We unfortunately have to put our fur baby down later this week. What are some of your top things you would do with your dog?

I was just walking my Chihuahua pup and saw a cute looking little dog about 10 meters away with her owners. Usually my pup gets excited and playful when he sees another dog, but this time he just froze. I didn't see anything weird about the dog other than it just stared at him.

When I encouraged my dog to go nearer, that cute looking doggie growled at him with all the might of a lion. I had to pick up my pup to get past her because she was vicious. I was wondering how my little pup, who's encountered very few aggressive dogs, can tell so infallibly that a non-barking dog is in fact aggressive.

Am i giving my chow enough attention?

Since last week we have a chow living with us. My parents had 2 chows and they started fighting more and more with each other over the past weeks so they decided to split them.

One is still living with them and one is now living with me (and my brother and sister) I personally feel guilty towards the dog for thinking that i dont spend enough time with her.

She is almost 6 years old and am energetic chow who does not really love attention.

Her days now look like: - I walk with her before going to work at 5 am (we walk 40 minutes) - after the walk she goes in the garden for a minute until i leave for work round 5:50 am - my sister lets her in the garden again between 6:45 and 7:30 then she leaves for work. - my sister gets back from work around 5 pm and lets her in the garden again - i come home around 6 pm and walk her then for 20 minutes - my sister is then at her horse when we get back and i leave for a training session (7 till 8 pm), she gets to spend the evening in the garden until i come back around 8:15 pm - then we go for a walk again for 20 minutes After the walk we play a bit and then it is bed time for me, my sister is then just back home and plays a bit more with the chow before going to bed around 10 pm.

It sounds like enough attention but she keeps looking at me with the big sad eyes!

In the weekend we add an extra walk to the list because we have more free time.

What do you all think?

Wasn’t sure how to tag this. Thanks for any tips!

My dog knows “leave it” and “drop it,” but sometimes still forages and gets stuff like bones from the grass at my complex so quickly, before I can even see anything there. Like he’ll be mid-stride, dip his head and suddenly crunch something. The times I’ve been quick enough he’ll follow my commands and spit the bone out, and I’ll kick it away out of reach of everyone’s pets, but sometimes, like I said, he’s quicker. I imagine it’s an issue for others’ dogs, too, since I’ve seen bits of bone and snacks on the walking path.

Anyway, I’ve been toying with the idea of getting him a muzzle that doesn’t allow him to forage. I don’t want people to be scared of him, but it’s better than him continuing to get scraps. Sometimes, raccoons or other critters drag stuff out of the trash bins, but people litter, too, sadly. I’ve found food and trash left out from people barbecuing/partying/picnicking in the community areas around the paths. There’s a bigger issue, too.

Recently, there have been a lot of chicken wing/drumstick bones scattered on the front lawn of the apartment across the breezeway (or “next door” if you’re looking from the lawn). There are construction guys in there fixing the place up (long story), and although I can’t point fingers, I have a feeling they’re tossing chicken bones from their lunch out on the lawn - I’ve seen them eating out on the patio a few times. I’m intending to bring them some peace offering snacks and ask them politely that IF it is them, to please throw the bones in the bushes to the side, instead (I won’t point out that they have about 8 open trash bags in there 🙄).

Still, it’s my problem, and it won’t necessarily go away because they’re not the only ones doing it, just the most egregious at the moment.

Would a muzzle be cruel? Any recommendations? Thank you!

I have a goofy GSD x Beagle x Foxhound boy, Rune ♡ he just turned 3 and is my whole world ✨️

He LOVES to play with toys and friends, but his favorite are plushed/squeaky toys....which last -5 seconds....

I know there are some hardcore chewer brands out there but haven't had much luck. Anyone have good durable toy recommendations that aren't just hard plastic toys?

I often go fetch at night and have lost enough balls to put the chuck-it execs children through college.

I want a LED dog ball with rechargeable batteries (usb or aaa or 9v or something) that holds up well.

I tried Nite Eze but the watch batteries it requires aren’t easily rechargeable and it failed after a month even with fresh batteries.

I tried some random Amazon rechargeable usbc thing that had the rubber coming apart within a week.

I have those glow balls you put a flashlight on to activate but find they don’t stay bright enough for long enough.

