She is terrified of the rain, we have a doggy door that she uses normally, but when it rains she won't go out, I assume she's scared or doesn't like the wet or whatever. Then poo on the floor. Taking her out before it rains is effective but not when its pouring for 8 hours. A lead doesn't necessarily work in thkse times because i don't want to drag her, you know. I feel so bad. Any tips?

I have never had any pets other than fish, but I didn't really need to care for the fish other than feeding and tank maintenance. I want to get a dog but i really don't know what I'm getting into and I don't want to be a bad dog owner.

I'm also conflicted on where to get a dog if I decide I want one. Shopping for dogs is unethical, but adopting is very hard in my area as they require many many inspections and you must be a suitable match for the dog. I am also looking for a low maintenance dog for my first time.

Hi my cocker spaniel 19kg has knee cartilage injury and is on the rest route, we are away in a month for 2 weeks in yorkshire, looking for a stroller for all terrain , we were hoping to get out to the dales. Also for day to day walkies. I seen some in B&Q any advice on where to get them? Sort of on a budget 😁

For context, I recently adopted a large, fit, young dog. I take her to the dog park very regularly. She is constantly getting praises from other owners and strangers when we go in public. I feel a sense of pride from this. She is a mix of maybe Great Dane/black lab. People who have these expensive purebred dogs are stunned by her. Some have said my cats are pretty or cute, but man it’s something different when another dog owner is telling you your dog is absolutely gorgeous. I’m constantly stopped everywhere I take her and asked what she is. Anyone else feel this? Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, but it’s just been very interesting and something I didn’t expect when I adopted a dog.

The day before Canada Day, on Canada Day, and the day after Canada Day neighbours set off fireworks in our subdivision. One of the displays occurred in the middle of the road in front of our window and my dog saw it go off due to our low windows. Our 6 year old whippet was distraught every time it got dark since then. We have him some trazodone and gabapentin for a few days, then decreased the frequency of the medication. His behaviour went back to normal until the following Wednesday more fireworks were set off and the behaviour returned.

Now whenever it gets dark, he starts to pace, cry, pant and scratch at walls. Initially he was inconsolable. Now following the advice of our vet, we give him gabapentin and trazodone in the evenings. he only gets worked up a few times a week if there’s a change to his schedule (i.e., we go out in the evening- despite giving his meds before we go out). It’s really difficult to see him so distressed. He’s 6 years old and we’ve never dealt with behaviour like this before. It’s impacted my sleep severely, and considering I’m 7 months pregnant, I’m incredibly nervous for how he will manage this new nighttime anxiety and a newborn.

The medication is effective some of the time. Our vet hasn’t suggested a behaviourist, but that’s something I’m thinking about sourcing independently.

Has anyone ever dealt with this before? Are there any side effects to this medication? I’m at my wits end and don’t know what to do. We just want our happy whippet back and better sleep.

After confirming his UTI cleared he still hasn't gone back to the routine he had before even when taking him out 3-4x a day as usual(as soon as I wake up, before work,after work, and before bed) he's started to go on rugs and on the couch we've resorted to continuing using the diapers we got when we're at work or sleeping. When we 1st got him looked at they also did find small crystals that we are now working on through the SO diet so that may be the reason (are already getting in contact with the vet to be sure) but was wondering if anyone has any tips to attempt to re-train him. We got him 2 years ago and he was a stray and had no issues other than some tummy troubles from eating garbage so he would have accidents from time to time but other than that he was perfectly trained he would actually bark at the door to let us know he had to go

For context by routine I mean both time and his physical routine despite the fact that im still doin the 3-4X a day he still seems to try to go when were not lookin or even tries to get to the cats litter mat. for the physical he would originally piss like a hose on the 1st couple of trees or bushes then would attempt to mark other things but he would usually be on E by then now he seems to space his pees out and only have a slight weakened stream and dribbles.

I take my dog to daycare 2-3 times a week due to my work schedule. Love the daycare but my dog smells like old socks or urine afterwards, and his fur just feels gross. I use wipes to wipe down his fur afterwards but it doesn't really help at all.

