Category: Top Dog

How do you tell when you need to rehome a dog? I got a puppy last year when I thought I would homeschool forever, but then I went through major depression and had to go back to school. I no longer have time for a dog. I understand how horrible it is to get a dog just to regime him but I didn't expect to be going back to school. I really do love him but I don't have the time to train and spend time with him anymore. I really don't want to do this but I might have to.

So our pup (4 months on Sunday) has been getting so good at asking to go out. Over the last 2 weeks, he's only had one accident. When he's ready to go out, he sits on the little mat by the back door. If I'm taking too long, he'll nudge the leash that's hanging there with his nose so it makes some noise. I'm super proud of him for this.

Buttttttt now we are spending ALL THE TIME outside. If he is not taking a nap, he is asking to go outside. Sometimes he wants to play outside, sometimes he wants to sniff, and sometimes he wants to just lay in the sun and nap (he's the cutest laying out in the sun). He's not understimulated, but unless there's food being put in his face, he wants back outside. He has toys he loves and he'll entertain himself with them when we're not around. We're in the process of building a fence, but the HOA has been difficult and we're expecting another 30 business days for a response. I'm struggling because half of the times he asks to go out, he does have to go. Sometimes I'll take him out and if he doesn't go after like 10 minutes, then I'll bring him back in. Then he'll ask to go outside immediately after and actually go. Sometimes the same thing will happen, but he doesn't go for 2 hours so I'm nervous to ignore his cues.

It's exhausting me. Monday, I spent 5 of his waking hours outside with him so between client calls, I'm wasn't able to clean, do my documentation, or cook dinner until I put him down to sleep for the night. I love love love that's he's cuing and want him to know that he can trust me to take him out when needed, but I also can't spend my whole day outside.

We have a 5 month old Newfypoo. He’s 18kg so a big boy and vet thinks he’ll be 40kg +.

We walk him twice a day, 20-30 mins possibly longer.

When we’re walking uphill or on flat surfaces, he walks great on a lead – I don’t want him next to me in a heel so he can go the length of the lead to my side and slightly in front. Lead is almost always loose and doesn’t pull.

When we walk downhill, it’s a different story. He pulls (not crazy, but still a pain) and almost like he gets too excited to listen.

Any suggestions?! We live on a pretty steep hill so any walk is either uphill first then downhill home or vice versa, but switching it up doesn’t really do anything. I thought it could be that he loves going home (going downhill towards the house) but he doesn’t same when we go downhill first.

Hi all!

So about 4 months ago, I adopted a lab mix from the shelter. Originally, they said he was 1 years old, but upon getting to know him and running a DNA test, it’s estimated he is closer to 5-6 years old. He was in the shelter for 30 days, and prior to that, I have no idea what his life was like prior to adopting him.

When I am with him, he is a calm and loving dog. I work for 8 hours in person, and so he is alone for that time. We go for a 20-30 minute walk before I go to work and then when I get home we either go for another walk, or go to the dog park for him to run and socialize. On top of this, he goes to a small “doggy daycare” where he basically hangs out with a few dogs and a woman for the day, just to keep him socialized and give him a day outside of the house.

I am seeking advice on how he is when I am gone. I’ve tried a lot of different crates, anxiety blankets, chew toys, etc. If he is not in his crate, he ends up breaking things because he will jump up with his front paws onto every surface. I would love to get to the point where he is able to maybe just hang out in my bedroom, just to have a little more space. He loves to sleep mainly, but he is so anxious when I’m gone he rarely does that.

I have invested in a very nice crate that he cannot hurt himself in. There’s a blanket over it, and I leave on my TV in the other room as well as a white noise machine in the bedroom he is in. But once he is in, he barks the entire time. Or cries. Or just alternates between the two.

I have someone come by mid day right now to let him out and hang out with him for an hour or two, but he is still constantly barking and upset that he is in there. It is still better than him being out and even more anxious, but I was seeking any advice anyone may have on this particular situation! I would love him to be calmer.

Everyone is so worried ..please suggest how to initiate the search.

My five month old puppy is crate trained (in a separate dark room & white noise) and sleeps through the night (10pm-5:45) but within the last week-or-so when we put her in her crate for the first 5-10 minutes she barks and cries. She eventually does settle and when I wake her up in the morning she’s sleeping.

My husband thinks we need to ignore the barks and cries, at bed time she’s fed, she usually has just got outside to poop and pee and she has her kong filled with peanut butter.