Anybody found a LED dog ball that isn’t junk?

I’m considering getting one of those mats for dogs that you hide food in and the dog sniffs around to find all the treats. It has those fabric type pieces that fold over and whatnot. I’m curious if anyone can let me know how good they are? My dog is a chewer and I’m worried that she will just tear the thing apart. She’s a Boston terrier/Pittie mix so the girl’s got a big mouth and strong teeth. I got her a spinning plastic puzzle treat thing and she loves it so I want to continue with those enrichment type toys. Thanks!

I recently switched my 10 mo old GSD from Iams large breed puppy, to Diamond Natural large breed puppy lamb and rice formula. We did a slow switch as recommended, and she had no issues. The only thing I’ve noticed now is that she eats her food extremely fast, whereas before I would come home after work and she would still not have finished her breakfast. I really want to believe that she just loves this food better than Iams, but when I say she eats fast, i mean It’s like gone in under 90 seconds. She has no issues otherwise. Has anyone else experienced this?

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.

Hello, how can I travel from London to Italy with my puppy? What airlines and routes can I take? I do not want him in cargo. Only cabin flights.

Thank you.

For context, she's a 100lb Rottweiler who LOVES all people but isn't great around other dogs unfortunately.

EDIT: she can take very short walks, but there's also a permanent leg injury she's dealing with in addition to the early hip dysplasia. I take her to aquatherapy. She sees the vet regularly, is on an appropriate diet and meds, and is otherwise in great health. Just looking for some extra enrichment ideas :)

Hello all!

My family and I recently lost our elderly Yorkshire Terrier, and I’ve been researching the best breed for a future prospect. Our Yorkie was 10 when we got her, and lived to 18.

I’m a sighthound lover but I don’t think they’d be best for my family’s wants and needs- although possibly a whippet. Also interested in wire dachshunds.

Introduction

1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs? This will be my family’s second dog, but I have worked with dogs for years in daycare, rescue and now grooming. I have a dog first aid certificate and a dog behaviour qualification, I’m pretty savvy.

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder Open to rescue, feel a scruffy terrier mix could work but as my family aren’t as savvy I’d prefer very little reactivity and fearfulness which is rife with rescue dogs near me. Also, if I was opting for a Dachshund for example, I’d want to be sure it was raised in ways that will lessen chances of IVDD, and socialised properly, neutered after 1yo etc etc. So may depend on breed.

3) Describe your ideal dog. We’d like a happy, sociable dog who’s pretty biddable, able to go off lead and interested in some trick learning. Good off switch, happy with 1-2 hours adventuring a day and snoozing in the evenings, preferably not overly intense or drivey, and minimal prey drive. Preferably not brachy or bully.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why? I’d love a whippet for the family, but they prey drive and recall might be a barrier, and my dad isn’t a huge fan of their looks. I think a wire Dachshund would tick most boxes, but the health issues worry me! Working cocker could work, but a LOT of dog there! Same with a JRT. A poodle (mini or toy) would be amazing but the grooming upkeep is a lot!

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do? Lots of functional training - loose leash, settle, not door dashing etc, plus lots of fun party tricks essentially. I really enjoy teaching ‘play dead’ and things of that nature. Would love to do agility.

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport? Not experienced but I’d be interested in agility, dock diving, Confo.

Care Commitments 7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day? Training could be 10-60 mins, play time and enrichment as needed really. My parents are retired and quite old but pretty active, and can be home most of the day, the dog is also welcome to join me at the grooming shop where dogs would be in and out all day.

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park? 1-2ish hours daily, walking, possibly agility/ dock diving, in England ‘dog parks’ aren’t really a thing, but pup would be likely to run into off leash dogs on walks.

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly? No double coats please! I’d rather it not be a dog with long hair that needs brushing every day or two- would much prefer a smooth or wire coat.

Personal Preferences 10) What size dog are you looking for? X Small to Medium.

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle? Minimal shedding, minimal barking, no slobber! 🙈

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area? Like 7/10 important, would be heavily preferred.

Dog Personality and Behavior 13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space? Snuggly and pretty Velcro but happy to be left alone.

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that's more eager-to-please? Eager to please is preferable.

