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Hi! I think what I need most right now is peer support and maybe personal experiences about puppy blues and/or possibly rehoming a dog. I know I’ve made many mistakes, and I hope for kind comments—I’m already extremely anxious, but I want to be brutally honest about this situation. 😞 I also want to mention that despite everything, the dog is doing well and is not suffering.

My partner and I brought home a puppy at the end of the year, and now he is already 5 months old. He is an active primitive breed (not a husky!). My husband had wanted a dog for years, and I feel like we thought about it for a long time before deciding that the timing was right. Looking back, though, we still moved too fast—that was the first mistake. We had planned many hobbies to do with the dog, and although we are generally active and outdoorsy people, I STUPIDLY thought that an active dog would make us even more active—that was the second mistake. The idea was that my husband would take primary responsibility for the dog.

As soon as the puppy arrived, I experienced very intense puppy blues that I hadn’t been prepared for. The situation was made worse by the fact that the puppy barely slept at all, and I became seriously ill myself, so I had no energy whatsoever. We got through the worst of it, and for a while things were going well. The puppy learned quickly, and I feel we did a good job with basic training from an early age, which I’m proud of, especially since this is traditionally a harder-to-motivate breed and our first dog. However, new problems began to appear: quite suddenly, just before 4 months of age, the puppy developed separation anxiety, even though being alone had initially gone very well. On top of that, he still chases our cat, and we constantly have to keep them separated. Training has not brought success in this area. The breeder had accustomed the puppies to cats, but living peacefully with our cat has not worked out.

At the same time, my work and study stress increased significantly, and I noticed that my partner’s interest in the dog began to collapse, even though it was originally supposed to be his project. This led to major relationship conflicts. Things are better now, but most of the responsibility for the dog has shifted to me. I have a history of anxiety and depression (+ ADD), and even though I thought I was on “stable ground,” I now find myself constantly anxious and exhausted.

So the situation is this: I have a growing, super-energetic young dog with separation anxiety, and I am largely responsible for him while also struggling significantly with my own mental health. Even though I’ve grown attached to the dog and am trying to provide the best possible life for him, I am completely drained and constantly anxious, and I deeply regret getting a dog. 😭 I also feel immense guilt for putting an innocent dog in this situation and clearly not thinking the breed—or having a dog in general—through carefully enough (of course, I also didn’t expect that exercising and activating the dog would mainly fall on me). In addition, with my studies (medicine) and work, I don’t have the possibility to be home constantly with a dog who has separation anxiety, nor do I really have the money to hire a sitter all the time—they are extremely expensive here. Our cat is clearly suffering as well, having to hide from the dog while we constantly divide up their territories.

I’m not exactly sure what I hope to achieve by writing this—maybe some kind of peer support about rehoming a dog or about keeping an active dog while dealing with mental health challenges. Maybe some advice on separation anxiety or helping a dog adjust to a cat. Or even just some kind words in general, because I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt this exhausted. Thank you, and I’m sorry! 🫶🏼

Been searching for a reputable breeder of English Cockers for about a year now and I’m hitting a lot of dead ends. Breed club breeders just are not responding to me or have websites that look like they haven’t been updated in years. But I’ve seen a lot about scams on AKC marketplace, FB marketplace, etc., so it’s a bit concerning looking elsewhere. This is my first time going to a breeder so I’d really like to do it the right way.

I found a few English Cocker Good Dog breeders but the reviews of the app have me lost. It seems like a helpful community for people looking for a rare breed puppy or just looking for a starting point but I’m curious if I can get any firsthand experiences from y’all because there are a lot of good and not so good reviews out there.

I’m looking for following recommendations for equipment for my 20 lb 9 month old working-breed rescue!

Probably the most important thing to note is that she is a big chewer and will destroy anything within minutes. My home trainer was even impressed with how persistent my pup can be when she wants to chew….

All of these were suggested by my home trainer who is a CCPDT and IAABC!

– A short leash to tether her to the door for timeouts

– A medium/long lead line for sniffaris (looking for more of a happy medium here because my gal eats rabbit poo! I need to keep her close enough to redirect her from poo)

– Flirt pole (could make my own, but would like suggestions on rope and attachments for the prey that will withstand chewing. Going to not allow chewing on flirt pole but want a sturdy start while we learn)

– Lick mats (I’m thinking these will be used under supervision only, but still looking for maybe a sturdier lick mat just incase)

– Bonus: your fav reflective gear for walks!

