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Does anyone have suggestions for large adaptable pens for climbers? I have most of my living room inside an adjustable dog pen for my 4 month old havenese mix so she can play but also spend time with us. Unfortunately she’s learned how to scale the sides to climb out.

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some guidance and maybe a trainer recommendation in the Dallas area (I’m near Richardson/Plano).

I have a ~15–16 week old Mini Aussie puppy who has been with me for about 20 days now. He’s very sweet, but also extremely anxious and skittish, especially outdoors and around new people. When he’s scared or distracted, his brain just shuts down, he won’t take treats and can’t focus at all.

At home, he trusts me and likes to follow me everywhere. He knows “sit,” and he’s starting to understand praise markers like “good job,” but anything beyond that is tough right now. His confidence outdoors is very low; he freezes, tries to go back home, and gets overwhelmed by small noises, new dogs, or strangers walking by.

I’ve been trying to take things slow: short walks, rewarding curiosity, calm exposure… but I’m not sure if I’m doing everything right or if I should get a professional involved sooner rather than later. I’d love to help him build confidence and enjoy walks so we can both be healthier and happier long term.

So I’m asking:
1️⃣ Any proven training tips for highly anxious and distraction-sensitive puppies?
2️⃣ Has anyone dealt with a similar temperament in this breed?
3️⃣ Can you recommend a positive reinforcement trainer near Dallas who has experience with fearful/nervous puppies?

Any advice or personal success stories would help so much thank you in advance! 💛🐶

Hi y'all, I'm hoping for some judgement-free helpful advice as I'm feeling kind of like I don't know what to do anymore.

I adopted my miniature poodle puppy about 4ish months ago. She is a sweet and loving girl and definitely my soul dog. I also have two cats that I have had for a few years now. We kept them completely separate for the first week or so after getting my puppy and only did scent exchanges. Then, greetings through the door, then meetings where I'd carry the puppy into the room where the cats are and letting them sniff her while I gave everyone treats. I'd do this for a while– go into the room, let the cats see the dog while she's in my arms and pet them etc. But one of my cats, Sissy, absolutely hates her.

From what I can tell, she doesn't necessarily act afraid of the puppy, as she watches her around the room like a hawk and like she wants to pounce on her. She will eat meals and treats if the puppy is in our arms in the same room, and even accepts pets from us lovingly and rolls around on her back to show her belly too. Sometimes, the puppy will accidentally get into the bedroom (where the cats are) and Sissy will immediately chase after her and try to attack her. She attacks her through the crack in the door, and even drew blood once. A few times when I had to do work in the bedroom (which is absolutely so difficult with the current beef between my cat/puppy,) so I put the puppy in her crate on my bed and let the cats roam around. Sissy goes up to the puppy's crate and hisses very violently, makes that scary cat meow noise, and has even tried to swat her. My other cat loves the puppy and they get along just fine.

I genuinely don't know what to do anymore. I feel like we've done everything recommended to us by the internet and from a conversation we had with behaviorists at our local shelter. I'm really scared that Sissy will seriously hurt the puppy as she is so much bigger than her and tries to hurt her every chance she can get. The puppy is so gentle too while I think Sissy on the other hand would show no mercy if they did get into an ugly fight. It's also difficult because we are still sleeping in our living room because the puppy freaks out if we aren't there with her (yes, she sleeps in her crate.) I just want peace in my home again and to be able to live in it normally.

TL;DR – My cat really hates my puppy and I feel like I have seriously tried everything, including slow introductions, talking to behaviorists, etc. Looking for perhaps some creative advice or what has worked for anyone else.

I rescued my girl at 8 weeks but her and her littermates were found in a box on the side of the road at just 2 weeks old. It has me wondering if and what long term effects it could have on my girl. She’s 4 months old now. She’s very confident but non aggressively possessive of water and food and anything she reaaaallly likes (including me).

I have a 10 week old toy poodle who I just bought home. She won’t potty or eat. When I hold her up to my chest, she calms down and stops shaking. I can tell she’s overwhelmed and anxious.

I tried to get her to potty/eat for almost an hour then I put her in her crate. She’s falling asleep now and has been quiet for almost 10 minutes lol (longest so far).

Should I let her sleep and when wakes up, try to get her to potty again?

She couldn’t care less about treats too. I tried using that but it doesn’t work.

