc we decided we will be keeping him. When I posted him in several local Facebook groups there was chatter that he had been loose around the area for several months. He is a VERY high energy dog and I want to be able to take him on several walks a day but I'm struggling with him! I assume because he was presumably stray his first few months of life (he is only about a year at most) that he learned being outside means he gets to have free run of the area. As a result he is an AWFUL puller. I am simply not strong enough to hold him for a full walk without reaching exhaustion. He's a 51lb dog and I am only 105, so he really pulls me around. He has a standard harness and a leash that has a second loop so I can hold him closer when he pulls but it is still not enough. What sort of leash/harness do you all recommend for a dog that pulls like this? I have also tried keeping treats on me for the walk but it seems like he gets over excited on the walk if I have treats and will start just jumping and pulling more. He'll stop pulling and sit calmly briefly on command with the treats but just continues right after. Any other suggestions would be helpful!

hello i’ve owned my dog for about a year and half now but we have to rehome but i wanna make sure he goes to the best home possible and im not sure how to go about it. It been really hard giving away my lovely dog but due to my mother and sister moving out and out work schedule ( We all work full time). we haven’t had the most time to give my dog all its needs and plus i don’t really like leaving him home all alone so often. Before we got him i wasn’t employed and my mother and sister had no plans of moving out until now. So what do you guys think will be the best way to Rehome 2 year old dog and in Ontario.(without any shelters)

Hello there, I have a Bernese mountain dog, female, about to be 3. We have had her since she was a pup. We originally had her at one house and then we have been in this current house for over a year. Have not had any issues and it’s been great.

Yesterday, I came home and noticed white flakes on the floor. After looking, I noticed she had scratched at the door and door frame and scratched it up bad. She’s never scratched at the doors like that, ever. We set up a camera yesterday down the hallway to monitor her and see if she does it again.

I checked the cameras today and she did it again! Like I said, we’ve been in the house for over a year, never had this issue. Nothing has changed in our schedule, in her sleep or food schedule, everything has been the same.

I am stumped on why she is all of the sudden, getting in her hind legs, and scratching to get into the bedroom. I have a feeling it’s cause she wants to lay on the bed but she has a couch upstairs and downstairs to lay on, and her dog cot, she has access to all of that and her toy, food and water bowl as well.

Anyone deal with this or might know why? I don’t know how to get her to stop damaging things and scratching. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Which pet insurance is best for you? Are there any that may cover your dog's current treatment? Did your dog get injured during the waiting period and want to know if you're covered?

Here's the place to ask.

Do know we cannot help you here with medical concerns, and lying or not disclosing things to the insurance company is illegal so we don't allow that either.

Does your dog turn his head when he hears an odd noise? Does your dog bury their food with your pants? This is the thread to ask why.

Please keep this thread to non-medical issues only.

Golden retriever puppy. First week home was rough – major puppy blues but second week in and things are getting better.

I’m working on toilet training right now – we get maybe 70% of his pees and pops outside. I usually miss the early morning one as even though I set an alarm he goes RIGHT when he gets up. He even peed in our bed last night. We’ve decided crate training is the next best option. Im also working on “sit” “leave it” and to stop biting. Been watching some dog training videos on the biting one.

Also – leash walking. That’s definitely a struggle as he does not want to go where I want him to. He plonks down and refuses to move – only treats will get him going.

So my question is – am I focusing on too much at once? So I focus on toilet training first – then work on leash training, basic commands, etc? I feel like when we’re outside I give him A treat when he goes potty then I’m trying to train him to walk on a leash and also come and “leave it” with treats he’s just getting so many treats. But it’s also frustrating taking him out to pee and he just plunks down and won’t move or come back inside hah.

How did you all do it with your puppy? One thing at a time or fine to work on multiple things in a day?

Yesterday my 7, almost 8, month old cavalier King Charles spaniel completely destroyed his crate bed and seemed to have eaten the stuffing when we crated him to clean the house, we didn’t know he had done so. When we discovered he destroyed it, we immediately took it out of the crate and disposed of it alongside the fluffies. He acted regularly and pooped, had dinner and peed normally. This morning we woke up, he’s still acting like himself and going to the bathroom/eating normally. However, about an hour ago he did throw up something very similar to the stuffing just darker in color and all tangled, I can add in the picture if necessary. Are these symptoms of blockage? I’m crazy worried.