Category: Top Dog

Within the past few days I have adopted a new puppy from a breeder a couple hours from me. They were kind enough to meet me half way where we each drove 1 hour to our meeting spot.

I have 5 year old dog at home and wanted to have another dog accompany him.

I did read a lot of information on how to introduce them etc. but my older dog just wants nothing to do with him at this point. The puppy will come near him and he starts to get anxious. My older dog also has experience socializing with other dogs like at the dog park but not another dog in the home.

I am thinking about messaging our breeder and see if shed be willing to take him back but I also feel somewhat embarrassed at the situation and was actually really looking forward to the day i got the puppy but I am not sure what else to do. If you've had any experience with this I'd really appreciate any advice.

i rescued a 7 month old pup 2 days ago and just turned on tv for the first time and she completely lost it. she’s only barked like 4 times since getting her – but when the tv turned on she started growling and barking (while wagging her tail?) how do i fix this

My dog likes to dig on the bed and couch. Is there a non slip and thick couch protector? Only for the sitting part where she would lay down. I don’t need it to cover the entire thing.

Within the past few days I have adopted a new puppy from a breeder a couple hours from me. They were kind enough to meet me half way where we each drove 1 hour to our meeting spot.

I have 5 year old dog at home and wanted to have another dog accompany him.

I did read a lot of information on how to introduce them etc. but my older dog just wants nothing to do with him at this point. The puppy will come near him and he starts to get anxious. My older dog also has experience socializing with other dogs like at the dog park but not another dog in the home.

I am thinking about messaging our breeder and see if shed be willing to take him back but I also feel somewhat embarrassed at the situation and was actually really looking forward to the day i got the puppy but I am not sure what else to do. If you've had any experience with this I'd really appreciate any advice.

So I got a Aussie from Craigslist and this is my second night having him and he is whining a lot. Any tips?

I have a 3.5 month old rescue GSD (I suspect working line). I have done years of research on working breed dogs, specifically Dobermans before getting a dog and was approved and waiting for a match with a Doberman rescue when this sweet little guy fell in my lap and how could i say no😭 in hindsight, I picked the most difficult timing ever- I have a 3 year old daughter. I thought this would’ve been better than a newborn so we just waited for a really long time and I really felt it was a good time but it’s kicking my butt. He truly is a sweet sweet boy. We aren’t having issues fulfilling his energy requirements. We hike almost daily and play lots of games for enrichment with him as well but naturally my kid is struggling a bit with the adjustment as shes never had to share any attention and shes having a potty training regression so I already feel so guilty:( he is wonderful with potty training. My struggles with him are 1. The nipping omg I know this is normal but ive never had a dog who nipped like this. We redirect, yelp, all of it but hes just crazy with it. I feel so guilty for having such big feelings about it when it’s not even his fault but it almost sends me into a spiral when he does it to my daughter bc then the two of them are just so hard to handle together. Pls somebody tell me there’s an end in sight to this?!?! I can deal with all the other puppy behaviors but the nipping has me losing my mind. He seems to have made slight improvements with consistency of redirection but it’s still pretty intense fs. 2. Prey drive. Again- this is instinct. I know about this and I know it’s normal and not aggressive. But he gets excited and almost instinctual when my daughter runs or dances, etc. probably because she’s small and moving fast. Ik it’s prey drive bc he crouches down, the tail moves slowly and he pounces and barks not a playful puppy bark. Hes wonderful with her 100% of the time outside of this. Idk what hed do if I let him but during together play time hes always leashed because I don’t trust this instinct without a proper channel. Flirt pole was my next hope so I’m praying that helps.

We are working with a dog trainer who has been wonderful with potty and obedience bur doesn’t have much breed specific experience with working dogs and I do need help I think. We are signing him up on top of his normal training for training with a GSD k9 who trains working dogs and service animals. I’m really hoping he can help me with this prey drive. It’s not the quality itself I don’t want I just need him to know my daughter is off limits 100%. So far all Weve done for this is building trust and respect by having my daughter hand feed him meals as well as moving his crate to her bedroom to encourage bonding and controlled on leash exposures to her playing and what triggers his prey drive but treating him for neutral behavior. Any other tips? I need him safe around her 100% of the time.

Ugh I know I should’ve known after all this research but this is just SO hard. Tell me it gets easierrrrrrr

Hi! I have a 13 week old australian shepherd. I got him at 8 weeks. He’s wonderful! But he’s on the more skittish side. For example, he is still afraid of all people. At 8 weeks, he would growl at everyone but me. From 9-13 weeks, he had opened up more and doesn’t growl, but will never approach anyone and backs away whenever anyone offers a hand to pet (not petting but just offering a hand for him to come towards). He barks at anything new in the house: a zucchini slice, his dog food bag (loud noise), wreath on the neighbor’s front door, a new package at the entryway. He’s great with dogs though! I take him to 2 classes weekly where he gets to play with other puppies and learn training! I walk him at home depot 3x per week, take him to the outdoor mall every sunday, and he passed people in our apartment complex every day. I take him through the drive-thru, let him approach “scary” new objects and textures, and he goes on a carride every afternoon.

Is this his personality or will he grow out of this? I’d like him to be friendly and confident and hope my training/socialization him will work! Thanks!

I originally went in today to sign up for fostering an older dog, but none of them were cat friendly (wanted to eat the cats in the cat tests & i have a cat). The lady talked me into visiting a puppy and long story short, now I am typing this with her on my lap in my living room.

This gal turned out to be the most perfect puppy ever, 2 months old and she is potty trained, sits, and just loves existing on a lap after play time.

However, im terrified. I've had dogs before, but I lived closer to family. The support was easier to find. I go back to work Tuesday and I am dreading leaving her at home, she's so attached already. I can't be the first person to adopt by myself while working fulltime, right? I have a play pen & puppy pads for her, and intend on giving her the best attention/walks when I'm home, but is this normal? Do most people have a partner that takes care of the dog when they are at work? Am I being cruel? What are your stories?

I just moved to somewhere with snowy winters (133"+) and I'm learning how to deal with it.

We have a tiny yard, so I've been shoveling a path for my dog. When I shovel, there is of course a small layer of ice/snow on the grass still.

This means that there are these frozen pee spots everywhere. The poop leaves poop water on ice. Whenever I had residue on the grass in warm weather, I would hose it down. That's kind of impossible in the snow.

Then, when I'm shoveling snow, these shitty poop pieces I didn't catch are then in the mounds of snow surrounding her area. It's ruining fluffy snow mounds for me. 🤢

I guess I worried about her stepping on it and bringing pee/poo snow into the house.

I'm also having trouble seeing the poop in the snow. I try to pick it up right away, but if it's snowing heavily, I sometimes miss it.

I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking this. How do you guys deal with it and keep a clean house? Please be nice, I'm new to this arctic lifestyle!

I’ve been looking at these dog beds that fit over the couch cushions and hang off the front and wondering if y’all have any brand suggestions for me of ones you like. I’d love for it to be waterproof and have a removable, washable cover. The issue I’m having is finding one big enough for my 100lb dobie mix! Any suggestions or feedback appreciated!