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My dog is now 8 months old.

Two months ago, he was perfect. He sat, he stayed, he looked at me with love.

Now? It’s like he has completely forgotten his name. He looks me dead in the eye and ignores commands. He has decided that chewing the baseboards and peeing on bed is a fun new hobby.

Everyone warned me about the puppy blues (2-4 months), but nobody prepared me for the teenage rebellion. Please tell me this ends soon!

We've had Wolfgang (4 1/2 month gsd, very ethically bred all that good stuff) since August. He came home at 9 weeks and has integrated amazingly into the family and other dogs, including our toddler. My older daughter is here to visit for Thanksgiving and he refuses to come near her! She has tried to play with him, feed him, ignore him, and has seen the other dogs all over her. This is the first time I have seen any confidence issues with him. Other than continue to act like nothing is amiss, what can we do?!

My 8 month old puppy went in for a check up at the vet and he was fine until she tried to use the stethoscope on him and he started growling and almost snapped at her. She didn’t proceed with the appointment just to be safe (he is already 80 lbs at 8 months so not a little puppy to mess around with). They gave us gabapentin and trazodone to give him the night and day before bringing him back in.

He has shown some signs of aggression when he has a high value treat (bone, yak chew) but we have been working on that with “Drop” and giving him treats when he does/give him treats when he take the high value item away from him. He has gotten a lot better already and has already started guarding less.

The only other time he freaked was at a nail trim. He had two before and just sat there and let them trim all his nails, didn’t even growl or try to pull his paw away. But the third time, he lost his mind as soon as they grabbed his paw and made such a feral growl that I’ve never heard a dog make in person. Luckily no one was hurt by him.

Any thoughts/advice on why he got so aggressive when the tools came out?

Again, before he was off his leash in the room, going up to the vet and vet tech for pets and giving them kisses on their hands. It was a complete 180 out of nowhere. But he is only going to get bigger so I don’t want this to be an issue that gets worse or goes beyond the vet office.

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.

I’m a medical student on my first year in uni and sometimes I just kinda struggle to go home to my dog and give her the enrichment and stimulation she needs. She’s a 2 yo female mini schnauzer and while its not an active breed she’s quite energetic and loves to play, which I’m not saying is bad, I love her truly but sometimes I dont even have strength to shower or brush my teeth after a long day, let alone play with her or walk her like for an hour or two.

Maybe I’m overstressing myself and she doesnt need that much mental stimulation? Shes not a working gsd or anything like that. I love having a dog, especially this dog (shes my soul dog and my first dog) but sometimes I just want to go home and sleep till the next morning. I do live with my parents and they can walk her in the evenings when I’m super tired but I feel guilty because 1. I dont think they tire her out (?) on those walks like I do so she comes home still wanting to play because naturally she’s been at home all day and 2. I just feel guilty.

Honestly I feel guilty almost all the time because I leave her home alone (my parents both work, not all days but most days of the week), and my worrying doesnt even have a good basis because shes just fine on her own at home while everyone else is gone. I’m pretty sure I have separation anxiety or something lol which I’ve been struggling with most of my dog’s life.

Idk, maybe I’m asking for advice and kind words, maybe I’m just finding more excuses to not exercise her or maybe no one will see this post, ignore it and I’ll go about my day (well, night). My dog is pacing around the house as I’m writing this unable to move because of how tired I am. Okay vent over

I’d like some guidance. Last Sunday, I adopted two mixed-breed female puppies, both two months old. We originally went for one, but ended up with two. My sister and I live together. I have experience with dogs—I’ve trained two and had four in total throughout my life.

However, I’ve never had two puppies at the same time, and while researching the best way to raise them, I’ve learned that having two at once can be a problem because of littermate syndrome, strong dependence on each other, or difficulties bonding with other people or dogs. What do you recommend we do? At the shelter they didn’t mention any of this, and honestly at the time I didn’t know it was a possibility. I’m worried they won’t grow up to be balanced dogs and could end up hurting each other or others.

Thank you.

I walk my puppy daily , and at a certain spot whenever he sees a cat or wants to go left and I don’t allow him , he goes stubborn and won’t move , i normally go the opposite direction as I’ve seen videos online that suggested that to avoid leash pulling .

When the puppy finally agrees to go the opposite way , he acts as if everything is ok and then suddenly starts having zoomies and he starts running around ,and this is not a normal zoomies this zoomies he tries to aggressively bite me .

I thought this was an issue with tired dogs but today i walked him only 25 minutes (in opposition to the usual 35 minutes) and he still did it .

This happens specifically at certain area in the neighborhood but occasionally happens elsewhere as well.

Would appreciate some help , he is a 6 month chow chow puppy and he walks daily and has good food / treats and many toys

I know we’re probably all more focused with bonding with our puppies and basic behavior training/socialization but I was curious what the first 6 months look liked for you and your puppy in terms of training.

My puppy is 16 weeks old and for me it’s been: – Crate Training – Potty Training – Intro to mat training – cue “place” – Release (to leave her crate or carrier) – Wait – Find It – Touch – Sit – Down – Leave It – Look – Handling exercises – Socialization specifically new objects, vet visits, car rides/sitting in carrier, new people, cats, dogs, scary sounds – Resource Guarding prevention exercises

Spin and Paw are the more fun ones