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I have a nearly 14 year old Italian greyhound, and for the last year or so she's more or less stopped responding when I call her, ask if she wants to go potty, or any other 'are you ready?' type commands. I have slowly convinced myself that she's deaf or going deaf because she won't even move her head when I call her name. This is true for my wife as well.

Today while sitting at brunch I was eating steak and eggs. I turned to my dog, very calmly (and pretty quietly) told her to lay down. She immediately did it because she knew there was steak on the line.

It's amazing that steak is about the only thing in the world that will convince my dog to listen these days. I had tried previously with all sorts of treats to no avail to get her to look at me, respond, or acknowledge that I was talking to her. She just had no appetite for most foods, and she's never been one to play with toys.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with older, grouchier dogs? Did you ever find a solution or did you just ride it out?

I need advice for a good nail clipper. Something that glides through the nail easy. My almost 12 year old dog has arthritis and me cutting his nails I know is tough on the joints because of how much effort the clipper has to cut it. I bought a highly recommended one a year ago that didn’t work that well

Most sweaters that fit my dog's chest are way too short, and if they fit his back they're too big on his chest. His chest is 16" and back is 18.5 inches. He weighs ~13lbs. I have to keep him shaved short and he's always getting cold.

Any recommendations for cute sweaters that don't cost a fortune?

Hi,

Pretty much the title.

I’m working part time, living alone, but with family a ten minute walk away. I have a big, secure garden. I’m home all the time. Downside: I’m studying for two pretty big exams this year.

There will never be a more perfect time to get and raise a puppy with my work schedule. I’ve had dogs my whole life, but this would be the first dog I’ve raised alone.

It would be a dachshund.

The cons are, obviously, that I’m studying. But at the same time, I think a puppy would also give me more of a reason to be strict with routine. I’ve had to give up the city I lived in and the job I loved to go down to part time work and accommodate my exams. A dog would give me purpose and somehow to focus my energy whilst I’m otherwise feeling a bit lost, and feeling like I’ve taken a step back in life. I can’t really go out due to studying, and I had to move to a much cheaper, suburban town. All my friends are miles away.

I’m also used to studying with a lot of distractions and noise around me. I’m very good at studying and managing my own routine. I’ve taken similar exams whilst working a very stressful, full time job, living with a controlling partner who made studying hell and still managing a dog on top of that. (Sadly I lost that dog in the breakup- he was not registered to me, or legally mine, but that’s life.) I’m not worried about this. I would crate train and have a dog in a set routine. I have a big enough house to have room to study away from a puppy, and have space. I’ve raised multiple puppies, had dogs with behavioural issues and I know what I’m doing.

Having my own dog would give me so much joy when I’m feeling a bit meh. It would make all this time sat at home worthwhile.

I’m also not going into this innocently. I know the breed well and have raised dachshund puppies before specifically.

There is never going to be a time in my life again where I have so much willing help from family, will be home so much and am working so little. The only thing I need to do is still dedicate time to studying, but people take these exams with full time jobs and children.

It’s really something I want to do. I wouldn’t get a dog without truly thinking it through. I’ve wanted my own dog since I was a child, but the dogs I’ve had have been my parents or my ex-partners. I have so much experience, but I’ve never had a dog which was truly *mine.*

Am I crazy? I read so many stories here about puppy blues and the stress people go through. And whilst that’s all very valid, the idea of having a puppy/dog around whilst I’m sat at home and being able to care for something in this time would be something I’d love to do.

I’m also going through a pretty rough time with family with terminal illness/deaths in the family and having a dachshund again would be a dream. I know the reality well, having done the puppy stage a few years ago with my exes dog. I know what I would do differently, and where I went wrong before.

I’m also very open to rescue dachshunds but a lot have quite specific requirements such as never living with another dog or children, and unfortunately, I can’t always guarantee that. But if the right one comes up, this is also definitely an option. I also have no desire to own any other breed than a dachshund. Call me biased, but once you’ve had a dachshund, it’s hard to have any other breed 🤣

The main thing is that I can promise 100% dedication and a secure life to a dog. I think that’s the main thing.

And the other thing I want to stress is that this isn’t some random decision I’m making because I feel it would be ‘cute’ or ‘fun.’ Whether I get a dog now or early next year, I will be getting one. It’s more the evaluation of taking advantage of my free time and lack of social life as an ideal situation to raise a puppy versus the cons of studying with a puppy.

Picking up our 8 week old puppy on 2/14. When we put him down for his nap for an hour or so, can we leave him in his crate for that time to run to the gym or run errands? Or should we wait a few weeks before he’s fully home alone?

I can train my dog to do almost anything EXCEPT not jump on people. I hate it and it’s especially embarrassing when she tries to jump on elderly people and small children. She’s never hurt anyone and clearly wants to play. But I don’t play with her like that and I don’t know how to break her of the habit of jumping on me when I come home. I’ve tried turning my back, swatting her paws while giving a command to sit, and even blocking her attempts with my elbows or knees or by stepping backwards. What’s working for you guys??

After going 2-3 months without an accident in the house, our 8.5 month out puppy has started peeing inside. It happened twice this week, and I think it is marking rather than accidents. He has started to mark outside, too. I think. He’ll pee in multiple different spots while outside, sometimes lifting his leg a bit.

The first time he did it inside, it was on my winter coat (it’s a long coat that hangs to the floor when I have it on the low hook, as I did that day)

The second time, it was on the trash bag while my fiancé was putting a new bag into the bin before taking the full bag outside.

Thinking about getting belly bands? Yay or nay?