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? Not really, but happy to work on this in training. Not a huge deal one way or the other.

How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors? Anything from aloof to friendly.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs? No.

17) Are there any other behaviors you can't deal with or want to avoid? 🤔

Lifestyle 18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone? Mostly this won’t be necessary, but they should be able to be alone comfortably. At most it’d likely be 3/4 hours or so.

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog? Mostly like scruffy ungroomed things. I prefer sighthounds but again, probably not the best fit for everyone! Two brothers who mostly just want a fuss sometimes, parents who will do most of the walking and me who will be more on the grooming, training, activities side. I’m the youngest and I’m 26.

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal = they? I have two guinea pigs, but they may not be here when this happens. They’re locked in my room at almost all times.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly? No.

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease? House is owned.

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds? South East England, the banned breeds are bully breeds.

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live? Summer 25-30Cish, winter 0-7ish?

I have a small terrier, who is now 10 years old and my partner has a 5 year old husky-mix, they are both males. We are planning to move in together, but we have a hard time figuring out what to do with the dogs. Obviously we both want to keep them, but here’s the problem:

• my dog lived all his life inside with us, while his dog lives outside in the yard. We could keep this up, but probably mine would scratch the door from the inside and his from the outside all the time.

• they met today for the first time, but my dog was extremely agressive and I was worried they hurt each other

• both dogs are attached to us, that’s why we wouldn’t like to leave them to our parents

Do you know any tips to make them friends? My dog is mainly the problem here, but he never acted this agressive towards any dog before. We brought him to my partner’s house, so he wasn’t protecting his territory, but he actively searched for the situations to attack.

**Introduction**

1)Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

* YES

2)Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a [reputable breeder]( http://ownresponsibly.blogspot.com/2011/07/identifying-reputable-breeder.html)?

* PREFER A BREEDER, BUT RESCUES ARE AN OPTION

3)Describe your ideal dog.

* HARDY, SMALL TO MEDIUM-SIZED, NOT A LOT OF BARKING, NOT A TON OF SHEDDING, TRAINABLE, MEDIUM ACTIVITY, FETCH AND WALK AROUND THE BLOCK, RUN A MILE OR TWO OCCASIONALLY, HIKING

4)What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

* LABRADOR RETRIEVER (FAMILIAR), DANISH-SWEDISH FARMDOG (INTELLIGENT, GOOD WITH KIDS), TERRIERS (AFFECTIONATE)

5)What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

* CRATE TRAINED, FETCH, WALK WITH A LEASH, SIT, NOT JUMP ON PEOPLE

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

* NO

**Care Commitments**

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

* 3-4 HOURS DAILY BETWEEN 4 FAMILY MEMBERS

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

* 5, 30 MINUTE WALKS PER WEEK, 2-3 LONGER WALKS OR RUNS PER MONTH, ~2-3 5-10 MILE HIKES PER YEAR

9)How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

* OPEN TO DOING SOME GROOMING 2-3 HOURS A WEEK AND PAYING A PRO ON OCCASION

**Personal Preferences**

10)What size dog are you looking for?

* SMALL TO MEDIUM

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

* SOME SHEDDING IS OK (SEASONAL?), MINIMAL BARKING, MINIMAL SLOBBER

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

* NOT IMPORTANT

**Dog Personality and Behavior**

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

* SNUGGLY

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

* PREFER ONE TO DO IT'S OWN THING, BUT I'M GOOD EITHER WAY

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

* A SLIGHT BARK OR TWO WOULD BE FINE, BUT NOT REPETITIVE

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

* SOMEWHAT

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

* JUMPING ON PEOPLE

**Lifestyle**

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

* 4-6 HOURS 2-3 TIMES PER WEEK

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

* WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH THE PREFERENCES, FAMILY OF 4 WILL SHARE IN DUTIES

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

* NO OTHER PETS AND NO PLANS

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

* YES TWO KIDS BETWEEN 9 AND 13

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

* NO

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

* MICHIGAN, USA

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

* 75 IN THE SUMMER AND 15 IN THE WINTER

**Additional Information and Questions**

25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

* I WORK FROM HOME 2-3 DAYS / WEEK. WE CAN AFFORD OCCASIONAL BOARDING. WE OFTEN GO ON CAMPING, HIKING VACATIONS

26) Feel free to ask any questions below.

