Category: Top Dog

I know people say it gets easier but when. I feel like it's been nothing but a struggle since the day he came home..

My whole day is just managing him. I spent 2 months crate training to no avail. He is chronically overaroused. Humping. Biting at my clothes. Nothing works. I've tried licki mats, snuffle mats, longer walls, sniffaris, kongs, puzzles, training.

If he doesn't have my constant attention the while time he's awake he's barking. If he's not eating or chewing something he's barking.

He's started resource guarding after I've had to stop him being in danger of eating something.

My house is filthy. The only time I get free is spent cleaning. He can't be left alone for more than a few minutes without barking.

I dread every day.

The only time I can relax is when he's sleeping. But even then I'm confined to the one part of my house because he can't sleep if I'm not there.

I feel like I've completely failed even though I've tried to follow all the guidance.

He's spent a few mornings a week in daycare and I can only attribute this awful behaviour to that and being constantly over stimulated but even quiet days at home it feels like he's constantly frustrated or upset.

What am I doing wrong. This can't be normal. My work is suffering, I can't even cook a hot meal without him demand barking the whole time.

I really try so hard to remain patient and leave the room. Ignore his demands and give him enough walks and enrichment.

Is this a breed thing. A me thing. A him thing?

I have a behaviouralist appointment next week. I feel so burnt out. I refuse to give up on him. I just pray it gets better.

Has anyone else been through this?

I’m a relatively experienced dog owner, but I’m getting a puppy for the first time in a decade, and I would like to avoid mistakes I made with my last dogs (who both passed away this year 😢)

What I am hoping to find is a more interactive dog book or app, with daily tasks, goal setting, a socialization schedule, and other things I probably haven’t thought of.

Ideally, I’d love something developmental information by week, a daily schedule builder, and a list of training things to work on that are developmentally appropriate and timely.

Does this exist? Or should I spend the next month building it myself?

Need advice: My father-in-law lived in Texas and just passed away unexpectedly. We want to bring his 9-month-old American Stafford puppy home to Arizona as soon as possible.

Most airlines (American, Delta, United, Southwest) ban or heavily restrict AmStaffs/pit bull-type dogs. Has anyone successfully flown one domestically recently? Or is driving (~15 hrs) or professional ground transport the only reliable option?

We already have a dog, are experienced owners, but have never flown with one. We don’t want to rehome the 9 month old pup. We want to keep her and take good care of her ourselves. Any recent experiences or tips welcome. Thank you.

I bought a hoodie from a store ever since I put it on he has been trying to hump my arm! Full on commitment to humping my arm.

I love my dog. She is the best, we couldn’t be happier we adopted her but honestly I am at my wits end with one thing. Every time she’s in the car she whines/yelps with excitement. And does not stop. Turn signals for some reason make it worse. Would redirection help? I don’t know how to curb this behavior. We’ve tried soothing her, moving her to different places in the car. Im afraid if we use treats to redirect her she’ll think it’s reward for the whining? Any ideas?

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone could give me advise. I have a Belgian Malinois x German Shepard, female (looks to be 2 months old). I want to train her some commands/tricks but she just lays down and gives up whenever I attempt to do anything. I’m not sure if she is just lazy or I’m training her too soon. She understands sit/siéntate, free/libre, stay/quédate & No. Ive tried “bribing” her with different treats because maybe she didn’t like the first one I got her, but as I got her other flavors and tried “bribing” her again, she loses all interest in wanting learn and just lays down. I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong.. any advise? 😭

I have a 45" crate with a 42" orthopedic bed inside. My 9 months old lab goes in the crate when asked, she's not an anxious dog and likes spending time there. She only barks to let me know she needs to go potty, but she never spends more than 3-4 hours in her crate during the day, and she sleeps in it through the night. I cover the crate with blankets to make her comfortable.

I have a camera inside the crate to keep an eye on her, and in the last 2 months or so she started going under her bed to sleep. She'll hang out on her bed with a kong or a chew toy until she's done, then she pushes the bed and goes under it to sleep, on the hard surface lol

I figured she might be hot because of the blankets, but I keep the room at 62F and a fan running. She still does it when the room is at 68-70F.

Is this just her being quirky or is it something I should be concerned about?

When she's not in her crate, she sleeps on my bed or on her own bed instead of the floor.

I have a 8 month Weimeraner has severe separation, confinemen, and anxiety in general. I'm not sure what to do when I have to go to work (I work 4 hours so luckily it isn't super long but still).

I've tried crate training but he doesn't like when the door is closed. I tried tethering him at night with the door open but he always ends up chewing the leash and getting in my bed. When he's in his crate he just paces and bark the whole time (I've tried a few minutes at first but he would not stop barking no matter what), ignoring all treat and toys. He destroys any bed or blanket that is near his crate. I've tried making the crate super comfortable adding things that smell like me but he just wants to be by me instead. He is fine going in for his meals and he has a "place" command good just hates being left alone.

I've also tried crating him for a little bit when I am home (both next to him and out of sight)but he still panics

I tried keeping him in a confined area instead as I thought maybe he would calm down but he managed to break the window and get outside (no glass was broken so he wasn't cut or hurt he just chewed the wood and unlocked it).

Dog daycare is not an option as the ones near me require puppy at 6 months and up to be neutered but our vet and breeder recommended to get him neutered at a year.

I'm desperate, I have no idea what to do.

I just want him to be safe when I'm not home and keeping him in a crate seems to be the best considering he jumped out a window but he stresses out SO MUCH when he's in his crate. His paws gets swollen and red when I get home.

I truly am just stuck on what to do, and my family isn't helping me at all.

puppy tax

I’m a new dog owner, as in, he came home yesterday. He was already cratetrained and housebroken. He’s a mixed breed 4year old.

My thing is, he needs to be pet Constantly. And it’s not enough to sit at my feet, or even to have my hand on him; he loves pets and being picked up.

My first question is: can I train him not to need to be picked up and pet all the time without stressing him out? I want to hold him and pet him, just not all the time. When I ignore him, he’ll back up into me or lay or me or shove his nose in my hand.

But when I don’t give him attention, I find he just goes to his crate and lays down, no whining or crying. The door stays open, so he must like his crate, right? Or at least it isn’t threatening to him.

But now I feel bad, like he’s slinking off sadly when I can’t give him attention. I don’t want him to feel dejected. Realistically, this is all in my head because he shows no signs of being scared, sad, mad, anything. But this is my first dog and I want to make sure he’s comfortable and stimulated.