Category: Top Dog

My dog Rat (17-year-old Chihuahua–Min Pin mix) went from about 60% vision to completely blind in just three days, about three weeks ago. She’s had cataracts for years but I didn't expect it to randomly progress so fast.

The vet ran full tests everything was normal except a mild collapsed trachea. They said the blindness is permanent and cataract-related.

Rat is still very active, social, and affectionate, but now she’s bumping into things, gets anxious when navigating, and seems frustrated that she can’t run to people for attention. She's always been a needy little ball of energy.

When I’m home, I carry her in a pouch as much as I can. She loves tiny bags, boxes, my sweater pocket- whatever. She's like a cat. When I’m gone, she just sleeps all day and seems miserable or bored until I get back.

I’m considering setting up a small safe space (about 10×3–12×4 ft) with her beds, kennel, and a potty area to help her feel secure when I’m not home.

Side note: Rat might be going deaf too. She's always had selective hearing though so idk…

Rat is my everything so don't you dare post anything about my dog dying. She's old but the vet said "she's in excellent condition for her age". I know something could still happen but that doesn't matter. I want to give her the best days!

Questions:

Would a smaller space help or stress her out more?

Any scent cues, toys, or enrichment ideas for blind senior dogs alone during the day?

Anything else I should monitor or adjust for her quality of life?

Thanks so much for any advice!!!

Hey guys so we’ve (me 21, mum and dad) recently got a puppy. He’s almost 6 months and was a rescue from Cyrus so had a bit of hard start. We’ve had him one week (not long I know, I’m not expecting miracles but I’ve already cried 3 times this past week so I need help 🥲). He’s got virtually no training and we’ve been focusing on positive reinforcement for going toilet outside. However, he comes back inside and within 10 minutes he pees on the floor again. I’ll take him out and he’ll do nothing and come in a pee on the floor again. He’s not started asking to go outside yet so how do I catch it and stop him peeing inside? He’s a chihuahua cross and moves so fast he’s peed before we even know it, he needs constant watching and I’m honestly so tired. I’m his main carer, dad isn’t very involved (in anything tbh lmao) and mum is sick of it already. Please any tips you have I rly need them and please be kind. We’ve had many dogs and we’ve never had this much trouble before. TIA 🩷

My dog was just peeing and rubbed her entire face into what looks like a foxtail to me but they don't seem to be prevalent in Florida. I took a picture but it seems we can't post pictures on this thread ..

I have a 20,000 sq feet of fenced land and a German shepherd and a beagle living on it. Just did some research on weimaraner and American foxhound and they are hunting dogs that like to sniff a lot. What should I expect? I can walk all my dogs 1 miles a day, sometimes 5 or 10 mile on the weekends

So we’ve had our border terrier now for just over a week, he’s coming up to 10 weeks now and the puppy biting is getting out of control. My partner and I can’t even sit on the sofa without him launching at us and biting at anything that’s there, sleeves, pant legs, skin. We have tried redirecting, he goes back to biting us. We have tried correcting, it’s just makes him worse. We’ve tried the yelp, he doesn’t care. We have tried walking away, he just latches on and attacks our ankles, pants, socks. When he gets really bad we’ve resorted to time outs in his crate, but I’m wary that doing this is using the crate for punishment and he’s just going to end up constantly in his crate as it’s all the time he’s doing it unless I’m actively doing training with him. I’m at a bit of a loss as he is drawing blood on both of us. Otherwise he’s an angel, doesn’t cry at night in his crate, has already learnt sit and come, working on stay and down. But this biting is insane. I’m exhausted to be honest, I’ve never had a puppy before only older rescue dogs so I’ve never had to do this before. People are telling me it’s normal but I am starting to worry. Do we just need to keep at it or is there something else we can try.

Hi my puppy keeps on going to the bathroom on my carpet I use potty pads and recently he just keeps on going on the carpet. This started happening a couple weeks ago and I thought it was just an accident but now it seems like he’s purposely going on there. Does anyone have any tips? (fake grass is not an option)

Hey everyone. I just adopted a 5 month old Rottweiler German Shepherd mix who the absolute cutest dog! I've been doing a bit of training with him and I realized after a day or two that he only sits when I have treats for him. When he knows I have nothing in my hands, he will not listen at all. I was wondering if y'all had any tips for pups who are incredibly food driven? Thanks!

It's been two weeks and I am exhausted. EXHAUSTED. I knew it would be hard but I didn't know it would FEEL this hard. I'm so tired. I had no idea the impact the sleepless nights would have.

There are times when she's lovely and when I figure out what she needs and I can give that to her it all clicks and feels golden. But sometimes what she needs is not what she wants and it's tough to work through the whining and the squirming and the barking and the biting

And sometimes I have no fucking clue and feel like I'm failing and ruining this puppy.

This period before she can go out for sniffs and walks is brutal. I know she's yearning to explore and walk and run but all I can do is carry her and carry on socialisation as best I can, and train as much as I can between the breakdowns and crying and just look after her and hope this all works out