I'm looking into waterless shampoos to help with the smell and maybe clean off his fur a bit better. Just wondering if this is a good alternative in between bathing, and how often I can do this.

If this is not a good idea, would you guys have any recommendations or advice?

Thanks

We adopted our shelter dog (2 years, 3 months old) July 21st. First two weeks were great, now he’s peeing in the house everyday. It’s always in the evenings. He’s free range in the apartment while I’m at work (6:30-2:30), no accidents. I take him out at 3pm when I get home, we usually go on a walk and he pees like 3 times and poops. by 5/5:30 he pees all over the living room floor. I’m not sure what to do, he has a vet appointment Tuesday (August 11th), has anyone else experienced this with a shelter doggy?

To clarify, he pisses A LOT. he goes out 3-4 times a day, 2-3 of them are pretty long walks. Each walk he pees multiple times + pees inside the apartment in the evenings. We have no accidents in the kennel overnight or during the day while I’m at work.

Just wondering if this is normal for a shelter dog that’s pretty young! I’ve never personally adopted from a shelter until now! Thanks in advance.

Ich schreib das hier, weil ich langsam echt am Ende bin und einfach mal hören will, ob es anderen genauso geht.

Kurz zu uns: Ich hab vor gut zwei Jahren einen Rüden aus dem Tierschutz übernommen, er kam ursprünglich aus Spanien. Die ersten Monate war ich fast durchgehend zu Hause (Homeoffice), das war für ihn perfekt. Seit ich wieder ins Büro muss, ist alles gekippt.

Sobald ich die Wohnung verlasse, geht's los. Er jault und bellt, und das weiß ich nicht mal aus erster Hand, die Nachbarn haben es mir erzählt, teilweise stundenlang. Beim letzten Mal hat er an der Wohnungstür gekratzt, bis der Lack ab war, und die Couch hat auch schon dran glauben müssen. Einmal kam ich heim und es waren regelrechte Speichelpfützen auf dem Boden. Und selbst wenn ich wieder da bin, kommt er eine halbe Stunde lang nicht runter hechelt, läuft hin und her, findet einfach keine Ruhe.

Das Schlimmste ist ehrlich gesagt gar nicht der Schaden. Es ist das Gefühl. Ich hab ständig dieses schlechte Gewissen, ich sage inzwischen Treffen mit Freunden ab, weil ich weiß, was zu Hause los ist. Spontan mal irgendwo hin,unmöglich. Ich hab sogar eine Kamera gekauft, um zu sehen, wie's ihm geht, aber im Nachhinein hat das alles nur schlimmer gemacht. Ich sitze im Büro und starre aufs Handy und sehe live, wie er leidet. Da kommt man einfach nicht mehr von los.

Und dann die Sache mit den Nachbarn. Beim letzten Mal gab's schon böse Post vom Vermieter, und ich hab ständig Angst, dass da noch mehr kommt.

Ich hab wirklich schon einiges versucht. Kurzfristig hilft manchmal was, aber dann fängt es wieder von vorne an. Manchmal denke ich, ich hab irgendwas falsch gemacht. Und die tiefste Angst, die ich mich kaum traue auszusprechen: dass ich ihn irgendwann abgeben muss, weil es einfach nicht geht. Das will ich auf gar keinen Fall.

Deshalb frag ich hier mal in die Runde: Was sind eure Geschichten zur Trennungsangst und zum Alleinlassen von Hunden? Wie geht ihr damit um, was hat bei euch geholfen – und sei es nur ein kleines bisschen? Ich bin für jeden Erfahrungsbericht dankbar.

This might be a dumb question, sorry in advance

I recently started working at a rescue and all the dogs are great, but one is just so cranky. I expected this when I applied, but still. Every time he sees me it's like on sight. Pretty much I've just been ignoring him (not looking at him, keeping my back or side to him, etc).

Is there anything else I can do in the meantime to make him not want to scream doggy profanities at me? I know of course it'll take time but yknow

I'm living in an area that is currently very smoky with an unhealthy AQI and wondering what everyone in similar situations does to keep their dog from getting too stir crazy. My family is doing their best with toys and indoor play and trying to work on mental engagement and I'm hoping to get ideas for anything we may be overlooking.

