Category: Top Dog

We brought our 12 week old Beauceron, Remy (short for Remornia, we’re nerds) home on Friday. She was understandably very nervous at first, but she’s really starting to come out of her shell. We wanted to give her at least a few days to just get to know us, start to learn leash walking, etc before introducing her to other people or new places. We did some “world watching” in our neighborhood today (sitting on a bench observing cars and birds) which was really nice to see her take in with more confidence!

A lot of things I’ve read and watched say to start socializing right away at this age, but usually they had the puppy from 8 weeks, so I feel a little behind the game. I don’t want to push her too fast. When did/would you recommend going to some new places as part of our daily routine? We start our puppy class in 2 weeks, but we’re very committed to doing this right!

Also some background- we’re obviously only on 2.5 days with her, but she’s great in her crate for nap time and nights (with a little reassurance), and is picking up leash walking like a little pro. She had a little loss of appetite Friday night/Saturday morning (was still eating, just not her whole portion) but has been much more voracious today and drinking well.

Hello!

Australian shepherd 9 weeks. Had 1 week

I recently got my Australian shepherd, Daisy. She’s so lovely but I feel way in over my head. I’d love any direction to resources anyone found great for chaos puppies 😂

Whenever I walk, she bites my slippers and tries to steal them off my feet. I’m following the method of yelping ouch and redirecting with a toy if I can get to one quick enough. Otherwise I keep walking yelling Pechan everytime she bites until I get to a toy. If she won’t take the toy or goes back to my slipper I typically give her 2-3 chances until I leave and close the door to another room for about 30-60 seconds and praise when she’s calm. (Sometimes she’s at the door waiting and I don’t realize). But she keeps doing it, it’s been about 3 days now. Am I doing something wrong or is it just a long process—which I’m okay with. The unknown is more of what’s getting me.

Also, I can’t play pen or crate her. As soon as i put her in and she has no escape, she starts running back and forth and starts whining. If I leave her eye line she immediately starts crying. I let this behavior continue for a few minutes(3-5) until I go back and take her out even when she’s crying. If she’s in the crate she’s scream crying and biting the grate(I’m scared she’ll hurt herself).

Any direction or guidance would be very much appreciated. I’m considering paying 1750 for a trainer because I don’t want her to be struggling with things as an adult. But that’s a lot of money for me right now after new puppy costs 😭what I’ve tried for the play pen is feeding her in there, leaving the door open and putting some toys in there but not all of them.

Here are some pics of my pup! Thank you hi

Context: my female BC mix os about to turn 7 months next week and her personality outside the house I’ve found is next level rough as in she has the spirit of a wild pig when she’s in contact with nature.

I on the other hand LOATHE to get dirty in any kind of way. Last year I lost my female lab at 13 years old and she didn’t even like to get her paws wet let alone get anywhere near mud or dirt. I thought that was the “norm”, l for most dogs but my new girl ENJOYS rolling around in the dirt, digging a hole latge enough so she can lay in it afterwards, getting her snout in mud, biting it and I’m 100% sure that she would roll in mud water if I let her, especially since it’s rainy season where we’re at.

She has a genuine joy to run when there’s mud and dirt and the dirtier she gets the happiest she seems to be but it irritates me SO much to watch her get insanely dirty like she always ends up looking FERAL after going to the park… and I have to either hose down her paws every time we get home or use doggy wet wipes head to toe if it isn’t that bad. I know she’s a dog and she enjoys it but I hate being dirty and having to wash (not just wipe) her harness, collars, etc every single time…

I guess I just wanna know of I’m the only one that gets this annoyed about their dog relinquishing on getting insanely dirty?!

EDIT: in the title I meant *annoyed* but I can’t change it now.

My five month old puppy standard poodle seems to have hit the terror phase because he has been insane with the biting and just overall crackhead energy. He gets enough sleep (usually 18-19 hours a day) and I try to exercise him enough but it has been quite hot where we live so in the middle of the day it’s hard to do anything outside, but in the house he is just getting in to anything in his reach. I want him to learn to settle on his own but I also need him to chill out, but I don’t want to just rely on food toys/treats. Help me before I go crazy please 🙏🏻

I live with my grandparents because I have no mom and my dad has health issues.

My dad really wanted a puppy. It was his biggest wish in life and he’s been wanting it for so long, so I’ve been supporting him in his plans and doing a lot of research.

I’ve never wanted a pet. I’m autistic and while many other autistic people have them, I’m not able or willing to change my routine to that extent. Without my routine, I completely fall apart and cannot function.

