Category: Top Dog

My puppy goes to the back door to ask to go out, and if the door is open, reliably goes outside (when the weather is nice) to use the bathroom. However, if he asks to go out and I don’t have the door open within seconds, he immediately squats and pees right there at the door. I’ve never had a dog do this- ask but then if I’m not RACING to the door, he just pees where he is. How can I get him to wait – even just a few minutes – so I can open the door? I thought it might come with age (he’s 5 months now), but it doesn’t seem to be getting better.

He doesn’t have accidents elsewhere and is in every other respect, potty trained. He even knows to ask to go out! But then doesn’t want to wait for someone to open the door.

I've had my 8 week old bernedoodle for 4 days. She's so sweet. Sleeps great in her crate. And is good about going potty outside. Days 1 and 2 she was so sleepy, didn't care about us or food or water or anything. I was concerned lol. Days 3 and 4 she's so alert and loving her food/treats, but also alert to when I leave. I put her in her pen in the morning to get ready she cries the whole time. I ignore it and only come back in and say good girl or give her a treat when she's quiet/calmed down, but the second I leave she starts up again. I have to go to work. She's been alone for about an hour at a time, she cries each time I leave. Today was over 2 hours. When I came home she was sleeping, we went outside, played, relaxed, then put her back in her pen to finish my work and she cried again, with me still in the room. This time less, maybe like 10 min. Is this normal? Should I be doing something else? Do I just need to be patient? Sorry I'm a nervous new pup mom

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know of a good tick repellent for dogs? This year has been particularly bad and both of my dogs have been coming in with loads of ticks. I give them Nexgard Plus monthly but of course it only works if the tick bites them so I’m looking for something that I can use to repel them. I usually flea comb them when they come in but I always seem to miss one.

Thanks in advance!

Some context: We rescued him from an abusive environment when he was about 3 months old. It took about a week for the poor guy to trust us enough to be around myself and my partner without peeing in fear, he would hide under our bed or in his kennel all day.

Now after 3 months of owning him and lots of positive reinforcement, you’d never tell he had a rough life before us. He is the typical high energy, loving and super social lab puppy we were hoping he’d become, HOWEVER we cannot knock his fear of cars/traffic.

Walks are a nightmare, we have been trying slow exposure with short walks outside with high value treats. Soon as a car approaches it is instant panic, his brakes go on and he refuses to walk. We try to make him sit and offer treats but absolutely nothing we try will break his focus on traffic. If it isn’t completely stopping it is him pulling with all his might to get away/home. We will give him lots of pets and attention to reassure him he is safe and it’s okay but nothing works.

He is better at night when there is less traffic, however as a young female with a partner who works out of province for a month at a time it is not within my comfort zone to walk after dark all the time. I’ve been taking him to a gated softball field to play and get his energy out, but with work and obligations and for the quality of life for the puppy I’d love to be able to walk him in the mornings right from our house.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, we a heartbroken that he is so scared.

My dog Nelly (a working sprocker) hasn't previously had an issue with fireworks, as a pup she even came to a bonfire night display with us and another dog who isn't phased by fireworks at all.

But something has changed, as of monday she has become terrified of them. I was walking her in the evening when someone has having private fireworks and they absolutely terrified her. They weren't particularly close, but I wonder if the sudden loud noise from nowhere just shocked her.

Yesterday evening she was in our back garden when another set went off, she ran and hid in our bathroom and didn't calm down for about 4 hours until she finally fell asleep.

It's horrible seeing how distressed she's getting, especially with bonfire night coming.

Would it be beneficial to take her to see other dogs who aren't scared of fireworks when the displays are on? (My mum has two dogs who stand and watch them, so I was wondering if this would help her feel more calm?) I've been playing very quiet firework sounds in the house through the day to try and help, but any recommendations would be extremely appreciated!

Hello everyone! We have a 4.5 month old rescue pup (unsure what she is) and we've been having trouble with her food. She eats about one cup of kibble a day, but she's been teething so I gave her a rawhide chew and now she's basically not eating her kibble. She keeps wanting the chew and I'm not giving it back to her. She has many toys, but she gets bored and doesn't like the other plastic chew toys. We don't want her to only eat treats and chews without eating her kibble. I tried using kibble as treats and she's not interested. Would love any thoughts/ideas! Thank you 🙂

Hey! I have a 5-year-old dachshund, and it's the first time I’m taking her on a car ride longer than 10 minutes by myself. It’s an hour and a half drive to my partner’s house, and it’ll be the first time I drive with her alone. Do you have any tips? She’s very reactive and anxious in general (we’re working on it, but she has a mind of her own).

Things I already have prepared:

1. Seatbelt converter thingy.
2. Car seat covers.
3. Pee pads in case she pukes or has an accident (the few times she’s been in a car, she’s thrown up).
4. Water and a bowl in case she gets thirsty.

My main concern is that we’ll be by ourselves, and in my country she has to stay in the backseat. I’m afraid she’ll be too anxious and suffer, but I need to take her with me (it’s a family emergency, and she has to come).

Should I take snacks for her to munch on? Toys? Blankets? I’m a bit concerned about the snacks because she tends to hide them in blankets and has gotten a small burn on her nose from digging in them. I’m really lost. I just want this to be as stress-free for her as possible.