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I’m going to getting a new puppy very soon and this will be my first dog ever. I’m very excited!

I see a lot of posts about potty training and having puppy potty train outside. I want to potty train my new puppy outside but in a safe environment. My apartment has a small back area that is fenced which is next to grass area with a sidewalk where people walk their dogs but not too close, pretty good distance. It is also next to the Main Street where I live. Pic of back area: https://imgur.com/a/xvp5FUd

If I were to put a pad in the back area and have the puppy go potty there every time, do you guys think the puppy will associate the area as “outside” or "going potty outside"? I’m thinking it will but wanted to confirm my logic. It will also benefit with socialization with getting use to the sounds of people, car driving by and etc.

Please let me know your opinions/tips on this!

We are about to get our new lab in 2 days. I have not owned a dog since I was a kid, decades ago. My wife cared for a family dog until it passed a few years ago.

I’ve read a lot of great advice in this forum so far. I have a bit of confusion about where to place a crate and spatial restrictions for the puppy, and also time issues.

(1) I read a number of suggestions about the crate in our bedroom. Our house is not large and I doubt it would fit in our bedroom. I was planning to keep the puppy in the main room – which serves as a living room / dining room, and there’s also an entry area and galley kitchen (again, not big!). All of that space is connected without doors. We have close friends who have a dog, and their crate is also in the family room space, despite their house being 2x as big.

Is this reasonable? But then will it get lonely sleeping alone? I liked some suggestions of sleeping on the floor next to the crate for the 1st week. I currently have an issue – I had surgery myself recently and cannot even sleep in my own bed, I have to sleep in a reclining chair in my main room. Will this be good enough? Should I move the crate next to the chair? Could it be later moved back to the place I planned, which is not I next to the chair? Or will that be confusing to move the crate around?

(2) general spaces – should the puppy be allowed in the bathroom? We have a good sized yard and own our house. I have not yet put in an enclosed fence. We have the leash (the harness kind, puppy size), should we just use the leash each time for the bathroom breaks until the fence is finished? Or can anyone recommend a temporary enclosure? How much room does a young puppy need to run around – like literally, square foot recommendation? I could just buy some plastic garden fencing in a roll and wrap it around trees? (I would not leave it unattended in such an enclosure)

(3) timing issues – good toys for keeping her occupied? I saw a nice suggestion for taking a week off to be with the puppy. While fine for those who can, that is not feasible with many modern jobs. Like, my wife can only take time off if she finds her own coverage, certainly a week would be basically impossible. I work from home so will be default with the puppy – but I can’t just ignore my job. I certainly can have flexibility, with breaks to play while the puppy is awake, can even work outside, but it would be good to get toy suggestions that might help. We do not have other pets.

What are other people doing who are working age? Interestingly, my wife’s boss seems open to allowing the puppy at work – odd as this may seem – the boss brings their own dog. Obviously this couldn’t happen until after full vaccination.

I adopted a dog from Costa Rica and am trying to get him to the US. He’s a little dog but could be nearing the requirements of being too big to be under the seat. I am hoping he can fit under the seat in a carrier but need to know what airline is the best and most likely to allow a dog. Everything I’ve read has been hit or miss no matter the airline and I’m nervous to commit to one and her turned away. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My dog ​​is very happy spinning his tail in circles, curious about the reason for this.

I need to travel with my Aussie (55-60 lbs) from new Orleans to salt lake city. In trying to figure out which airlines will accept dogs his size at all but I’m looking at only alaskan airlines so far. Are there really no other airlines that take medium dogs? He’s not a service dog at all so i cannot take him in cabin. Does anyone have any recommendations that aren’t $5k ?

I’m trying to put my 12 week old Norwich terrier on a feeding schedule in hopes that this will help with potty training. I just got him from his breeders so I think there’s definitely an adjustment going on. Right now, when I put food in front of him (3x a day, 1/4 cup of kibble each time), he’ll sometimes just take a sniff and ignore it. He will then go back to it sporadically over a long period of time, at which point he will finally finish the serving. Then it starts all over again! At one point do I declare this mealtime “over” and empty the bowl, then serve his next meal a few hours later? At this current rate there’s basically food in his bowl 24/7 and I can never predict his potty times. Thanks!

Hello! We have a 6 month old puppy who loves nothing more than to gnaw on something. When he was teething, we got one of the large puppy Nylabones that was a HIT. He went to town and we would just occasionally trim any pieces that looked close to falling off. Since he got his adult teeth, we have tried all sorts of options, but he is uninterested in the safe ones or completely destroys them. I am aware that no chew is truly safe, we just want options that limit the potential teeth cracking or blockages, etc.

Here is a pic of some of the options we've tried so far (as well as puppy tax). Anyone have any suggestions based on what he seems to like?

1. Puppy Nylabone- The beloved. We got him a new one once he got his big boy teeth and he started ripping chunks off within minutes so it was immediately confiscated.
2. Moving ball- He LOVES this thing. He doesn't want it turned on, he just wants to sit and gnaw on it. Idk how long this will last, but so far, he hasn't broken any chunks off.
3. Deer Antler- He would go to town on this as long as we would let him. The problem is he immediately found a way to break pieces off. Also read a lot of warnings of dogs breaking teeth on them. Unsure if this is a safe option for a young dog.
4. Attempted rubber alternative for the blue ball- He hates it. Wants nothing to do with it. Tried putting treats in it, but he ate the treats and lost interest.
5. Playology Beef Flavored Crunch Bone- Not interested at all. Tried again with treats/peanut butter but he lost interest after the snack was gone.
6. Rubber bone- No interest
7. Puppy Teething Toy- Shockingly long lasting. Way too small for him at this point but he does love to chew on it.
8. Classic Kong- Again, only interested until the treats are gone.

Other things we've tried:

• Himalayan Yak Chews- Lasted about 3 minutes
• Bully Sticks- Lasted about 30 seconds
• Frozen Rags- Lasted for a while, but eventually uninterested.
• Ropes- These last a while but we have to dispose of them as soon as he starts breaking strings loose.
• Sticks- We actively try to prevent this, but he will absolutely DESTROY a stick if he finds it and then vomits up the pieces the next morning. Not fun and definitely to be avoided.

Thankful for any and all suggestions or warnings!

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone had good experience training dogs out of chewing behaviors. I have a 9 month old mutt that will try to chew most things- blankets, towels, clothes, an old couch, etc. this is all when we are with her, she is rarely left alone, we have had her since she was 4 months old and she’s been doing this since we got her. I wouldn’t mind if she had a few of her own blankets and toys to destroy, the issues is that she chews and swallows these items, making me afraid that she is going to cause issues for herself. I want to redirect her to something else but I’m afraid whatever I redirect her to she will also attempt to eat. Anyone deal with something similar and have any strategies that were useful? Don’t want to punish her for a natural instinct, just want to keep her safe. Thank you!