Category: Top Dog

I’ve done both on and off for years, but I just moved back to an area where the need is HEAVY for any and all rescue help. My question is this: Would it be more impactful for me to volunteer in the shelter or foster at home? My work schedule is crazy so I only have the energy to commit to one or the other at the current time. Another note if it matters— I’ll be documenting either experience consistently on social media to spread the word. Any advice welcomed!!!

My dog seems to only enjoy time with me when he’s hungry or wants a walk.

Basically if he’s on my bed, and I enter the room he leaves and goes to his bed (in the closet) even though he has a bed near my bed.

He only joins me on my bed when I’m asleep. Then he lets me pet him in the morning.

I know this isn’t common but has anyone else experienced this? I’ve had him for about 6 years. He was never over affectionate, but this hurts my feelings 😂

It’s like he tolerates me to stay alive yet won’t let anyone else handle him, babysit him, or take him for walks.

Canada pooch suspenders are sold out. Normal dog boots fall off. I've heard of vet tape. But that's not wateproof. What do I do?

My dog is very energetic and she likes to play always but I am very busy with work these days that I barely have the time to play with her. I was thinking of getting her a toy or support Robot that can take care of that but don’t know what to do please I need help.

I’ve wanted a dog for a long time and about three weeks ago I was gifted an 8 week old golden lab mix puppy. At first it was going wonderfully. But around the second week she was home things started going downhill. I have a couple of kittens and an adult cat (kittens rescued in snow storm) that she won’t leave alone. No matter how much I redirect her with toys and food she just comes right back. I’ve been unable to get proper sleep because every five seconds she finds something bad to chew on despite the fact that I’ve bought her so many toys. I can’t crate her because she immediately starts screaming at the top of her lungs.

The sleep deprivation is starting to get to me. I want this to work out, dogs are so lovely but how do I train her to stop these things??

I just applied to volunteer with my dog to visit hospitals, seniors homes, etc for a local therapy dog program! My dog is a dachshund mix (25lbs) and is about 3 years old. I've taken him through training programs, and he just has the sweetest temperament, very calm/non-reactive and brings smiles everywhere we take him (hardware stores, bar patios, etc). I'm really excited about this prospect of volunteering, and wondering if anyone has experience or advice they could share. Thanks!

Post a photo of your dog, get a free and kind of okay drawing in return!

I was accepted to adopt a 6 month old pup from a rescue. My old dog had to be put down 3 weeks ago. Ever since I interviewed for this dog, I can't sleep, and I'm stressed I'm making a mistake. During the day, I'm excited to welcome a new fluffball into our family, and I'm so excited to meet her. This dog Is the same breed and coloring as my old dog, but slightly bigger. Yes, I have a type, but small rescue poodles tend to be white. She is 14 years younger than my old dog, and will have a different energy. In the past, I've always waited about a year before getting a new dog. My remaining dog, a German shepherd, seems OK being an only dog, but I really miss having a small snuggly dog. I'm not going to be any less sad about my old dog's passing a year from now. Since I'm in my 60s, and retired, this will be my last dog. My motto is, if it isn't a heck yeah, its a heck no. Do my sleepless anxiety filled nights mean i'm making a mistake?

I know quite a bit about dogs, so I know usually destructive behavior is typically due to boredom or lack of enrichment, but our dog only does it while he's put away and we're at work. We used to have him in his kennel with his toys, but he'd pull stuff through the bars to tear it up. We have now started putting him in his own space (it's like a big closet) with more toys and enrichment in hopes that would help, but he's still tearing up things like his puppy pads without even touching his toys. I just don't know what to do bc I don't want him potentially eating his puppy pads/whatever he manages to get, but we live in an apartment so we can't just let him do his buisness all over the carpet.

Welcome to the fortnightly loose leash walking virtual workshop!

Join us as we compete with the squirrels, cats, other dogs, fresh urine scents and things that go zoooooooom!

Resources

Articles (All have videos embedded)

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• Train Your Dog For Perfect Loose Leash Walking by Casey Lomonaco. (With links and descriptions of several great videos, which we'll link to below.)
• Loose Leash Walking Tips by Casey Lomonaco
• Silky Leash by Grisha Stewart (blog post + videos.)

Youtube (Many of these are videos which are embedded in the above articles)

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• Silky Leash intro video with an excitable puppy
• Clicker Training Loose Leash Walking by Casey Lomonaco
• Loose Leash Walking II by Casey Lomonaco
• How to Train Your Dog Not to Pull – Loose Leash Walking by Emily "kikopup" Larlham
• Dog Training Tip- Leash Walking: Go Sniff and Marking by Emily "kikopup" Larlham
• Choose to Heel by Loridressage
• Loose Leash Walking by Stacy Hiebert Greer
• Clicker Training a Heel by Amy Norcal
• Shaping Loose Leash Walking With a High Rate of Reinforcement Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 by Helix Fairweather and Lynn Martin. (Read the text below the videos too!)
• Loose Leash Walking by Turid Rugaas

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See our page on leash reactivity for help managing and training dogs that bark and lunge while on leash.

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APDT webinar

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• Loose Leash Walking presented by Gail Fisher