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I've never had a dog that enjoys eating rocks before. She was eating bigger rocks when i first got her. Shes really good at leave it and drop it but now shes eating pebbles and because its smaller im not as quick to catch it on time ( i have a 2 year old human child so cant have my eye on my puppy all the time ) its obviously giving my puppy soft stool. Is this something she will grow out of any tips?

I made a massive mistake adopting a dog. I have extremely high anxiety. I love dogs and always wanted one but after getting one it’s made me so much more anxious to make sure she is healthy. Making sure she eats enough and uses the bathroom enough. It’s keeping me up at night. Also I adopted from out of state so I can’t just walk in and talk. I put in a request to surrender but idk when they will let me come in. It’s mandated by the rescue that I return to them specifically. But I want to just drive in later this week and see if they can do something. I’m really not mentally fit for this. And I’m not taking good care of her.

Hi everyone! I have a 16yr old mini poodle who has been my childhood dog, i’ve had her since I was 11, she is my everything. Last year we found out she has CHF and so she has been on medication for it for a year now (vetmedin and lasix) which she takes 2x a day. It has greatly helped her and I feel has given her an extra year, but as of late, I have been thinking about if it is time to let her go….

The meds seem to not be working as well anymore and her bad days are teetering on outweighing her good…. I will be seeing her vet tomorrow to talk about it, and I know no one can really make the decision for you, but how do you know when it’s truly time? I also don’t want to wait until it’s so bad that all her days are just her suffering, but I also feel like for selfish reasons I am making excuses with her amount of good days and how sometimes she doesn’t even seem like anything is wrong with her…… Or how do you get over the thoughts of feeling like it’s too soon??? I love her so much and I definitely don’t want to prolong any suffering if not needed. On top of her CHF she is also incontinent, and that breaks my heart for her as well. She is in a diaper and she goes out often during the day, but at night she completely soils herself, and the diuretics to expel the fluid in her lungs makes her incontinence a lot worse….

I would love to hear from those who have went through euthanasia, about what helped you finally decide? TIA

My 4 year old lab still has an issue with humping our other dog. He only is around the other dog for parts of the day, who is a male. My dog (not constantly) tries to hump him and everytime I stop it, he sometimes tries again. Is there anyway to stop this?

My dog is 6 years old, and recently I’ve noticed a strange behavior after we return from walks in nature. When she lies down to rest, her legs start moving rapidly as if she is running. Then she suddenly gets up and walks quickly in circles around the room, before lying down again and repeating the same behavior. This can last anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour. She is responsive when I call her, and she doesn’t lose consciousness or show signs of pain. We have already visited a veterinarian, and she has been examined. The vet said everything appears normal. This behavior only started recently and mostly happens after more active walks or time spent outdoors

⁠I’ve been trying to figure out the best breed for a while now but it’s tough given that information is so inconsistent. Thank you in advance for anybody bothered to read all of this and help!

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

I have experience taking care of dogs growing up but never owning one. Usually for about a month or two at a time.

1. ⁠Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

I prefer getting a puppy to solidify a stronger bond

1. ⁠Describe your ideal dog.

Calmer, obedient, not smelly, not a rocketship in puppy form.

1. ⁠What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

I liked the eurasier a lot but heard they shed a lot which isn’t something I would want. I have experience with shedding so I don’t mind some but no excessive shedding.

1. ⁠What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

Just the useful commands like stay, sit, heel etc. Not interested in ”tricks”.

1. ⁠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?

No the goal is a companion

Care Commitments

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

Preferably as much time as possible once I’m home. Training around 30-60 minutes then playing about the same.

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?

Around an hour of walking but in the morning around 10 minutes for peeing since I’m not a morning person. Exercise is playing fetch or running. Dog parks occasionally.

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?

Grooming once a week is fine. I don’t think dogs should get haircuts professionally so I wouldn’t want a breed like that.

Personal Preferences

10) What size dog are you looking for?

I’m 6’2-6’3 so on the larger side. Not huge but not medium either.

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

Not too much shedding, barking is fine but not excessive, don’t like slobber. Most important thing for me is smell. After taking care of dogs I realise some stink like crazy.

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

I would want a dog that I can safely have off leash

Dog Personality and Behavior

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

I like a ”snuggly” dog

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

I want one that’s obedient but I don’t need malinois level

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?

If someone knocks my dog should be aware of it. If there’s a stranger I want it to not be too quick to trust. In order to be accepted in the circle it should take a couple of meets.

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

Yes I’ve done that before

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

Being loud all the time. Other than that not really

Lifestyle

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

Until I’m home from work. Most of the time there will be someone there but on the off chance something changes it should be fine for the day.

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

Not a big fan of the wire haired dogs. The general consensus is mostly astethic and a calmer nature. Split between Spitz look / Rottweiler look

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

No but my family has cats and when I visit I’d prefer them to stay alive

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

No

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

Nothing like that

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

Sweden so it can get pretty cold

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

Summer is usually <25 C and winter is usually >-10C