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So I got a puppy for the first time about a month ago. He is about a 4 month old Corgi. Initially me and my partner were gonna crate train him but I thought that using a pen instead would be the better decision since I felt bad having him cooped up in a crate(first time dog owner bare with me here please). We also used pee pads since we noticed he would pee fairly often, we had one pee pad outside his cage inbetween the bathroom and one inside his pen. We also fed him three times a day, morning, lunch and dinner. We would take him out shortly after he ate and initially he did poop everytime we took him out which was great! We believed that as his bladder developed he could hold it in longer and we would just transition from pee pads to outside only. Except i've started having a problem where he doesn't want to poop or pee if I take him outside anymore, he only goes potty on the pads and occasionally on the carpet or where ever else he's not supposed to. His pooping has also just gotten so inconsistent that I just never have any idea of when to take him out, I swear whenever I decide to wait a while before taking him out he chooses to go right after I fed him but if I want take him out after he eat he suddenly doesn't have to go until night. I mean I am losing my head. So anyways I figured he's just getting used to the pads and going in his pen since there's enough space to go potty whenever he wants. So that brings us to today. I decided to cold turkey the pads, start using the crate and take him out every 1-2 hours. The problem im having is introducing him to the crate, I tried to lure him in the crate with treats and getting comfy walking in there but when I tried leaving him in there for a couple of minutes (with me in the room nearby) he starts freaking out and going crazy, since im sure hes used to free roaming and being able to hop in and out his pen whenever he likes. I've seen people say that you have to leave your puppy in there in order for him to get used to it and only let him out to go potty until he picks up the routine. On the other hand i've seen people say you have to introduce him to the crate slowly with short sessions so he doesn't start to dislike being in the crate, which I would like to do especially since he's a little stubborn and I know its gonna come back to bite me in the ass. My problem is that without the pads im worried he's just going to go potty whenever, especially on the carpet, since he's used to that. If anyone has advice it would be much appreciated.

I have seven 4 week old puppies that I'm fostering that have been eating gruel since 3 weeks old (bc mama has mastitis and cannot nurse). They eat it up quickly and i always end up having to make more every time they eat (3x a day) bc they lick the plate clean. I think they probably end up eating 1-2 cans of canned food per feeding (I mix canned food with water, esbilac, and goats milk). Their bellies get very round after they get seconds. Should I just keep feeding them more until they stop eating on their own? I'm just confused on how to know how much to feed them, especially bc we don't know their breed so can't calculate their adult weight

I have a 4 month old Maltese, I’ve had her for about a month.

She started humping me the other day and I know puppies get their first heat cycle around 5-6 months . Does this mean she’s getting it soon?

My 12-week-old puppy has started demand barking at my 4-year-old dog whenever they play or whenever he has a toy she wants. We’ve been using "time-outs" for over-stimulation, but when it comes to the toys, we usually just take the item away. I feel bad for my older dog because he loses his toy just because the puppy is being loud. Does anyone have advice on managing "puppy vs. adult" dynamics? I want to make sure I’m not accidentally encouraging resentment between them.

I'm really struggling with the poop eating and today after she ate her poop o remembered the article and it helped me feel less grossed out by her, so thank you. Here's the article for anyone else:

https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/behavior/kidnapped-from-planet-dog/

We got our rescue puppy at 17 weeks. She was only at the rescue for 6 days, and before that she somehow made her way from Mexico to Michigan. Regardless to say, she had zero training in all aspects.

We knew potty training was a process but it’s been 4 weeks and I’m about to lose my mind. We were doing okay and were down to 1-2 accidents a day. But today she had 4! One was even on the couch and one at the top of the carpeted stairs.

Just wondering if this is normal or if I should take her to get checked. We are doing all the things. Potty breaks every hour, usually less. She is crate trained and holds it all night. Potty breaks after meals and water. I do have 6&8 year old daughters and they are quite distracting. The accidents typically happen when they are home.

Advice?

I am looking for a good lick mat for grooming my dog. My problem with lick mats is a lot of them have corners and tiny crevices that are hard to clean and they always have a ton of food stuck inside when my dog is done. It feels wasteful. Does anybody have a recommendation for a lick mat that the dog can lick clean?

Whenever I play a composition on the butt trumpet, my 8 year old dog (beagle, Boston and Parson Russel mix) immediately comes over, and he’s shaking. He paws at me to try and pull me towards him, or paw the remote or phone out of my hand. Or he’ll come lay against me shaking. It’s so strange.

Does your dog turn his head when he hears an odd noise? Does your dog bury their food with your pants? This is the thread to ask why.

Please keep this thread to non-medical issues only.

Which pet insurance is best for you? Are there any that may cover your dog's current treatment? Did your dog get injured during the waiting period and want to know if you're covered?

Here's the place to ask.

Do know we cannot help you here with medical concerns, and lying or not disclosing things to the insurance company is illegal so we don't allow that either.