Category: Top Dog

hi! so we have a 12 week old chihuahua and i am worried i am setting her up for failure.

we have been working hard on socializing her by taking her out in a stroller and carrying bag to different places and letting her get used to new sounds and places. we also let people pet her, depending on the place how busy it is and if she seems comfortable and calm.

our vet has been very strict in her recommendation to not let her touch the grass where we live due to other dogs (who’s owners don’t pick up their poop). we also seem to have high cases of parvo at our dog parks and other areas.

all this being said i’m concerned about her not meeting or playing with other dogs. i know she’s young but i don’t know if taking her to a puppy class or trying to meet up with other puppies would be a smart idea. she’s a very very small girl, weighs about 2.2 pounds so im hesitant.

i just don’t want her to grow up to be reactive around other dogs.

How bad is DMDM Hydantoin for dogs? I accidentally bought a shampoo that lists it as an ingredient (my fault for not reading thoroughly), and now I'm not sure about using it. Can I still use it in small amounts, given I rinse her properly, or should I just throw it away?

Context: I've always had a hard time interpreting people's nonverbal communication (autistic). My relative recently got a puppy German Shepherd (GS) and occasionally leaves her out our apartment every once in a while for 1-2 hours at a time. GS is always fed before hand, but her owner doesn't always take her out to use the bathroom prior to bringing her over. I did some minimal research on dogs back in the day but can't recall much and still, don't understand dogs well. I've always loved them though.

In our apartment, she is tied to the steps with her leash, as she will run throughout the house, usually in the bathroom to either drink water or take/eat toilet paper (sometimes used TP). As such, we keep her on the leash. She has been barking like crazy for 2-3 minutes and then she let out that sad little whines for another minute.

I try to go next to her, scratch her behind the ears, pet her belly, give her attention, but she leaves me after a few minutes and goes back to her barking. I think she wants attention from other people, but other people are busy (playing with babies, helping in the kitchen, etc….).

It was only after her owner came back that we realized she had to go outside to relieve herself. I want to make our house, a place that is comfortable for her. I was thinking of getting her the following….

1. Bowl of water + mat (to absorb spills)
2. Some kind of toy, she is always biting the carpet and the table cloth.
3. Other stuff?

We give her treats (within reason as instructed by the owner). We try to reward good behavior. I just don't know what else to do or how to interpret what she wants based on her barks. Does she need to go outside to poo/pee? Is she hungry still? Does she want attention?

I genuinely don't know how to care for a dog and want to help.

Curious about everyone’s opinions and experiences on biddability and trainability between these two breeds!

I understand “smart” is a super vague and somewhat misguided word for what I’m describing, I want to clarify that I’m curious which this group believes is more eager to please and quick to learn Right now it’s my understanding that pomeranians are much more intelligent- they rank in at the top 30 on learning commands within a certain amount of repetitions. However, chihuahuas are more receptive to training and are quicker to obey a command after they’ve learned it.

What are your experiences with these two breeds?

I recognize this is a shot in the dark and possibly not the right place to post this but I’m currently traveling through Laos and tonight 10/12/2025 I came across a dog in the city center of Vang Vieng in Laos who had a dislocated leg, and was matted and in bad shape. I talked to a few locals and they had seen the dog many times before but nothing has been done for it. I’m wondering if anyone has any resources here in Vang Vieng to help this dog. Thank you

I have a beagle who sniffs everything on our walks. It’s not chaotic, but it slows us down and sometimes he fixates for minutes on a single spot.

I’ve tried keeping walks structured, but forcing him feels like adding noise to a quiet system. I want a balance, let him explore without losing pace.

Has anyone found a simple workflow or trick that keeps walks smooth while still letting a dog enjoy sniffing?

Hi, We keep our home cold to save on heating bill but I am worried about our dogs. I put blankets on them at night but they move about. Any recommendations for a dog sleeping bag or shelter they can go to to get warm? Should I keep them in a jacket over night? Thanks

Hello, just want to start off saying that I've cared for dogs my whole life and have always looked at those who would return a dog to the shelter as cruel. Yet, it pains me to say that I find myself considering this now because of our circumstances.

We adopted what looks to be a 1 year old border collie from the shelter as an equal companion for me and my grandma. The issue is I can work 10 hour days sometimes and she's going to be home with him during the day most of the time.

But my grandma isn't as mobile as me and ideally she would do best with a couch cuddlebug and this BC doesn't seem that way at all.

Basically, he is a velcro dog that wants to play at every hour of the day and we just feel awful because we are thinking we are a bad fit for this high energy dog. Should we take him back to the shelter before his bond grows stronger to us or find him a new home? Just need some advice here, thank you.

Hey everyone,
I recently got a puppy and I'm struggling with one issue — constant barking. It happens randomly throughout the day, sometimes at noises outside, sometimes when he wants attention, and sometimes for reasons I can’t figure out.

I am not sure whether I should be training differently, ignoring it, redirecting, or doing something else entirely. I want to handle this the right way early on so it doesn’t become a long-term habit.

What strategies worked for your puppies?
Any tips, training methods, or mistakes to avoid would be super helpful. Thanks in advance!

Hi all! I've been considering getting a dog in the future, but I have some lifestyle constraints and I'm not sure what breed would suit. See below for the filled out questionnaire, but tl;dr I'm chronically ill, but can go outside, and I hang out at home 90% of the time!

Introduction

1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? * Yes 2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)? * Slight preference for rescue 3) Describe your ideal dog. * Small, suited for apartment living, and relatively low energy. I can walk a dog every day but not for longer than 30 minutes at a time. It would be ideal if the dog is comfortable with ambient noise (I live on a street that's noisy on the weekend) and is fine with there being several other dogs living in the apartment complex. Also a bonus if they are affectionate (I work from home) but can be left home alone for several hours ~ once a week. Must be good around cats. 4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? * Any small-bodied breed that fits my description above. 5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? * Basic commends, recall. 6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? * No **Care Commitments** 7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? * 1-2 hours 8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? * 30 minute walks, longer if it includes standing at a dog park. 9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? * Brushing, trimming nails, and cleaning ears are fine for me to do at home. I would prefer a dog with low coat maintenance.c **Personal Preferences** 10) What size dog are you looking for? * Small, <30 lbs 11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? * Low tolerance for barking. Neutral on shedding. Would prefer minimal slobber but not a deal breaker. 12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? * Not important. I don't intend to let the dog walk off leash in unfenced areas. **Dog Personality and Behavior** 13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? * Cuddles preferred 14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please? * Do it's own thing 15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? * I would prefer that the dog does not bark or jump. Small noises and investigating the door/person are fine. I would prefer that the dog is not overly interested in strangers outside of the house. Being aloof or uninterested in visitors is fine. 16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? * No 17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid? * High anxiety or fear of dogs and/or people. Not being able to be left alone. **Lifestyle** 18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? * Max 6-8 hours once a week. I am home 24/7 all other days. 19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? * I am the only person 20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they? * 2 cats 21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? * No 22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? * None 23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds? * Netherlands and yes 24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live? * 23-26 C in the summer. 3-8 C in the winter. Occasionally heatwaves (>30 C) but almost never cold snaps. **Additional Information and Questions** 25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant. * I have a chronic health condition that limits my ability to run after or rough house with a pet. 26) Feel free to ask any questions below.