A day before getting his puppy, my dad – who was pretty stable before – suddenly got diagnosed with a severe life threatening condition that needs instant surgery. That was 3 days ago. I asked if he still wanted to go forward with the puppy adoption and he was adamant even though I told him I couldn’t care for it, so he picked up the puppy.

I’m sorry to say this, but even though I did a ton of research, read so many books and bought all the puppy essentials, I underestimated how difficult it would be. I also wasn’t planning on being the puppy’s sole caretaker. My room isn’t able to be puppy-proofed and my grandparents are too old to help me in any way, so it’s been havoc 24/7.

The puppy (4-5 months) is a rescue (street dog found at a few weeks old without a mom) that’s never lived in a home before. I haven’t slept in 2 days because of constant biting and barking and I have to monitor the puppy at all times to keep it safe. I’ve tried a crate and a playpen and the puppy just barks loudly indefinitely as soon as it’s in, even if you’re in there too. All the tips from my puppy books barely work.

I really love this dog and it’s so adorable and it seems to be getting better/settling in more, but I’m completely falling apart. I’m taking care of the puppy, feeding it, taking it outside every 2 hours, playing and petting it – but I’m crying uncontrollably because I can’t even go get a glass of water or use the toilet without being followed and barked at.

My routine is completely out the window. I haven’t slept, havent eaten because I can’t leave the puppy alone for 2 minutes, and I’m severely dehydrated. I don’t know what to do anymore.

This is just a vent, I’m sorry. I’ll get through this somehow and the puppy will be there for my dad when he finally gets out of the hospital. I have to believe he’ll get better. Failing him in regards to his dog – which he refers to as his only joy in this time – its not an option for me. Please pray for my family.

Ive been reading peoples posts about puppy blues and be nah not me but I have found my self feeling down and I think its good to share. my puppy is 4m and I live with balcony but not direct access to the garden. on the most part he wees on the balcony but hes started going out and not doing anything and coming inside and going to the toilet.

it felt like we had things pretty dont but atm it feels like one mistake after another. im constantly scrubbing the carpet. we have puppy pads by the back door and a lot of the time he uses these because hes not very good at telling us he needs to go yet. he will stand there and if your not there ur not gonna know.

I know this is all normal puppy behaviour but just wanted to share and see if anyone had any tips

Hello, we have a 7 month old mixed breed (mostly husky) who recently got into a dangerous situation because he has very little recall outside of our home and known places. We are in group training classes and have been for the last few months (7 weekly classes total) and he does very well when training in class and at home. We recently went to take him to the coast (his first car ride outside of town) and he jumped into the trunk of my suv so we pulled over so I could make room for him to be more comfortable back there. When I went to open the trunk he rushed out of the car and ran after a bird straight down the highway and would not listen to a single thing I said. I was terrified and definitely could have handled the situation better but my only focus in that moment was making sure he did not get hit on the busy highway. Thank god it was an area through a small town where the speed limit went down to 45 so people stopped and made sure I had him before continuing. He normally listens off leash at my parents house or at the dog park so this was a big shock to me. I would eventually love for him to have off leash recall for camping and hiking but was wondering if anyone has any other tips for recall cause this incident almost gave me a heart attack. We got him at 3 months old and have been working with him consistently but he definitely has that husky stubbornness in him. Any help or advice is welcome. We are looking into car crates now as well so this incident doesn’t happen again.

11 week golden puppy. We try to keep her schedule on the weekends consistent with the week to avoid too much confusion. Schedule is as followed:

6-745am: wake up, feed, train, play/ walk around leashed in the yard, settle with a lickmat.

8-11:30am: playpen nap and/ or chill time. She doesn’t always sleep the full amount (sometimes she does), but usually entertains herself and relaxes for the full extent until we get her out.

11:45- 1:15pm: lunch, train, play/ walk.

1:30-4:30: playpen nap/ chill

4:45/5pm: dinner, train, play/ walk.

5:15 – 6:30pm: crate nap

6:45 – 8:45pm: play, little training, chew on bone or carrot to settle

9pm: bed

This schedule has been working, and she does well. No accidents in the playpen or crate, and is able to settle herself if she’s up. It’s set up this way due to our work schedules and when we can get home on lunch to relieve her. But it has me wondering… is this too much alone time and/ or sleep for her?

I mean, imagine a dog talking in the tone of a typical Reddit user…

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.