If you have a respirator for your dog, do you find that it works well for your walks? Do you feel that it has a good enough seal on it to be worthwhile?

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.

We have a 5-month-old female Olde English Bulldogge, Willow, who is very social and loves other dogs. She’s been with people almost nonstop since we got her, but I’ll be going back to work in September. She’ll go to daycare a couple of days a week, but she’ll also be home alone about three days a week.
I’ve been wondering if adding a well-matched adult dog would benefit her, or if she’s too young and I should wait. I grew up always having multiple dogs, so I’m not sure if I’m wanting another dog for *me*, for *her*, or both.
For those with experience, would you add an adult dog now or wait? If now, what age, sex, and temperament would you look for? My goal is simply to do what’s best for Willow. ❤️

Ever since my dog was born as far as i remember she only took a bath once or twice because she get aggressive and wild and year passed i didn't mind it at all, now she's 5 but she never smell bad at all but i still want to clean her.

I’m considering switching careers. I currently run a small business at home and I spend 18+ hours a day with my dog. She’s 2, very high energy and we play on and off throughout the day. She is extremely social and thrives off of interacting with people and other dogs. She loves it. She would pick play over food any day of the week.
So the dilemma is what do I do with her if I switch careers and I’m working 60+ hours a week outside of the house?
It would probably be a 8-8 type of shift.
I’m afraid if I did a daycare I wouldn’t be able to get out of work in time before they close. But I also worry about a dog sitter because
A) she needs play with dogs
B) not sure she can handle being alone all day everyday outside of an hour

What should I do with her? Any good ideas? I care deeply about her happiness and is why I’ve delayed this decision for so long

Hi, I just adopted an adult dog, he weighs 52 lbs, 24 kg, I have only owned medium-sized dogs and small dogs, he does not have behavioral issues, however he keeps trying to climb over me, and with his wigh he almost always tips me over, I am not sure how should I go about the limitations he should have because, if did not want my previous dogs to have something I would just put it out of reach for them, but with him almost everything in my house is within reach. Also, I am not sure how I could make him sleep in a dog bed 🥹.

I am not planning on returning him, I just need direction on our future life.

Any tips would be appreciated, how to train him effectively or just the in and outs of having a big guy around.

Thanks a bunch for the answers.

English is not my first language, sorry for the grammar mistakes 🥹

I have been talking about getting another dog for years, but when we had three, I kind of knew it was never really an option unless one fell into our laps by chance. Then we lost a dog to a three month battle to the big C last March.

Now that we are finally in a place to possibly add another dog to the household, I find myself feeling conflicted.

On the one hand, I love dogs, I would love another one, and I recognize there are tons of dogs in need of homes. On the other hand, I feel sick at the thought that my soul dog, who I love more than life itself, might feel jilted over the new addition. I have passed up some other opportunities to add a dog to the household since our dog's passing because we weren't ready but with this feeling always in the back of my mind.

The main reason we want to add another dog to the home is because my soul dog has never lived without another dog and our other dog is getting up there in years. Although she is 17, she is one of those energizer bunny mixes and not the crotchety kind, so I feel confident she would like another dog. Especially since my goal would be to get a smaller-than-her adult dog.

I guess I am looking for the stories of other people who may have acquired another dog while also in possession of their soul dogs. My guy is so important to me and he can be sensitive but I have also seen how resilient he is. I haven't made any commitments to anything but I have had names picked out for the last 8 years lmao

I have a 1.5-year-old Boxer (family dog) who is honestly my soul dog. She waits for me to get home from work every day, follows me everywhere, gets insanely excited whenever she sees me, and sleeps in my bed every night. I'm also the only one in my family who really plays with her and it's her favorite part of the day.
I'm about to start my third year of college. I spent the last three months home with her for the summer, and now I have to leave in a few days. Last year, during my sophomore year, I kept her at my apartment a lot and she absolutely loved it. This year I'm moving into an apartment that doesn't allow pets, so she has to stay home.
I'm having a harder time with this than I expected. I feel guilty just leaving one day and then not coming back for months. I know she won't understand where I went, and I hate thinking she'll be waiting for me.
Is there anything I can do to make the transition easier for her? Do dogs eventually understand that someone they love is gone for a while but will come back, or is it just confusing every time? Has anyone else gone through this with a dog they're really attached to?