I bought 3 mini schnauzer puppies last summer. 1 had to go back bc of being crazy. 1 died this weekend. And I have 1 left. AMA

Yesterday we brought home a 3 month old Anatolian/Pyrenees (He's already knee high!) from a rural farm to the middle of a smallish town. He was mostly outdoors with livestock, but otherwise well socialized and friendly. The 2.5 hour drive home was his first car ride. He was anxious, but calm. He's been pretty anxious since leaving his old home- completely different environment here.

Since we got him home last night I've had to literally carry him through the door inside and out every time. He refuses to do it on his own. Normally I'd think take it slow, let him figure it out on his own, but he's had a couple accidents inside because of it, and has found his way through the fence a couple times too. So can't leave him inside or out unsupervised at all. We do have a cat who's still unhappy about the new family member, and it likes to stand around hissing at him.

As soon as I can figure out where he's getting through I'll mend the fence (supplies on hand already). Accidents, we spot him, and just drag him out the backdoor- kicking and whimpering the whole time- and clean up the mess. This makes him more anxious, and he takes a while to calm down enough to finish.

I'll be feeding him outside morning and afternoon- at least for now- so he learns there's good things about going in and out. We've tried coaxing him with training treats, but he's not interested in them.

I know it takes time- not our first dog- but this is a new problem for me. I'd love to hear what other suggestions folks have. I'm a disabled veteran with PTSD, and was hoping to join a program this summer that'll help me train him as a service dog. He did great when I went to meet him, but now I'm wondering if he's actually a good candidate.

Thanks for any help or support!

Is there a way we can deter the puppy from pooping under the bed while not completely restricting access for the older dog?

Thanks!

I moved across the country a few months ago and my dog has since been a different dog entirely. She used to be the biggest sweetheart, got along with everyone, no matter what kind of creature it was. Ever since we got here, she grows at everything for no discernable reason. My other pets can't get near her and she is even growly with people.

I have taken her to the vet, nothing is wrong. I have increased her exercise and bought her a bunch of mentally stimulating toys. I don't think it's resource guarding because it isn't consistent at all. There was nothing traumatic about the move at all, and she has had a few months to settle in, so I'm not sure why that would be an issue.

I'm so lost and scared–I don't know what to do.

He is 3.5 years old, we’ve had him for 2.5 years. He’s very well behaved, and generally a very clean dog. He has been to my parents house at least a dozen times, but two out of the last three times he intentionally rolled around in his own poop! Yuck!

Any ideas why he might be doing this, and how to stop him? He gets lots of love and attention when he is over there, as well as at home. Gets daily walks, lots of food and love.

He will sometimes be there while I’m at the Parents just visiting, and he’ll sometimes be there if we’re going to be out for a long day and didn’t want him to be alone. It has happened once on each of those two types of visits.

Hi! So my dog is a pocket American bulldog that is 5 years old. He is neutered, and has also been a ESA animal for 2 years. I’ve done tons of training with him including 1:1, group classes and in home visits. He is wonderful in the home, doesn’t bark, sleeps all day, and just walks around. I’ve never had a problem with him barking or lunging at dogs until a few months ago.

I had my friend move in to my apartment with her golden retriever who is 1 year old. I took them both to the dog park, which normally is fine. But my dog started growling and scaring the other dog. I thought it was maybe a 1 time situation. But now whenever there’s a fence in between him and another dog or a dog is to close to him he begins to growl and 1 time he has lunged.

I’ve never seen him do this and so I worked on training, and having him go on more frequent walks where he just sits and waits watching the other dogs pass. He normally is great but even without the golden retriever around he is still growling and pulling on my leash which never has been an issue before.

My vet said he is cleared medically and nothing is wrong with him.

So can someone give me tips of how to train him so I can stop this behavior before it gets worse?

Me and my girfriend moved in to a new apartment few months back and she owns the terrier who is 5 yrs old now. I've never lived with a dog, I've owned a cat for 15 years so lots of stuff were pretty new to me. I had to learn many things which I applied with great success, there's still lot to learn but there is steady progress every few days.

The main issue we have at this point is that at night, and only at night, it's as if he's only waiting for an opportunity to bite me. We had few situations like this already like I would sit calmly on my chair, maybe on my laptop or phone and the dog would be either asleep or just laying down. As soon as I would make even the slightest noise or movement, for example closing the laptop or getting up, there he is lunging at me.

During daytime he's pretty good, playful, submissive if told, quite normal behaviour.

Any idea what could be causing this behaviour?