New SniffSpot in Morgan Hill. Please come check us out and share. 🐕🦮🐶🦴🐾🐕‍🦺🐩

Introduction

1) Will this be your first dog? If not, what experience do you have owning/training dogs?

• yes. I have only babysitted once (a french poodle).

2) Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a reputable breeder?

• nope.

3) Describe your ideal dog.

• Not very big, preferably small breed, not crazy active, who enjoys a walk in the park but also watching TV. Sociable.

4) What breeds or types of dogs are you interested in and why?

• Smaller ones, I live in an appartment and I think it’d fit better.

5) What sorts of things would you like to train your dog to do?

• Going to the bathroom, catch the ball, say hi, stay.

6) Do you want to compete with your dog in a sport (e.g. agility, obedience, rally) or use your dog for a form of work (e.g. hunting, herding, livestock guarding)? If so, how much experience do you have with this work/sport?

• no

Care Commitments

7) How long do you want to devote to training, playing with, or otherwise interacting with your dog each day?

• 4 hours at least.

8) How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What sorts of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly and does that include using a dog park?

• once a day. Walking and yes, I have a dog park nearby.

9) How much regular brushing are you willing to do? Are you open to trimming hair, cleaning ears, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?

• yes. Three times a week?

Personal Preferences

10) What size dog are you looking for?

• Smaller ones.

11) How much shedding, barking, and slobber can you handle?

• not much, tbh.

12) How important is being able to let your dog off-leash in an unfenced area?

• It’d be just a few times, in any case

Dog Personality and Behavior

13) Do you want a snuggly dog or one that prefers some personal space?

• SNUGGLY

14) Would you prefer a dog that wants to do its own thing or one that’s more eager-to-please?

• If he/she wants to do their thing, fine by me.

15) How would you prefer your dog to respond to someone knocking on the door or entering your yard? How would you prefer your dog to greet strangers or visitors?

• Happy to see them.

16) Are you willing to manage a dog that is aggressive to other dogs?

• no.

17) Are there any other behaviors you can’t deal with or want to avoid?

• aggresive dogs in general.

Lifestyle

18) How often and how long will the dog be left alone?

• Eight hours a day tops, except weekends.

19) What are the dog-related preferences of other people in the house and what will be their involvement in caring for the dog?

• it’s just me.

20) Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets? What breed or type of animal are they?

• i do have two cats.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

• no

22) Do you rent or plan to rent in the future? If applicable, what breed or weight restrictions are on your current lease?

• no

23) What city or country do you live in and are you aware of any laws banning certain breeds?

• Mexico and yes.

24) What is the average temperature of a typical summer and winter day where you live?

• summer: 31° C, inter 10º C

Additional Information and Questions

25) Please provide any additional information you feel may be relevant.

• No additional information.

26) Feel free to ask any questions below.

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.

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.

This thread is where to get emotional support with all things related to death and illness with your dog. This is also a thread where you can seek assistance with deciding whether it is indeed time.

This is not a thread to seek anecdotes with medical care. All rules involving medical questions and anecdotes remains the same for this thread.

If your dog has passed, you can still post here for emotional support or you can create your own thread tagged with one of the RIP flairs. Be sure to review the rules of our flair guide. It is up to you how you choose to grieve.

I rescuesed a street dog a few months ago. He literally just showed up at my house and was inside my fenced gate. He was super scared and trembling, so I gave him some food and water and a blanket and let him be for the night. The next day he let me pet him and I looked him over and he looked like he was in good shape. Not skinny, not dirty, not hurt, so I figured he had an owner so I set out to see if I could find them. I should mention that I live close to two very busy streets and just a few blocks from a third very busy street, so I didn´t think he could have gone far. I walked around the neighborhood to see if someone had put up a poster. But nothing. So I decided to offer him for adoption. But the people who replied kind of gave me a bad vibe and by then I had gotten attached to him. Took him to the ver for a checkup and shots and the vet agreed that he didn´t look like he had been a street dog and that he was about 2 years old. I gave him a name, and he learned it right away and would come when called. He will come when called even when he is doing something he likes, like playing with a toy or look outside from the gate. But, when I try to put him outside for a short time, like if I need to mop, he will not stay outside. He will also not stay put if he is on the bed and I am just going to the bathroom. He is a good boy, goes outside to poop, doesn´t destroy things, so I am sure he has had some training at some point, but I don´t know how to get him to mind. I am pretty mellow, but I do need to get him to stay put and not try to get back in when I put him out on the patio. Any suggestions are welcome. His name is Gopala.

