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I’ve got a 6yo staffie mix who’s super sweet but pretty anxious and notorious for getting into things when I’m not home. She used to be crate trained when my roommate first adopted her at 3 (I now have full ownership🧡) but for the last couple of years she’s been free roaming. I work from home and rarely leave her alone for more than 4 hours at a time.

Any time I leave, I fully dog-proof the house (zip-tying cabinets, taking out all trash, closing doors). Before I got the routine down, we had a few scary emergency vet trips from her getting into things she shouldn’t. She also has trazodone for anxiety, which I only use when I really need to. I’m cool with doing all of this so she can hang on the couch and be comfy while I’m gone.

I’m realizing though that I get anxious leaving for errands or plans, and every time I come home I brace for what I might find. I’m starting to wonder if going back to a crate might actually be better, but I feel really torn because I don’t want to make her life worse just for my convenience. I love her to death I just want her to be comfy and safe and to also be ok with me leaving the house occasionally.

So my question – Do some dogs actually like having a crate as a safe space? Has anyone used a crate to help an anxious dog? I’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t) for you. Should I just shut up and deal lol

Apologies if this isn’t the most appropriate sub. Please let me know if there is a better place.

This is new for me

I’m working a Pyrenees mix who is part pet and part livestock guardian (I know. Not my executive decision)

She’s a good girl. Intact. Through her first heat. Great with her livestock. Great indoors (considering)

My job was to make her confidant with men in the house.

The only issue is that she it’s fixated on ME (f)

I’ve tried all the basics. Toy, treat and owner distraction.

Nothing works

I’m a former professional trainer so this isn’t novice behaviour

Ideas?

Hi all, my puppy is a 9 month old foxhound/aussie mix who is just starting to show signs of herding instincts. We adopted her in May when she was 10 weeks old and for the first 3 months we had the house all gated off and her on a leash at all times around the cats. (We have two cats) Our puppy currently free roams when we are supervising but the house is still gated off to certain rooms for the cats to go as they please.

Our 2 year old cat who is a very loving boy, instantly took to her and will come up and headbutt her, she no longer has interest in chasing him because he’s always hanging around in the same area.

Our 1 year old cat who is the queen of the house has been having a much more difficult time. The closest she will come to the puppy is if she can be 10 ft away and up high. She has learned she’s allowed to hiss and scratch the puppy if she gets too close, which is often when our cat is hiding under furniture and our puppy shoves her head under to see her. Our cat will approach her when she is sleeping to take a sniff but will always go back into hiding after.

I am starting to get worried that our puppy is viewing our cat as a toy she can’t have, or maybe even a prey thing. She’s started locking in on her and will try to chase her, they even do a stare down between the two of them when our cat is out of reach.

I’m starting to feel really bad for our cat as her life has shifted so much, when our puppy is in the crate our cats come out and have a great time but the one immediately goes back into hiding while our boy cat is unbothered. We’ve had our puppy for almost 7months now and I thought there would be more progress.

I have gone back to leashing her while our cat is in the same area and I always reward her for being calm around the cats but this just doesn’t seem to be improving.

Our cats were here first and I would hate to rehome our puppy because of that but I feel like I am trying everything to make it a safe space for all of them. I really thought after almost 7 months they would be fine.

Ugh sorry this was so long but thanks for reading. Any advice on this situation??

Hello! I need some advice. I recently got a super sweet bernedoodle, and she has been doing great in almost all aspects of training (potty, leash, crate, etc) but my bf works from home and has been doing so at my place because she cannot be left alone. Anytime she can’t see one of us, especially while crated she loses her mind. I don’t wfh and am hoping to be able to leave her home while I work and come home for my hour lunch, but anytime I try training / practicing with her she barks so loud you can hear it from outside my apt complex. I’ve tried the following training: – walk away for short bursts and coming back – rewarding her in the crate when she is quiet – keeping her occupied with a frozen kong or chewy

So I need advice, should I continue the training and hope it eventually works, hope that her barking will settle after a bit, or something else?

Thank you all!!

Hello. My husband I got our first dog, a springer spaniel, 6 days ago. She is 8, almost 9, weeks old and we are currently in the crate training trenches. We have a crate that is covered and a small space appropriate for her size. Whenever she falls asleep, we put her in the crate so that way she knows that is where she sleeps and is a safe place. She does great with this during the day when we are home. The problem we are having is night. She can’t seem to be away from us without crying, whining, absolute squalling. It sounds like she is getting mauled. I don’t think it’s separation anxiety? Or maybe it is? She can be outside by herself just fine (I keep a close eye on her when she is by herself). Anyways, the breeder told us to put her in her crate, covered in a back room and let her cry is out for probably 2 nights. Me and my husband tried it and she cried nonstop for over an hour before we went in there. I feel like this would cause more damage than help? Am I right in thinking that or does the breeder have a good idea. Me and my husband have been present with the dog since we got her but we will both have to leave for our job in 3 days. My MIL can check on her mid day but I feel like I’m running out of time to prepare my pup for that. Any advice PLEASE!

Hello, this has probably been asked 1 million times, I have a five month puppy we’re having a ton of trouble potty training her. She’ll go to the door and sit to go to the bathroom but when we take her out for 30+ minute walks, she does nothing until we bring her inside and she immediately pees/poops on the carpet. Curious, if anybody else has had this issue/solutions anything helps.

Hey 👋 I just got a puppy and I was wondering if you guys can share some useful tips that you have learned. So far I have only had older dogs which were already trained so any help would be greatly appreciated

i’m getting a puppy soon and i’ve been reading this subreddit and all the puppy blues stories are slightly traumatising! what are some things you love about having your puppy/dog to remind me exactly why it’s worth it!

We adopted a now 6-month old Pomeranian. We live in an apartment, so we've been training him to use a potty pad, and he's done very well with it. He also gets a daily walk where he will occasionally pee.

However, he recently started to mark pee around the apartment. It's clearly a different behavior because he will mark pee and then minutes later walk to the pad and squat and pee. It's in different spots throughout the apartment.

Why is this? And is there a way to train this behavior to stop?

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.