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We’ve had this sweet boy for 2 months now and I feel like we keep moving backwards with the crate. We really just want to crate while we leave the house, but he’s peeing every time. I’ve shrunk the size of the crate, added his favorite toys and treats, played calming music, and spent a few hours just sitting in front of it placing treats in and letting him walking in naturally and rewarding him when he stays. I’m not getting anywhere and I feel completely stuck at home forever because I can’t keep bathing or wiping him down every day covered in pee. We have no house accidents and he sleeps from 8 pm to 6 am each night no problem, but he is sleeping in our bed (my choice and I don’t need/want that to change).

Whenever a puppy blues post comes through here, I remind people to lower their expectations. Dogs are just babies, and not always going to get things right. When we got our GSD about 4 months ago, I set a rule for myself that I wouldn't expect more of her than she had proven capable of.

It started off great, she was a chill puppy, picked up training and routine so fast, breezed through the beginner level dog training we put her in. She's now 8 months old, and definitely hitting her teenage stride. Suddenly she doesnt know how to walk on a leash, jumps, paws, mouths, all the behaviors we thought she learned so fast. I admit, I got frustrated, she knew all this already, and now we're back to BEFORE square one!

Last night, in the wee hours, with my wife sound asleep beside me, and my mind spiraling over having to take her for her morning walk in a few hours, I thought "well, if we're back at the beginning, ill just have to train like we're back at the beginning."

And so I did. Our morning walk was done like our first one. Stopping when she pulled, guiding her back in position, carrying on. It took a good 5-10 repetitions, but then, she got it. She was walking like she knew what she was doing again. Then at lunch, I took her to a pet store, set her up in an aisle that didnt have anything too distracting, but still faced the main walkway, and we stood. When she sat, she got a treat and praise, when she turned back to me, treat and praise. Over the course of about 15 minutes, she went from pulling so hard her feel scrambled on the concrete, and acting like I wasn't even there, to sitting at my feet and paying more attention to me than most anything else.

I came home feeling silly. I had done exactly what I said I wouldn't. I was expecting adult behavior out of my teenage dog. She did know how to behave, but needed to be reminded, and have that boundary reinforced.

So to those of you out there struggling with a teenage dog who's forgotten everything, meet them where theyre at. If they need to start over from the beginning again, we start over from the beginning.

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.

Which pet insurance is best for you? Are there any that may cover your dog's current treatment? Did your dog get injured during the waiting period and want to know if you're covered?

Here's the place to ask.

Do know we cannot help you here with medical concerns, and lying or not disclosing things to the insurance company is illegal so we don't allow that either.

I hope you have advice because I’m out of ideas. I have a 3 year old rescue (they say he’s a foxhound/boarder collie mix, but I don’t know for sure). The first 6 months we had him he shedded a tiny bit but not much. The last 2 years his hair has gotten totally out of control. We give him a bath weekly, take him to be given a deshedding treatment at least once a month, and we give him decently quality food (hills). We have a roomba that runs daily and we STILL cannot stay on top of the hair. Within hours of lint rolling our couch it’s covered.

I understand that in having a shedding dog hair comes with the territory. But I truly feel embarrassed thag my clothes are truly covered in hair if I sit after he’s been sitting on the couch, or even just walking across the floor my socks are covered (despite the roomba).

Is there anything else we can do? I’ve seen some people say salmon oil helps.

I recognize this post may sound a little crazy..but if you saw the amount of hair around my house you’d get it – ha.

I was reading a story recently about a dog owner who switched vets, only to realize the old vet hadn't transferred the records correctly. In an emergency, they didn't know the dog's history with anesthesia.

It made me realize I rely way too much on my vet's internal system. If their system goes down, or they close, I have nothing.

Do you guys keep a digital "Drive" for your dog's records? I'm trying to move away from the chaotic folder of papers in my drawer to something digital and accessible on my phone.

Does anyone have a good system for digitizing this stuff so it's shareable in an emergency?

Hey everyone, I am looking at starting my own dog training business. I have worked as a full time dog trainer for the past 5 years training obedience and competitive retrievers for AKC hunt tests. I am working for a kennel right now. Love training dogs do not love my coworkers and employers. Currently schedule is 6am – 7pm, 6 days a week. Making just over 4k a month before taxes. So wanting to try on my own. I know a lot of the behind the scenes at the kennel. The number one reason people do not send their dog into training is price and spending time away from their dog. The 4 week Obedience program is $2800, on leash is $1800. I had the idea to either day train out of my house. (drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon) or drive to peoples homes and do one on one lessons. Is this something you think people would be interested in or have ideas. / what would you be willing to pay for these services?

My puppy is extremely skittish. He’s gotten a lot better with certain things but he’s still really scared of people (aside from me and my family) And other dogs occasionally but he seems much more comfortable around dogs than strangers. I’ve been taking him to doggy daycare every now and then to try to socialize him, but today when I dropped him off he was shaking like a leaf and I felt so bad… This was the 4th time I’ve taken him and I hope I’m not making things worse.