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Today is day 4 with what the shelter called a Aussie/Border Collie mix. She’s 4 months old. She had such a sweet and gentle disposition at the shelter. Now that we’ve been home she is reactive to everything. Dogs on the tv, her reflection in the glass, the sound of someone moving down the hallway, cars driving by. She’s a leash puller. She squeals in the crate that she willfully goes into. I just don’t know what to do. I am willing to put in the work, I just don’t know how much I am going to be able to train out of her. Tell me it will get better 😭

My partner and I have been lucky enough to bring a beautiful standard wirehaired dachshund into our home (we brought him home at 10 weeks and he’s currently 18 weeks). Not going to lie, it’s been a challenge so far and we’ve had many stressors that we’re all working through but our love for him grows everyday. He’s generally a really good pup, likes his food, will sleep, is getting the hang of toilet training, enjoys vet visits and all in all has a wonderful temperament.

Our main issue at the moment (other than basic training which is taking its time) is that our pup just hates being left alone. He’ll sleep in his crate perfectly during the night, getting up only for a toilet break and settling back down. But if we try to put him in it and get anything done during the day? Impossible. I’m feeling stuck as I work from home often and when I’m not at home my partner is, which we know could be creating the issue. It’s just impossible to go about normal daily life when he needs to sleep. A tiny sound when he’s sleeping and that’s it, he’s awake and crying to be let out/with us (except he’s never slept in his crate during the day as we’ve never had success). We’ve been building his relationship with his crate by feeding kongs and long lasting treats in there but he struggles to settle down for a nap unless he’s with us, which is causing problems. He just continuously winds himself up until he’s getting zoomies and never settles down.

I’m really worried about creating any potential separation anxiety behaviours with him, ultimately wanting the best for him but selfishly I’d also like to be able to run to the coffee shop on my own every now and again. Right now, that seems like it will be an impossible task.

For context, we also live in a flat and need to be mindful of neighbours who we have told we have a puppy so they know, he’s generally fine noise-wise but really sounds alarms the second he’s left.

I think what I’m looking for here is anybody else who’s had a similar situation, to hopefully tell me is does get better or that some silver lining is around the corner. I don’t want him stressed if we’re out of sight, or if we need to leave him for a little while and I’m feeling like I’m failing him right now.

After a pet cam that has live stream, but also ability to rewind maybe just a day or two but without a subscription free. Any recommendations? Not too fussed if it's plug in or not.

This is mainly for when I'm out, I'd like to be able to see what puppy has been up to and if she's been crying/barking etc.

My puppy is 10 months and such hard work no matter how much training I have put in and it’s just so disheartening as I thought it would be easier by now.

Family and friends all tell me to rehome him as all do their dogs were chill by this age.

Does anyone have similar stories?

Please recommend a great online training program to buy that worked for you and is reasonably cost effective.

I have a 1 year old dog that I have worked to get to learn how to relax when at home with the family. And she is doing so well— she really has learned to be calm when needed and playful when it’s time. But any time she is around any other dogs, she goes berserk playing and will not turn off. We got a little puppy a week and a half ago. And they are getting along (no resource guarding, no growling) but my older dog cannot calm down. She is “on” all the time unless the puppy is sleeping in her crate in her playpen. How can I help my older dog to learn to be more calm around the pup? So she doesn’t have to feel like she needs to be “on” all the time. She is starting to display signs of being a little anxious— always looking to see what the puppy is doing, ears pricked up, intense stare even when lying down. (Although, intense stare is kind of just her resting face, lol) I don’t want that anxiety to get worse and turn into fear or aggression. Suggestions?

I have looked through kikopup free online resources and can’t find exactly what I’m looking for. And other trainers don’t seem to focus on calmness.

If it helps, my 1 year old dog is an American Indian Dog (AmericanIndiandogs.org)she is considered a primitive breed, and/or working. She gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation each day in the form of long off leash hikes and puzzles, chews, etc. She isn’t displaying signs of being under exercised or under stimulated. The new puppy is a chihuahua— and she is not overly barky or rude to my bigger dog. She’s on a good schedule and is doing well with her basic training like potty and crate training.

TL; DR how to get a one year old dog to calm down around a puppy.

My Old English Sheepdog is the cutest puppy but he is CONSTANTLY biting me and hurting me. We have 5 minutes of quiet time once he has woken up from his naps and he loves me but the other minutes he is just jumping on me, biting my clothes or biting me. Idk if it’s because he doesn’t know his own strength but it bloody hurts. But when he is with anyone else in the house, he just nibbles.

Please tell me he doesn’t hate me and that he will grow out of this?

When we are training, on walks or I have his food are the only times he doesn’t bite me.

Hi everyone,

I recently adopted a 7 month old pup, and I’m trying to do my best by her.

I’ve had her for a week, and in this week, I’ve changed my entire life to make sure I do my best for her.

She didn’t have a name before, and therefore, even getting her attention is difficult. I’ve named her Lucy, but still had not managed to get her to react to the name when there is no treats involved.

First thing in the morning, I let her out in the garden to do her business. Then I bring her out for a walk. The walks are slow, she’s sniffing most of the times and I want to let her be a dog.

After a brisk walk, I feed her the first meal before getting ready to leave the house by 6:30 am.

I’m lucky that there’s a gym at my office, and I can workout before work. For this first week, I’ve asked my supervisor to allow me to work from home for half the day. I’m away from home for 6-8 hrs this week, returning after lunch to let her use the loo in the garden, and monitor her behavior.

It’s mostly positive, she’s gaining confidence and is less anxious when I leave her sight now. But I’m struggling with two things.

– she’s starting to test limits –

Walks – she’s starting to lie down whenever I don’t let her go where she wants, I use a standard leash and give her corrective tugs but it feels like a growing challenge every day.

She’s starting to show interest in my meals, and even started barking at me while I was eating after feeding her. She never did this when she first came back from the shelter.

She’s starting to take shoes, sandals and socks.

-her energy levels are so high-

Even though I walk her twice a day, once at 5:45-6:15am(sometimes till 6:30am), and once more in the evening for at least another 30 mins, and for this week, I offer her training and enrichment exercises in between work after lunch, she still has a lot of pent up energy, presumably because she’s sleeps for most of the day and does not sleep well at night.

Over a longer term, I’m afraid that she’ll face boredom and display destructive behavior.

I feel like I’ve committed a lot of my life to ensure she’s getting the best I can offer, but it’s still not enough.

Should I continue to keep her, or return her to the shelter? They have a return policy which makes this more of a trial period than a full on adoption.