Category: Top Dog

Hi everyone okay long story. I got a puppy in early Jan that unfortunately passed due to parvo(please no advice about this as I have talked to my vet about everything) so my place is/was contaminated but I have disinfected it a few times. The breeder offered me a new puppy and I took her up on the offer and got him yesterday at 13 weeks old with his puppy injections. I love him and he is amazing. I do feel a bit overwhelmed, stressed and scared due to various reasons such as the parvo, me wanting to do the best for him and I am writing a big test on Tuesday for my postgraduate degree. I'd like to hear what people's experiences are with getting an older puppy with tips if possible. I'm also a bit worried as I don't feel he sleeps enough and he seems to have fomo. He is awake for about 2 hours at a time and doesnt sleep that long maby an hour-ish? Could it be the new place and everything or should I try to enforce nap time more? No crate training please

So I’ve seen and read that you should praise and treat your pup when they enter the crate, now do you do that every time? Our Pup keeps popping in and out but we’re just a little worried about over feeding…. Is praise also enough?

My 11 week old puppy loves my husband more and I hate that I’m all up in my feels about this. I shouldn’t be feeling sad, I know. Anyone felt similar and have good stories to share? Perhaps some encouragement to keep being the primary caregiver 🥹

We got her at 8 weeks. My husband wanted a puppy but realized he has debilitating allergies to her. Because of this, he has to balance his health while being active with her. We do most of the feedings together and he has solo chill sofa time with her. I’m not around 1 day a week. He usually keeps her at an arm’s length but still touches her to settle her down.

I’m more of the active parent (which, btw, is not an issue with me at all – I love being the caregiver and happy to do what I can to not exacerbate his allergies*). I do the feedings and have solo chill sofa cuddle time too. And I do all of the: grooming, training sessions outside of feeding, playing/tugging/fetching, doggy massages, late night potty trips, bringing her in and out of crate during naps, rolling around on the ground with her, monitoring, preventing or rewarding bad/good things, etc. I am always available and around.

When she’s settling down with both of us on the couch, she gravitates towards him to settle down. She’ll lie down next to him, not me. When he leaves the room, she’s whining and sitting by the door waiting for him. Like, hello?? I’m still here!! Oh, but when I leave the room and he’s still there, she just chills with him. She seems perfectly fine. The moment this all clicked was when I got up to get her kibble today…she stayed by his side on the couch and just looked up curiously. But all the times that he goes to get kibble, she’s rabid LOL wants to jump off the couch and run to him. She’s so food motivated and yet still has favourites??

I know this is classic!! He’s novel, chill, and fun. I’m the stimulating, surveilling caregiver. I understand that it’s great she has healthy attachment and feels safe/secure with both of us. That’s what’s most important here, I know. She gets her needs met by both of us in different ways, and that’s a good thing. I’m also glad that she is showing him this much love as he’s going through difficult allergies – he deserves it. I hate that I feel sad, jealous, and a bit resentful too. I hate that it makes me want to pull away with her and I really try not to because I know that everything I do for her is what she needs at this stage of her development. I know she needs me and has love for me too. She just loves him more, and I’m just the caregiver. Some days are just sadder than others 🙃

*FYI- He’s going through allergy prevention and still really tries to help out with her. He is very dedicated to tending to / caring for me and our house as he recognizes I am doing a lot for the pup. The division of labour with our pup is not an issue.

Tl;dr – for urban dog owners, when did your dog start pottying outside / generally hearing commands outside?

We live in an apartment in a very urban area, and our 18wk yorkie puppy just got cleared to be boots on the ground (but no soil/grass until next lepto) about a week ago.

He’s well potty trained inside. He goes on our balcony. We didn’t use pee pads because he just tore them up. The balcony is concrete, very similar to the pavement on our block. (Yes this is very cursed lol but it rains a lot here and we disinfect regularly)

The problem is outside: he can be in front of our apartment for 40 minutes and not potty, even if he just woke up from sleeping all night and definitely needs to go.

His potty cue word for sure needs work, but he also struggles to listen to any command outside, even though he’s very good about them inside. He also won’t take treats, which happens when he’s nervous. (Edit: the treats are just his kibble as we work out some hot girl tummy issues, so they’re not very exciting to him unfortunately)

For other city dogs, when did the front block of your building stop being so exciting they won’t listen? I assume it will just come with time but I was hoping a week of walking back and forth twice a day would be enough 😭 Would love any tips!

My 9 month old dog was on a good streak with potty training and I thought he was doing well. The longest he's gone was 58 days without an accident.

My Gf Brought home a rescue that she found at a flee market and our 9 month dog has been having accidents again. The accidents usually comes with him over stimulated. It takes him a while to calm ​down after getting riled up or over tired and after that he seems to lose control and not think.

He's had about 5 accidents after his long streak and had accidents again around 7.5-9 months.. he would go a week or two without accidents and then we get out of routine and he'll pee on the floor.

Ex: Yesterday I found him panting when I got home. Maybe he was stressed cause the other dog had a chew in her kennel and my dog takes the kitchen. Whatever it was, I let him outside to pee. Then he played with the puppy a bit, drank water, I took a shower. When taking a shower I left him with my gf. Apparently he was playing woth the cat when I showered. Then me and my gf was talking, and he squats to pee on the carpet (after I just let him outside to pee 40mins-1hr ago). And then I stopped him, told him to go outside and he peed on the grass. It seems like he really needed to go (so he probably chugged water). I've had dogs before, but not really a smaller dog for the last 20years. Goop is small, like 18.5lbs. He's been hard to potty train. What do I do? ​

I adopted a 2 month old puppy last week. He settled and got comfortable fairly quickly. The only issue i am having with him is the biting. I know its expected for a 2month old puppy since they are teething but its gotten to a point where playing is no longer enjoyable. And i have come to realize this aggression is only towards me, he will still bite other family members and my boyfriend but when he bites me it is harder and he growls. not sure if its something i did but i need any advice i can take. and yes i have tried the stand up and stop playing with him trick, he just goes straight to my ankles/toes. ive tried yelping really loud and turning my back on him but he’ll nip at the back of my arms or my hair, i have redirected him to his toys but that only lasts a couple of seconds before he charges af me again.

She’s doing better about leash pulling, but I want to let her explore without her tripping me every few seconds.