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  • Zig zagging on walks

    As the title says – my very sweetly psychotic 11 week old puppy loooooves zig zagging around my feet when we walk. The most fun for her is if she can fully wind the leash around one or both of my feet. 😂 I do use the leash to steer her, but it’s killing my wrist.

    I know she’ll mellow with time, but I’d like to see if I can correct her before I fully wipe out.

    What training techniques have worked for other people?

    submitted by /u/Mental_Catterfly
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  • Relocation Anxiety..Help!

    Please don’t rip me to shreds in the comments, I am genuinely asking for helpful advice since I’ve never had to do this before. I also cross posted in r/dogs trying to get some advice.

    I have a 1.5 year old intact male Mastador, definitely a mama’s boy since it’s always just been us, and aside from the very rare occasional accident (typically my fault for missing his cue or he’s feeling unwell) he is fully potty trained. Thrives on the routine we have, knows basic commands and listens very well, but has severe separation anxiety.

    Recently I have switched shifts at work and had to create a new routine with him, to which he has done a wonderful job adapting to without any problems. During the switch in shifts at work I also lost my father, and even during that chaos he still was a perfectly good boy. Part of my switch in shifts now also requires me to work longer hours, so I am relocating closer to work to allow more time with him by getting to go home on my breaks and not having a long commute.

    I have kept the same routine with him as far as the time line of waking/pottying/exercising/eating/snuggles, and have been sure to give him extra praises and treats for basic things as well as extra exercise and undivided attention. The problem I am facing is at bedtime he nervous paces, pants, and whines and eventually has an accident in the house, no matter how many times I take him outside and get up to comfort him throughout the night. It’s becoming exhausting only sleeping for 45 minutes at a time because he’s so anxious.

    I know he is capable of holding it 8-12 hours, but I make sure he gets to go outside minimum every 6 currently, and he still continues to have accidents. He is fully crate trained, but at the old house he was to the point of sleeping in the breezeway with a baby gate closed to the rest of the house, and I’d leave the crate open for him to do as he wished as he doesn’t seem to care much for doggy beds. I followed this same pattern at the new house, but he cannot settle in for the night. I’ve never been successful with letting him sleep in my room as he either marks the bed or thinks it’s playtime, he’s always done best in his own quiet area for rest.

    He still has his own original crate, toys, raised dog feeder, radio, and pillows in hopes that his own familiar things would have a calming effect on him, and I’ve tried treating him with some high value treats and new toys. I have taken him to the vet to rule out any medical issues and have an appointment to get him neutered, the vet thinks he’s just a severely anxious dog. The medication he has is only PRN and I don’t want to give it to him routinely as he’s never needed it until now.

    I am looking for advice on how to help ease his anxiety and get him used to the new home; I’ve tried everything I can think of, and I feel like I’m failing him by not being able to comfort him correctly during this transition together.

    submitted by /u/Abject_Implement6858
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  • Suggested Treats for 4 month old puppy

    My 4 month old Bull boxer Pit does not like the mini milk bones as treats any more. Any suggestions on good puppy treats ? Treats are really helping me with training.

    submitted by /u/visionary1913
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  • Australian shepherd changed after getting fixed

    So pretty much what title says. We took our puppy through an 8 week puppy class with 30 other people/dogs. Our boy was good and passed. After that there was an 8 week obedience course we went through. Like before everything was going well. Then the week before his test we got him fixed and he was acting different. We took him to the course and he wouldn’t stop barking at the people and dogs. Since then he has anxiety issues barks at people dogs and other things like empty non moving cars just randomly parked. It’s like getting him fixed broke him.

    Does anyone have any tips or insight on what happened to our once precious boy. Or what we should do? There is a one month place that says they can change a dog but he would stay with them for a whole month learning and having exposure to make him better? I fear he was mistreated or like the stuff they used to put him under messed with his brain.

    submitted by /u/Legitimate_Insect314
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  • Thinking about getting an English Mastiff…

    Does anyone know if English mastiffs are good with kids, small dogs and visitors?

    submitted by /u/rismystic
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  • Relocating dog from Korea to Japan

    Hello.
    I have to move from Korea(Busan) to Japan(Tokyo) in March next year with my 13kg 5 y.o. mixed dog.
    I took him from an animal shelter 3 years ago, and he is quite an anxious/fearful dog. I've tried different things, but even now he is still scared of rain sounds, loud noises, people, etc.
    Recently, I've finally found a dog school for him, and he goes there twice a week.

    The question is: what is the best way to relocate him?

    There are 2 options as I know of.
    The 1st is going by ferry: (12hours from Busan to Fukuoka, arrive in the morning and in the evening board the next ferry (~24 hours) from Fukuoka to Tokyo.
    And 2nd is going by plane in cargo(~4 hours if you count from the time of check-in). (thinking of flying with JAL)

    Thank you!

    submitted by /u/Inner_Pitch_8643
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  • I love my dog more than most people, and I don’t really know how to feel about it

    I have had my little chihuahua terrier mutt for over 10 years now, and I've realized that I have more pure love for her than I have for most people I know, including family members, but it kind of concerns me at times. I find it very hard to trust people, and I worry about judgment from others constantly, but I know that I can be myself and be weird and my little dog has no care in the world. I know that she has an unwavering love for me that I don't have to earn from her, and she has a purity and carefree nature that no human being is capable of having, as do most dogs. I know that she would never turn her back on me or hurt my feelings, because she's literally incapable of doing this. Because of these things, I feel like I have so much pure, trusting familial love for her that's higher than how I feel about a lot of other loved ones in my life. Maybe it's not that it surpasses the love I have for my family, but it's a different kind of love that you cant really have for someone other than your own child or pet. I just honestly don't know if this is a normal thing or if its something to be concerned about.

    submitted by /u/heatherluvswaffles
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  • For those living in apartments,what breed of dog do you have?

    For those of you living in apartments, what breed of dog do you have?

    What are some of the challenges you have with your breed of dog living in an Apartment?

    How much exercise does your dog get?

    Would you get that same breed again for apartment living ?

    submitted by /u/Thatcooltiger
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