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My dog is a Collie/Miniature poodle. We live on a farm so she gets lots of exercise and despite a few issues (slight guarding/dominant behaviours), she's overall a lovely, well behaved and very intelligent dog. What I need help on is how to deal with people leaving in all circumstances. When people (predominantly me and my partner) leave she barks, jumps and runs around, and now worryingly has started nipping at people. It happens if she thinks we are leaving the house, getting out of the car, leaving her with other people, picking up keys or putting on shoes etc. All the advice I've read teaches about separation anxiety but this doesn't really cover it. She's actually pretty good at being on her own on the rare occasion that we have to leave her alone for a couple of hours. It's just the moment you leave. Any advice on teaching her not to go absolutely bonkers before we have to get professional training. Thanks 🙂

I got my mixed Lab back during COVID, when everything was shut down and I was living and working from my parents’ house. We went through all the usual puppy stuff — hated the crate at first, eventually tolerated it, and for the past three years he’s been totally fine out of it.

Fast-forward to now: I just moved out on my own and brought him with me. Since then, he’s been showing a ton of anxious behavior. On a dog trainer’s advice, I got a crate for the new house, but he absolutely hates it. He cries the entire time he’s in there and it takes about 30 minutes just to get him back inside after I let him out. Even when he’s out of the crate, he just seems unsettled.

Unfortunately, I work a typical 8–4:30 job, so I don’t have much choice but to crate him while I’m gone. I do come home at lunch to let him out for about 20 minutes.

Today we tried prescription anxiety meds (from the vet) and played some quiet soundscapes, but he still cried most of the day. I’m hoping not to rely on the medication long-term — he’s a big guy and needs three pills per dose, which adds up fast.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel for us? Should I stop using the crate if it’s causing this much distress? I’d really appreciate any advice or reassurance from people who’ve gone through something similar.

I love my little 15 week puppy so much but I miss my nights with my husband and not having that extra responsible. We don’t have kids so this is all so new to us. Just crying on the couch while my puppy is whining in the crate. This to shall pass!

Just venting. I still don’t regret my decision of getting him. Puppy life is just hard.

We just brought home a beautiful 8 week old cockapoo.

The next 4 months or so will involve a lot of me walking outside early before sunrise in frigid temps and I am not all that tolerant of cold temps. We live in Indy.

What are your tips or favorite gear for staying warm in the deep winter?

My husband and I notice that our dog (male) acts different when one of us is not around.

The other night, I had to be out of town, and my hubby said that our dog just stayed in his crate, didn’t have appetite, and wasn’t drinking as much. He also didn’t wanna play. Just seemed sad!

I also noticed that when my husband leaves the house and it’s just me and the dog, that our dog acts the same way – just goes to his crate, doesn’t want to play or even be near me.

When both of us are around – he’s all good! Hangs out w us in the living room, lots of energy

Anyone had this happen?

I have a 11 year old black lab (12 in jan) who has over the past 2/3 years become scared of being outside mostly due to fireworks every bonfire night.

After this years bonfire night she was outside when a firework close by went off and ever since then she will absolutely not go outside at all.

There’s nothing we can do we have tried most of the “usual” things to get her to come outside on her own but she just completely refuses. So I have to forcefully take her outside (usually picking her up) which I don’t want to do because I know it won’t help her fear but I have no choice because she will do the toilet inside, which she’s never done before. This is also a problem because my mum can’t take her out unless I’m home as she can’t pick her up

We will probably end up at the vets but I’m not too hopeful about what they’ll be able to do

I have never seen a dog this scared in my life never mind my dog

I am quite aware that this is probably the beginning of the end for her. I just really don’t want it to end with her being in constant fear and not even being able to enjoy being outside

So if anyone has any advice at all in any shape or form I’d be very much appreciated

4 month old poodle. So smart and learns just about anything very quickly, BUT he just won’t 💩 outside. I’ll put him in his crate whenever I’m away or have to do something, as well as on a regular schedule in the morning routine, then immediately take him out. I take him out every couple of hours throughout the day, sometimes for a half hour or more play, and my wife and kids walk him twice a day. Often he will pee then, but never 💩.

It seems no matter how much time we spend outside he holds it until we’re inside to go. He’s also very sneaky -and fast- and waits until your back is turned. He had been consistently going on an astroturf mat, but when we moved that by the back door it’s been hit or miss with that. If we do catch him in the act we’ll snatch him up and run him to the door, mid poop sometimes, but there’s never been an opportunity to praise him with treats,etc. because his business is always done before he connects with the earth. I should add that we don’t punish him in any way. We just ignore him when he misbehaves and praise him when he’s good, which is most of the time. Such a sweet boy.

I guess at 4 months it may be too much to expect, but he learns everything else in like 2 minutes.. It’s kind of hilarious in one way, but awful in every other.

Any suggestions?

So I’ve always relied on a heavy assortment of chews for my dog. He’s a year old in a week! But as he’s gotten stronger, hes ripping ears, bully sticks, etc. apart and trying to swallow half of it. Sometimes half of the soft bully stick will be down his throat and he’s working on the hard upper 1/2 of it. It takes him 5 min to do this

I’ve phased out: beef cheek rolls (doesn’t hold his interest), yak chews (doesn’t like them or when I use the microwave), duck feet, pig feet (awful shits), beef trachea, bully sticks, braided collagen sticks (he unravels it and swallows). The last thing I had were ears😭

I just got him a water buffalo ear from Lowe’s and literally fished something out of this throat within 5 min. So that’s done

The kicker is that he’s a 8 lb mini poodle 😂 I would love to do an antler but I’ve heard they can chip teeth and his teeth are tiny.

Also he has the most sensitive stomach. One tiny shred of cheese will give him diarrhea for a week. Something high in fat is a no go

Any ideas on what to give him as a long lasting treat/chew?? Toppls are used for meals. I’m just running out of ideas! Thank you!!