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I'm looking after my family dog, Baxter, for a week and want to give him the best week of his life! He's the best boy ever, the calmest most obedient and loving velcro dog! He's 10 now and I don't get to see him often since I live in a different city. What can I buy or make or do with him to give him the best time?

Hi! I have a four year old german shepard/ malinois mix. She’s not quite as crazy and active as you might imagine for that breed mix but she still needs a lot of outdoor time and stimulation. She’s got plenty of outdoor space but we live in SoCal so we’re already seeing 95+ degree days. We’ve been on the hunt for good puzzle and stimulation toys so she can get some activity indoors where it’s nice and cool. The problem is she has a dental problem that makes hard treats and food uncomfortable and most puzzle toys are made for those hard little milk bone type treats. So far she’s LOVED the woof pupsicle and licking mats. Does anyone have any other toy recommendations that involve a lot of licking or can be used with soft food and treats? Licking usually occupies her for quite a while and wears her out pretty well. Any recommendations are appreciated!

For context:

– She is 4 years old and leash trained

– Not in any pain

– Does not have any health issues

– Not going any unusual route, been going the same route for years old and I’ve tried going different directions.

She always has enjoyed walks, but this behaviour isn’t necessarily new. She refused to go many times randomly, but it’s been literally every day lately. I’ve tried at different times throughout the day and tried bringing treats. It’s very odd and random behaviour that none of us at home have been able to find an answer for.

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing to leave Canada soon as my work permit is expiring. I’ve been here for over 10 years, and honestly, this whole process has been overwhelming, especially when it comes to traveling with pets.

I have two pets:

• Dog: Bichon Frise, 9 years old – will need to travel in the baggage/cargo hold
• Cat: Ragdoll, 5 years old – fits airline size and weight limits for in-cabin travel

The stress point is the lack of clear, consistent information. Airline websites, vets, and online forums all seem to say slightly different things, and it’s hard to know what’s actually accurate versus outdated or airline-specific.

I’m hoping to hear from people who have recently gone through this, especially:

• Flying internationally with a dog in the hold
• Flying with one pet in cabin and one in cargo on the same trip
• What paperwork actually mattered at check-in and arrival
• Any airline recommendations or ones to avoid
• Things you wish you knew before flying

This is already an emotional move, and I just want to make sure I’m doing right by my pets and not missing something critical.

Any advice, experiences, or pointers would be hugely appreciated. Thank you in advance.

my puppy Calliope just loves them. I think she loves both the play and the reward. it gives me a short break too because she is only 14 weeks and never ever stops 🤣. I stuff it with cooked chicken breast.

are there are other good treats that would accomplish these three things ?

1. Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

* ANSWER: yes, this will be my first dog.

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]

* ANSWER: i will mostly likely rehome someone else's pet

3) Describe your ideal dog.

* ANSWER: small dog that doesn't shed a whole lot.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

* ANSWER: i am interested in maltese or poodles and even shih tzus

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

* ANSWER: going on walks, knowing where to pee and poo

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

* ANSWER: no

**Care Commitments**

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

* ANSWER: After work during the weekdays, i am devoted to train and interact with my dog for an hour. On weekends, I am more than willing to spend mornings, afternoons, and evenings

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

* ANSWER: 30 minutes to 1 hour. We can use dog park or go on walks/jogs. maybe some fetch at home

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

* ANSWER: I would pay a professional to do it regulary but as far as brushing goes, I can do it

**Personal Preferences**

10) What size dog are you looking for?

* ANSWER: small

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

* ANSWER: i can take a bit of shedding and a bit of barking but slobber no

12) How important is being able to let your dog leash in an unfenced area?

* ANSWER: i am living in an apartment so there wouldn't be an unfenced area

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

* ANSWER: both will be fine

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that's more eager-to-please?

* ANSWER: both will be fine i do prefer an eager-to-please

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

* ANSWER: not too hostile. i won't have a whole vistors to be honest.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

* ANSWER: no. that is a definite no.

17) Are there any other behaviors you can't deal with or want to avoid?

* ANSWER: being very destructive. but believe that everything is trainable

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

* ANSWER: 8 hours for the weekdays. i may have time available to walk the dog for afternoons

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

* ANSWER: I am the only person available

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

* ANSWER: zero plans on second pet

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

* ANSWER: not at all

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future?

* ANSWER: I plan on only renting

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

* ANSWER: I live in Texas and I am not aware of any laws banning certain breeds

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

* ANSWER: Summer: 34C-38C (90F – 100F)

Winter: 10C – 18C (50F – 65F)

**Additional Information and Questions**

25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

Any tips will be welcomed. For cat comments, I am highly allergic to them 🙁

I've bought him multiple ones and he always figures it out within mins.

I want suggestions for advanced ones that will keep him busy for longer.

Mods feel free to delete if needed.

I have a senior dog that always pees in the house while I am at work. I work long shifts and even with me taking him outside he still goes inside the house while I am gone. I do not want to put him in diapers since he is a very fluffy dog and I would not have the time to give him a bath everyday. I have been buying enzyme bottle sprays to help with the odor but they are quite pricey. is there anything I can mix into my mopping bucket that would help with the odor? thanks.

Hi I'm new here and still learning how Reddit works. It's not simple?! 😂 Anyways, my dog is an Australian cattle dog mix and he is normally very very active. He gets off leash walk/run/chase almost 2hrs a day and gets hours of hiking on weekends. Last Saturday, he got bit by a dog on beach and had to get a couple of stitches. Doctor said he can't run and gave him a calming medicine but he seems depressed without active life 🙁

We take him to grass field to sit and chill, then go for a slow walk but he definitely needs something more mentally!! Any suggestions or advice will be helpful. Thank you!!

Hi! So I have a full blooded dachshund and he won’t stop going to the bathroom in my room? I can’t walk him so I tie him up to a tree and he has a lot of slack on the leash and I’d let him in after a bit and he started going to the bathroom inside the house. So I had extended how long he stayed outside to maybe see if he needed more time and today I left him out for 2 hours, then I brought him in and then took him out again and the second time he came in he decided to pee on my floor again. I don’t know what might be causing this, if anyone knows please let me know.

(Also I have been feeding him and giving him water outside Incase it’s because he can’t hold it after drinking water since I have a water bowl always filled with water cause I have a cat)