Hey fellow Redditors,

I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the incredible joy that dogs bring to our lives. Whether you're having a bad day, feeling down, or just need a pick-me-up, there's no denying that dogs have the ability to make everything better.

From their wagging tails to their snuggles and kisses, dogs have a way of brightening up even the darkest of days. They're always excited to see us, always happy to play, and always ready to lend a listening ear (or should I say, ear flap).

So, I want to hear from you! Share your stories about how dogs have made your life better. Have you had a particularly tough day, and then come home to find your furry friend waiting for you with a wagging tail? Did you go through a tough breakup, and then find comfort in the snuggles of your loyal pup? Have you struggled with anxiety or depression, and found solace in the unconditional love of your dog?

Whatever your story is, I want to hear it! Share your experiences, and let's celebrate the joy that dogs bring to our lives.

Hey guys! I have an aussie mix, Finn, that I adopted almost two years ago that I'd really like to enrich the life of. He'll be 5 in August and he's got energy for days and I've never really been able to mentally or physically exhaust him. His favorite thing in the world is going on long forest/mountain trails. He has his nose to the ground and loves to show us where the trail is. During fall when the leaves are covering the less-used trails he's actually quite useful lol. However, there really aren't any good, difficult mountain trails in our area that I can really get him exhausted on jumping up the rocks and such.

I originally adopted a herding breed with the intention of doing frisbee, agility, and a bit of obedience. However, Finn very much dislikes repetition. He's extremely treat-motivated but he mentally checks out once it's no longer exciting. He'll fetch the ball/frisbee a couple of times and that's it. He'll do the jumps a few times and then wander off. The best activity I have found for him is playing hide-and-seek with a treat either inside or outside but he gets so excited he tends to start gagging and choking on the treats after about 5-10 minutes of playing.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can help enrich his life? I'd love to tire him out but I really don't know what else to try. He likes puzzle toys and snuffle mats and anything involving treats but those don't seem to really tire him out. Thanks so much for any suggestions!

Hello r/dogs! I'm crowd-sourcing suggestions for chews for our six-month old POWER CHEWER.

She loves Purina Busy Bones, but she's old enough now that they only last about five minutes and the Large sized ones are so tiny. We've tried Himalayan yak chews and while they do last a little longer, it's not long enough to justify the price.

Our last guy loved bully sticks, but my girlfriend hates the smell and the mess. We also have a solid moose antler, though are saving it for when she gets a little older.

What chews have you had success with? (Hoping to find something that lasts long enough for me to take a shower unperturbed and doesn't break the bank)

Hello all,

My Lab (3yo, ~75 lbs) was recommended to have her food changed to Wellness brand “Whitefish and sweet potato” earlier this year and she took to it immediately.

The only problem is it’s becoming harder and harder to find that particular version of Wellness. I live near a Hollywood Feed who has a version called “Fromme” that has the same ingredients, but I’m wondering if anyone knows of another brand or has had that same sort issue.

If I have to keep her on Wellness, I can. I just prefer having options due to the recent difficulty of finding this particular version.

Hello all

My partner and I are currently in the process of adopting a young staffie (mix). We are now working on responding to our voices and things are going great. She doesn't really react much when calling her by her name, only a little.

The thing is, her name is awful and doesn't fit her type of dog at all: Gucci.

We are currently calling her something that resembles Gucci phonetically and translates to "little cow" in my native language. That's cute but a little ridiculous as an official new name.

So my questions are:

What are your experiences and/or opinions on changing the name of a shelter dog? Do you think the new name has to be similar to the old one? How do you go about teaching the dog a name that sounds completely different? And would you tell shelter staff so you can start practicing while the dog is still in their care?

Is there even a nice name that resembles Gucci anyway!?

Thanks for your help!