Category: Top Dog

Introduction

1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

• yes, I grew up with bichon siblings but that’s all.

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

• Theoretically no preference. But I’m guessing the breeds that I want are few and far between at shelters.

3) Describe your ideal dog.

• A sweet, patient, family dog who wants to be part of the action and loves kids. A lapdog who goes on a walk and romps around then collapses on the couch to cuddle.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

• We had the best bichons growing up and being non-shedding was ideal. They are smart and a good size but not super high energy apart from daily zoomies. I have heard that havanese are also low shedding and the size we are looking for. Small (under 20 lbs), non-shedding and not super active are the goals. No working dogs!

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

• basic commands are likely enough, would be fun to train a trainable dog!

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?

• Multiple daily walks are expected, some ball fetching and cuddling otherwise

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?

• We have time each day to walk as long as the day can handle it; some days 35 min in the morning, some shorter if we are busy. Evening walks maybe 20-30 min depending on the weather.

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?

• We can do maintenance like brushing and would either take to a groomer or learn basic grooming for touch ups.

Personal Preferences

10) What size dog are you looking for?

• Under 10-20lbs, no more than 30lbs

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

• minimal to no shedding and slobber. Barking – eh, with small dogs I feel like some of that is inevitable. We would train them as much as possible to not go crazy.

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

• not important

Dog Personality and Behavior

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

• snuggly!

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

• eager to please as it’s also a dog for the kids to enjoy

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’d love to train them to go to their place and not go wild at the door.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

• somewhat? I’d prefer not to but could learn tactics if needed

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

• bathrooming in the house would be tough. And aggression towards kids.

Lifestyle

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

• I’m in and out all day, but mostly home, so just a few hours at a time most 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?

• The kids would be so happy, and my husband is coming around to realize it’s time!

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

• no

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

• Yes

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

• We own

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

• Bay Area California, no restrictions

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

• Summer is 90s, winter is 50s

Additional Information and Questions

25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

• No additional information.

26) Feel free to ask any questions below.

My 10 year old dog, chihuahua/pug mix, has developed a habit of only eating in her cage. Like, won’t even come into the kitchen past the water bowls.

Body language doesn’t indicate fear, and she isn’t stopping the other dog or cat from coming into the kitchen, no aggression towards them at all.

We tried putting her food next to the kitchen (open floor plan) and she won’t do it. Bathroom? No. It has to be her cage in our need room.

There hasn’t been problems with the other dog eating her food, and before this behavior started (a week ago) we actually had to watch so she wouldn’t try and get to the other dogs food.

She has free rein and is out of her cage all day. It is her safe space and night time place to sleep.

Any ideas on how to get her to eat outside of her cage? Or what this behavior means?

We have all heard the term Velcro dog thrown at any dog that likes humans, but which ones are actually the most attatched? I’d love to hear your ideas?

Currently I’m thinking:

Weimaraner

Doberman

And vizsla

My new Border collie puppy, now 12 weeks old, has been with us 3 weeks. She's the 5th we've had but it's been 13 years since our last was a puppy so I am a bit rusty. Is it normal that she doesn't wag her tail? She'll greet me when she wakes up by rolling over and giving little whines and the odd tiny lick, but no wiggling and wagging like you think of puppies as doing. She'll flick her tail slightly when visitors come so I know it CAN wag, but just not at all like I remember from the others. She's a bit on the anxious side generally, stress yawning when we carry her out for socialisation and rather too much sitting down with sad eyes and pinned back ears for my liking, but in between she's reasonably happy seeming. She'll play a bit, responds well to training, sleeps all night without a peep and is enormously enthusiastic about food! She's certainly confident when it comes to her land-shark mode! It's just a bit sad that she seems so serious and 'unsmiling'. Did anyone else have this with their pup?

I’m getting a puppy in two weeks. This will be my first puppy. I have a dog that I adopted when he was two and I think I’ve been really lucky with him being somewhat of an angel. He is the same breed as the puppy but now I’m worried I am underprepared. I work from home with an occasional in office meeting. I plan to do training with a professional once he’s more of age. Can anyone help over educate me. I’m a mom so I’ve taken care of newborns and my older dog but I didn’t realize how much went in to raising a puppy and I’m doubting my capabilities.

Hi-

Let me preface it by saying the pup is 10 weeks old and not entirely aggressive. He nips but most pups do. My concern is that he gets aggressive with me, especially after using the bathroom outside. He growls, he charges, he attempts to bite. He’s a Mini Bernedoodle but I don’t like this behavior with me having a small child. Is this normal?

Bought some toothpaste and a toothbrush today for my new 10 week puppy. Unfortunately, I didn't relaise it's for 6 month dogs and older 😅.

I've done some research and I'm not sure if it's fine to just wait or if it's fine not to worry about brushing at all. Tips?

My dog's Birthday is coming up and lately I have been wanting to give him a giant toy.

These last few months he has started wrestling and playing with one of his dog beds. We sadly aren't able at this time to find him a dog playmate and he is a very playful dog. I think he wants to wrestle and the only thing that really can match wrestling for his size is his bed.

I don't really like him using his bed like a toy so I want to get him a actual toy that is similar in size.

He is a medium size dog around 28 pounds. I basically want a dog size dog toy lol.

He is pretty destructive with toys but not all the time. Some last 5 minutes and others months and it's not based on quality or design really so much as how much he wants to destroy it. So something durable would be appreciated but overall I'm just looking for something safe for him to destroy if he does destroy it.

I've done some looking online but am struggling to find big enough toys. I want to give him a very big toy. I have a ton of normal size ones already. Lots of toys are long but flat, I need something bulky.

P.S. in case it's relevant he is a rescue, mixed breed, neutered, and turning 3. He hasn't made enough progress socially yet for me to trust him playing with others.

About a month ago, I had a minor fender bender, and my dog was in the car with me. Before this, she LOVED to go on car rides; I think it might have been her favorite activity. So after it happened, I was worried that she would be scared to ride; however, she seemed to do fine for about 3 weeks, then, all of a sudden, she started being more cautious about getting in the car. Now, if I ask her if she wants to go "bye-bye," she will either cower down and roll over on her back, or she will run and hide.

It breaks my heart that she is suddenly so terrified of the car, seeing how much she used to love it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reassure her that it's ok and can still be fun? I don't want to traumatize her, and willing to take time and be patient, I just don't really know where to start!