HELLPPPP

Edit: first time puppy owner, I had another dog but she was very low energy

Hi Reddit, this is about my families new dog Sadie who is a shepherd mix. She’s almost six months. She loves to nip and play tug of war with my pants and has ripped holes in quite a few already. I’m just wondering how you people curve biting with puppies. This is what she does:

• when excited she’ll run up to me with a toy, drop it once or twice, then bite and grab my pant-leg with like NO time for me to react and pick up her toy to throw it. When I try to push her away from me (gently) she gets more excited and bites/pulls on me harder.
• I will be playing tug-of-war with her, or holding her toy while she bites it and sometimes she’ll stop biting it and redirect on my pant-leg. She’s not trying to bite my skin but she still does cuz she’s got sharp little piranha teeth!
• When I try to pet her she sometimes mouths my hand or my arm. I’m guessing she does this because she doesn’t want me to pet her but how do I specifically get her to not mouth me to show that?
• If I try to kiss her face, or have my face close to hers she’ll lunge forward and half nip half lick my face. I DO NOT want her to make contact or cause facial injuries. Do I just not put my face near hers or is there anyway I can curve this behaviour, my family likes getting face licks lol.
• Sometimes she’ll come up and grab my pant leg or shirt or coat and pull it while growling. I end up just grabbing the item right where it goes into her mouth and pulling/sternly telling her to stop until she lets go. I don’t want to encourage her to tug of war with my pants, and I worry that me just pulling my clothes out of her mouth is giving that engagement and encouragement to her.
• she’ll mouth my hands while I put on her harness, or if I try and grab her collar to lead her somewhere. Idk if there’s anything I can do about this, it’s just a bit frustrating lol.

We sometimes crate her if she’s biting my leg too much or trying to get our dinner, but otherwise I don’t want to rely on crating as a punishment because that is her safe-place and where she sleeps.

So far I try to redirect her with toys(she has multiple teething toys, and bones and stuffies), loudly say “no”, say “ow”(tbh it gets her crazier), push her away, or just walk away and ignore her then re-engage in a minute. Sometimes walking away works but other times she’ll chase me and grab my pant-leg anyways. How do I stop her from continuing once I disengage?

I want to play with her, but I don’t want to encourage her biting me, playing tug of war with my clothes, or jumping up. I’m not sure how to play with her without encouraging that but also without ending play prematurely when she gets too excited.

My family has one of those horns that just makes a hissing air noise. I don’t really want to use that on Sadie but it got my cousins dog to stop some of his antics so idk. I don’t wanna scare her.

I also recognize that 99% if not all of this is normal puppy behaviour. I just really don’t want her doing this as an adult so I wanna curve it now when she’s young.

my puppy (toy maltipoo) has always been pretty picky with his food, but once i started adding a bit of wet food to his kibble he would eat it. recently, he’s been either skipping breakfast or lunch and i’m wondering if it’s time for him to switch to 2 meals a day? i know it says usually around 6 months but he’s really not eating the 3 meals. thanks

We have a 3 year old bernadoodle who we crated when he was a puppy. Can I re use that or should I get a new one? I've heard about the puppy potentially smelling the other dog and becoming restless. Would I be safer to just get a new one?

I have a 9–10 week-old male Cavapoo and I’m honestly at my breaking point with the biting. I’m trying so hard and I feel like nothing is working.

I’m not someone who buys a puppy and ignores their needs — he has LOTS of teething and enrichment items: – frozen carrots – frozen Kong stuffed with peanut butter – rubber toys – balls – a “bone-like” treat he can chew for a long time – frozen wet cloth (he refuses it) – treats and puppy chews etc..

He STILL prefers to bite me over anything else.

When he’s in his crate, he looks sweet, calm, and whines like he wants cuddles. But as soon as I take him out, he immediately starts biting my hands, my legs, my feet — even when he comes close to “kiss” me, he follows it with a bite. His teeth are razor sharp and it really hurts.

I can’t even play with him because he bites too hard. If he’s on the couch, he bites my hands. If he’s on the floor, he goes after my feet.

I got this puppy partly because I struggle with mental health and depression, and I wanted a companion. But right now I feel overwhelmed, guilty, and honestly hopeless.

I’m asking for advice from people who have gone through this. Is this normal? Will it get better? Is there something I’m doing wrong even though I’m giving him toys, enrichment, play, naps, and crate time?

I want to do things right, but it feels impossible right now.

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.