Category: Top Dog

I (20f) have a 1.5 year old Labrador. I’ve known her since the second she was born and we’re 100% soulmates. I know that she loves me more than anything in the world, and viceversa. She’s my shadow and we just get each other. About 3 weeks ago, I got my second dog. He’s a Great Dane x Mastiff (Neapolitan mastiff, cane corso, dogue de Bordeaux, bullmastiff) and now has 15 weeks.

This is going to sound a bit fucked but while I can see he’s happy to see me, he’s very independent. Zoey and I are like one being; the new pup and I have bonded but it’s not to the same level.

I’m left wondering if we will develop the same relationship that I have with my Zoey, or if we’ll love each other but without being as connected with one another. Zoey and I are like the avatars when they connect to the dragons…. Is it just about giving it time with the pup and the same thing will happen?

Hi, all. So for context, there was a point where my now 1-year-old dog would get me up two to three times a night for potty breaks. I don't just mean when she was still small, but sporadically as she grew. There was no rhyme or reason to it that I could see; sometimes she'd sleep all night until between 5-6 a.m., other times she'd have me up at 1:30 and again at 3 and 5, or 2 something and again at 5:30… Not always the exact same times, but you get the idea. This initially stopped when I adjusted the thermostat–it was summer at the time, and she was too hot. Increased the AC, and boom. Problem solved.

What I'm trying to figure out now (and since October 1st, when my dog was spayed) is whether my girl is getting up a bunch because of the spay, or if it's coincidentally timed with it being a seasonal change. Both of my dogs have exhibited restless behaviour during seasonal shifts; I've obviously accumulated more data from my older dog on this matter, but for him, it's never been more frequent potty breaks.

When my girl was spayed, it made sense; the procedure had just been done, so obviously there'd be some side effect to the plumbing. But now that more than a month has passed, I'm at a loss. What's more is, she can go hours without potty breaks when everyone is at work/school respectively. It's not typical (the dogs are usually alone for maybe three hours tops) but now and again, they're alone for six hours. No accidents. No issues of any kind.

So getting to my point: did anyone else's female dog revert to puppy-like potty breaks after being spayed. If so, for how long?

She has an upcoming appointment for her shots, so I'm considering asking the vet if I should be concerned, but in the meantime, any input here would be much appreciated.

**EDIT TO ADD: While the multiple night-time potty breaks are more often than not, we have also had nights where she didn't get up until her usual 5-6. Wanted to add this in case it was relevant.

Hi everyone! I have a question regarding my 9 month old female corgi. I feel like at this age we should long past the potty training, but welp here we go.

Our girl is potty trained in our house. She really understands that indoors is a potty-free zone, and only does her business outside. The problem is that she sees any place that's not our house as outside. We're still at the point where she pees in stores and other peoples houses.

She always pees before we go inside. We take her out regularly when we're in other peoples homes, but it still happens. In stores, it's not that easy, but we're only in there for max 15min and yet she still goes. While at home she can go 4hrs without having to go.

Is anyone else struggling with this?

Hi everyone! I really need some advice about my 8-month-old golden retriever (female).

Our evening routine goes well now — she eats around 7–8 PM, goes outside around 11–12 PM to do her business, and then sleeps inside. A month ago, we used to have issues at night — after going out, she would cry and bark at the door for a long time, even though she didn’t need to go out again. Outside, she’d just bark at nothing and refuse to come back in.

I worked hard on that: gave her more mental stimulation (training, hiding treats, playtime with another dog, evening walks) and ignored the behavior until she learned that nighttime is for sleeping. Now that’s mostly solved.

But the morning is another story. She wakes up very early — around 6–7 AM — and asks to go outside. I let her out, but I don’t feed her yet. Around 8 AM she starts barking — sometimes at my door, sometimes at my parents’ door — and my mom usually gives her food. After that, she has a lot of energy and keeps barking, wanting to go in and out constantly. She finally settles again around 10–11 AM, but by then everyone’s awake and exhausted.

So my questions are: • How can I teach her to sleep longer in the morning? • How do I make her understand that once she’s gone outside, she can’t keep barking to come in and out just because she’s bored?

For context, outside she has a covered balcony with stairs leading to the yard — there’s even a comfy couch she sometimes sleeps on after barking for a while. She’s not cold or uncomfortable, just super demanding in the morning.

Any tips for extending her morning sleep or reducing that early barking would really help — thank you! 🙏

Can I use a larger crate as a playpen while I’m at work? My puppy already has one for sleeping. I rescued him from the Istreets. Poor pup was dumped. He uses the restroom on my patio. He’s scared of walks and the outside. Doesn’t help that he’s limited of where and how far I can walk him because he’s not vaccinated. I bought him a patch of grass but he just eats it lol Please help. I’m unfortunately gone for work from 630-5 and don’t have anyone to help me

Welcome to the fortnightly separation anxiety support group!

The mission of this post is to provide a constructive place to discuss your dog's progress and setbacks in conquering his/her separation anxiety. Feel free to post your fortnightly progress report, as well as any questions or tips you might have! We seek to provide a safe space to vent your frustrations as well, so feel free to express yourself.

We welcome both owners of dogs with separation anxiety and owners whose dogs have gotten better!

NEW TO SEPARATION ANXIETY?

New to the subject of separation anxiety? A dog with separation anxiety is one who displays stress when the one or more family members leave. Separation anxiety can vary from light stress to separation panic but at the heart of the matter is distress.

Does this sound familiar? Lucky for you, this is a pretty common problem that many dog owners struggle with. It can feel isolating and frustrating, but we are here to help!

Resources

Books

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Don't Leave Me! Step-by-Step Help for Your Dog's Separation Anxiety by Nicole Wilde

Be Right Back!: How To Overcome Your Dog's Separation Anxiety And Regain Your Freedom by Julie Naismith

Separation Anxiety in Dogs: Next Generation Treatment Protocols and Practices by Malena DeMartini-Price

Online Articles/Blogs/Sites

Separation Anxiety (archived page from the ASPCA)

Pat Miller summary article on treating separation anxiety

Emily "kikopup" Larlham separation training tips

Videos

Using the Treat&Train to Solve Separation Anxiety

introducing an x-pen so the dog likes it (kikopup)

Podcast:

https://www.trainingwithally.com/the-podcast

Online DIY courses:

https://courses.malenademartini.com

https://www.trainingwithally.com/about-2

https://separationanxietydog.thinkific.com/courses/do-it-yourself-separation-anxiety-program

https://rescuedbytraining.com/separation-anxiety-course

​

Introduce your dog if you are new, and for those of you who have previously participated, make sure to tell us how your week has been!

I think my puppy doesn’t respect me. I have him for almost 3 weeks and I was trying to train him by positive methods and don’t physically punish him. But now, I’m feeling like he thinks he can do anything to me and I will let it slide.

He bites on walks, like really hard, I have bruises on my legs and bite marks, he aims for the back of the knees and thats especially painful. I usually trying to distract him by some command, usually ,,sit” and it works for few seconds, but then he is at it again.

He humps me, just me, he never humped anyone or anything else. I don’t know what that means or why does he do that. At first I thought he just does it when he is excited, but now it doesn’t seem like that and he is starting to do it more and more often.

And lastly, he barks and growls into my face. Not just the playful barks and growls, it seams like he ,,talks back” to me. Usually he does that when I tell him to not do something or to stop doing something.

I don’t know to ho resolve his behaviour without physical punishments, and I’m desperate, as I feel like he hates me or that he doesn’t respect me.