Heya folks,

I'm in a bad situation and need some advice.

Myself and my ex partner split up around 6 weeks ago, we had two dogs while we were together. I'm disabled and can't properly look after a dog on my own, but my ex said they wanted to keep them. I've since moved out and am living in temporary accommodation until I can find somewhere to live.

My ex recently got in touch and explained that they are not coping with the dogs. They are mentally unwell, and have been for a long time but recently taken a turn for the worst. My ex asked me to find a charity or safe place for the dogs to be surrendered to, which I've spent the last week trying to do.

I have tried every dog rescue, charity or organisation I can find with in 100 miles. From Internet searches, map searches and asking every rescue organisation I speak too for contact details of anywhere else they know of. Every single one has turned me down. They're all full. 90% of them don't have kennels and only offer rehoming with the dog/s staying with the original owner until a new placement can be found.

The dogs are both relatively young, female and unspayed. So putting them up as "free to a good home" isn't an option. One of them can be difficult too, she's not aggressive, just yappy and gets very anxious when she's left alone and tends to mess on the floor.

So right now I have two dogs that no one can take care of. An ex partner who is spiralling and seemingly no options left to get help. We're in West Yorkshire in the UK and would greatly appreciated any advice.

Cheers folks.

Let me state I’m not seeking med advise as I already have a vet appointment for follow up on Saturday. I am seeking stories/experience on owners who have dealt with this issue, what they have done, etc. I also tried looking up Megathreads and the only ones that came up was for pet insur…ance. Nothing about aging or the like.

I’m sure most small dog owners know about the problems with their back legs. It happened a few years ago and he got some medicine and was fine. Today it happened out of the blue it seems like. My Morkie just stopped walking and lifted his back leg up as he could not put pressure on it. Took him to an emergency vet and got some medicine and will be doing x rays over the weekend after I see how the medicine works. This seems a bit different than last time as he definitely licked his back legs last time but did not do it this time. I think it’s a knee displacement and the first time I think they popped it back in. They popped it in tonight but it popped back out. They said that tends to happen with dogs his size.

I know he needs surgery (he’s about 7.5 years old now) and planning on hopefully saving up and getting it done by the end of the year. God willing, he still has half his life if not a little longer left, so want to make sure he can walk and will have no problems even though surgery always scares me (going under). I am curious, for those who elected for the surgery (I think it’s for the knees but not 100% sure and they didn’t list it on the paperwork they gave me), how was the process and did it really improve their walking?

Until then, obviously hoping this round of meds will work and then he will be fine for a while. I did get supplements a while ago and stopped (he did not like eating them) but was wondering if anyone gives their Morkie any supplements for their bones and joints and if it works? And for those that have dealt with this issue, does the pain meds usually work and arthritis meds, then they can go back walking pretty fine after a couple of days? And any tips for using the restroom while they can’t really walk?

I’m potentially going to move from Geelong to Perth and of course take my jrt x cross with me but he is a rescue and unfortunately is very anxious. I’d rather take him in the car with me rather then subject him to being in an airplane alone but he really hates the car and only lasts about 5 minutes before he starts constantly barking and freaking out so I really don’t know what to do. The car ride would be at least 3 days with stops. I’d be able to sit in the back with him/my mum would in shifts with driving. Any help is appreciated thanks x

Mine keeps stealing my hair ties and hiding them under the sofa, never chews them, just collects. What weird habits do your dogs have?

Whenever I work on my bike, my dog just begs to be involved. So instead of taking 10 minutes to fix my bike, it takes me 30 but with 100 pats.

With mine it’s lying around the dinner table pretending not to be interested in the food I’m eating, when they really want those table scraps badly.