Category: Top Dog

Me and my partner keep going back and forth on getting one. We both want a dog but I'm not sure we've really thought it through properly. Like do we actually have the time for the walks every day? Can we afford it? What happens when we go on holiday?

I've been Googling around and can only find generic breed quizzes which don't really tell you much. What I actually want is something that shows me what day to day life would look like before we commit. Has anyone found anything useful or is it just something you figure out when you get the dog?

Would genuinely love to know how other people approached this before taking the leap.

We rescued a 4 month of Maltese (waiting on DNA) 2 weeks ago. He’s done AMAZING adjusting and learning commands. He is quiet in his crate at night and usually only wakes up once to pee.

He’s also great in his crate during the day (door open or closed) if he can see me. His crate is in my bedroom/home office and I WFH – so he really doesn’t go long without me.

The problem: as soon as the door is closed and I walk away for more than 1-2 min (or god forbid leave the house) he goes into full blown panic mode. Clawing the door, crying, barking.

He has distractions, favorite toy, Kong’s in there. I’ve tried covering & not covering during the day.

I’ve left the house twice for about an hour each and my teen (who stayed in their room) confirmed he cried for the entire hour.

I’ve practiced waking away in short intervals during training – he can make it to 10 seconds without losing his mind.

For his safety, when I leave the house, he needs to be crated. But we also travel a lot and he’ll need to eventually be okay in a hotel.

Help!

My 8 month old F mini Dachshund just had her first heat cycle and she is h*mping everything. Her dog beds, people’s arms, toys. All. The. Time.

She does not seem anxious or stressed. I don’t engage and try to redirect but it is constant and persistent. Her spay is in 2 months. What do I do?

My pup has had loose stool (combination of stress and switching kibble), combine that with him getting picky over his food and its been an uphill battle the last couple weeks. (Been to two different vets and they say he's fine). What I've noticed is that while he normally eats his food fairly quickly, if I sprinkle the Fortiflora on it he devours it like he's been starved for the last month. He even finishes by licking the bowl clean and then searching for more food! I know the label says it only contains the probiotic, liver, and yeast, but that can't be all there is to it right? I've fed him liver twice and while he enjoyed it, it wasn't anywhere like this. I'm mainly wondering so I can find more similar food or toppers he'll enjoy like this, maybe stow it away as my trump card when he's being particularly hard headed.

Hi everyone,

I’m bringing home my new puppy in a few days and would love some advice!

I currently have a 5yo dog who lost her sister a few months ago. When I picked her up as a puppy I brought my older dog for the car ride and it worked well, but I’ve read that’s not actually a good way to do the introduction and I want to make sure I’m introducing my current dog to my puppy the right way. Everything I have read says to introduce them on neutral ground, but because my puppy isn’t fully vaccinated yet, I’m nervous about going to a public park or the like. I have green space around my house, but that wouldn’t be neutral for my current dog. I also have parks in the area, but worry about bringing a puppy there that’s not yet fully vaccinated.

My current dog can be a little high strung and I want to make sure I’m setting her and her new sister up for success!

Any advice would be welcome!! 🤗

I'm looking after my family dog, Baxter, for a week and want to give him the best week of his life! He's the best boy ever, the calmest most obedient and loving velcro dog! He's 10 now and I don't get to see him often since I live in a different city. What can I buy or make or do with him to give him the best time?

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

* ANSWER: yes, this will be my first dog.

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

* ANSWER: i will mostly likely rehome someone else's pet

3) Describe your ideal dog.

* ANSWER: small dog that doesn't shed a whole lot.

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

* ANSWER: i am interested in maltese or poodles and even shih tzus

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

* ANSWER: going on walks, knowing where to pee and poo

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?

* ANSWER: no

**Care Commitments**

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

* ANSWER: After work during the weekdays, i am devoted to train and interact with my dog for an hour. On weekends, I am more than willing to spend mornings, afternoons, and evenings

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?

* ANSWER: 30 minutes to 1 hour. We can use dog park or go on walks/jogs. maybe some fetch at home

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?

* ANSWER: I would pay a professional to do it regulary but as far as brushing goes, I can do it

**Personal Preferences**

10) What size dog are you looking for?

* ANSWER: small

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

* ANSWER: i can take a bit of shedding and a bit of barking but slobber no

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

* ANSWER: i am living in an apartment so there wouldn't be an unfenced area

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

* ANSWER: both will be fine

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

* ANSWER: both will be fine i do prefer an eager-to-please

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?

* ANSWER: not too hostile. i won't have a whole vistors to be honest.

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

* ANSWER: no. that is a definite no.

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

* ANSWER: being very destructive. but believe that everything is trainable

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

* ANSWER: 8 hours for the weekdays. i may have time available to walk the dog for afternoons

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

* ANSWER: I am the only person available

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

* ANSWER: zero plans on second pet

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

* ANSWER: not at all

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future?

* ANSWER: I plan on only renting

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

* ANSWER: I live in Texas and I am not aware of any laws banning certain breeds

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

* ANSWER: Summer: 34C-38C (90F – 100F)

Winter: 10C – 18C (50F – 65F)

**Additional Information and Questions**

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

Any tips will be welcomed. For cat comments, I am highly allergic to them 🙁

my puppy Calliope just loves them. I think she loves both the play and the reward. it gives me a short break too because she is only 14 weeks and never ever stops 🤣. I stuff it with cooked chicken breast.

are there are other good treats that would accomplish these three things ?

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing to leave Canada soon as my work permit is expiring. I’ve been here for over 10 years, and honestly, this whole process has been overwhelming, especially when it comes to traveling with pets.

I have two pets:

• Dog: Bichon Frise, 9 years old – will need to travel in the baggage/cargo hold
• Cat: Ragdoll, 5 years old – fits airline size and weight limits for in-cabin travel

The stress point is the lack of clear, consistent information. Airline websites, vets, and online forums all seem to say slightly different things, and it’s hard to know what’s actually accurate versus outdated or airline-specific.

I’m hoping to hear from people who have recently gone through this, especially:

• Flying internationally with a dog in the hold
• Flying with one pet in cabin and one in cargo on the same trip
• What paperwork actually mattered at check-in and arrival
• Any airline recommendations or ones to avoid
• Things you wish you knew before flying

This is already an emotional move, and I just want to make sure I’m doing right by my pets and not missing something critical.

Any advice, experiences, or pointers would be hugely appreciated. Thank you in advance.

For context:

– She is 4 years old and leash trained

– Not in any pain

– Does not have any health issues

– Not going any unusual route, been going the same route for years old and I’ve tried going different directions.

She always has enjoyed walks, but this behaviour isn’t necessarily new. She refused to go many times randomly, but it’s been literally every day lately. I’ve tried at different times throughout the day and tried bringing treats. It’s very odd and random behaviour that none of us at home have been able to find an answer for.