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I’ve had my puppy for 5 weeks now. I feel like each week does get easier, I’m learning, she’s learning. Both of us are figuring out this new life.

However, I think I am completely neglecting self-care. My job isn’t technically WFH but I’ve been working from home since I got her to help adjust and provide her the care she needs. So not having to commute for a long time, helps.

You can tell how stressed I’ve been by seeing how much Reddit posts I’ve created and comments I’ve made. Not trying to spam, but I’ve been home like 90% of the time since getting her and I just wanted to feel some sense of a community. That’s my current self-care.

I’m trying to actually spend more than 3 min getting ready in the morning, sleep more, and honestly the worst is I have been ultra hyper fixated on making sure she is trained and socializing appropriately.

I’m watching videos, working with a trainer once a week, searching on Google and ChatGbt, my whole life revolves around my puppy right now.

How do you manage to take care of yourself while you take care of your puppy? She is 14 weeks now and I want to enjoy this puppy phase because it’s short lived- but sometimes I wish I can just enjoy a bit more freedom again.

I saw a video of a service dog guiding his assumed blind human into a subway train. I was wondering, do we know if service dogs actually like being service dogs? And are service dogs, service dogs for life, or do they "retire" after a few years to live the rest of their life like a normal dog?

What age did you stop using a crate in the car for your dog? I camp out of my vehicle frequently – a few times a week usually. I would like my puppy one day to be able to sleep beside me and not have to be in the crate. I assumed I would be needing to crate until around 6 months – 2 years (somewhere in there) before he’s pretty calm and less destructive, but anyone have any anecdotes to help guestimate a more specific age?

Thanks!

I understand that the typical recommendation is to get a crate just big enough so that the puppy can stand, sit, and turn around, but has anyone had success with using an ‘adult’ crate right from the get-go? In terms of practicality, it’d be more convenient for me to buy a large crate that the puppy will be able to grow into.

For context, I’m planning on getting a Labrador Retriever.

Hi! We just rescued an English coonhound/catahoula leopard dog mix and are hoping to find a legit dog food. I’ve read about a few in other threads but wanted to see what this group has to say! Thanks so much in advance.

My roommate lets her dogs pee on 6-7 potty pads spread out in our dining room. I walked by, and there were three pools of urine over different pads. She's trying to say she just woke up an hour and a half before and had not seen them. She's implying they all happened at once, because of some noise issues that were happening, but I think they've just been sitting there and accumulating and that both her and her husband ignored them. I know dogs will pee along a walk, but would they do that in their own house over the course of an hour? I'm incredulous. I said this was my boundary, way too far, that it is disgusting, and she got very upset and told me to go away.

Hi! A week ago I rescued a 12 year old westie how had previously lived in a caravan with an elderly person. Unfortunately the OG owner passed away in late September and he was left alone with the body for 4 days. As far as we can know he had never been to the vets, wasn’t castrated, chipped and didn’t even have a collar with his original name on. He was then put into kennels where he became so anxious the kennels called up a local rescue who put him in a foster home with 7 other westies. Amazing humans but he didn’t adjust to the other dogs ( 1 in particular who he had to be separated from) NOW he’s come to our home, we are home 24/7, no kids, no other animals and it’s a very chill calm environment where he can have as much companionship as his little paws desire. He was castrated,chipped and seen by the vets when the rescue got him.

I know how trauma affects the human brain and I want to give him the best life. Do dogs process trauma to same as us? Do you think there’s anything I can do to help? This has all happened in the last month and a half so he’s had a really really rough time.

He’s so very sweet, very slowly settling in and learning our routine as well as basic training.

I really just want the best for this little old man, he’s my first rescue!