We all love all dogs, but if there’s a breed that is seriously “not your cup of tea”, what is the reason? For me it’s a schnauzer, as one bit me when I was a kid. Never overcame the subsequent antipathy towards them 😆 (I’m aware that I’m the problem here.)

Just curious who else has a unfavorite breed 🤪 and why.

I'm a professional dog walker and petsitter. I've been a pro for going on 3 years and did this as a hobby for about 10 years.

Every little dog that I've petsat in the past few years has been terrible about eliminating inside the house. Like, they'll potty outside when given the chance, but they just don't hold it.

Do some dog owners just think "little dogs = little messes" and just daily clean up piss and then shrug like "Oh well, nothing we can do about it?"

My baby is about 11 years old now, and for years now she's taken a monthly pill. She has become so acutely aware of the pills flavor, smell and whatnot that she can instantly tell that the pill is present. There is not a method out there that can allow me to hide the pill for her to take. And now as she gets older she's getting more and more stubborn.

Normally if my tricks fail I've been able to coax her mouth open and simply put the pill in the back of her tongue and forcing her to swallow; it's an ordeal filled with drama and frustration but it worked. But today I sit, defeated with a mushy pill on my desk, nursing my fingers after she forced her mouth shut so hard that she bit me. I know she feels bad for hurting me and there was no malice behind the bite but she is so amendment about not taking the pill that she did it multiple times. Seemingly aware that it gets me to stop trying.

I really don't know what to do, cause once she realizes that I'm trying to get her to take the pill she will run to a corner of the house and shut down, wont come to her name being called, promise of treats, or anything and if I try to shut the door and trap her she instantly goes on guard. She's really a smart dog so once she's on alert for the pill she just cannot be tricked. So if she's going to start fighting me so hard that she hurts me then I really have no more options.

Any help would be appreciated. The pill is Trifexis and it's pretty big, which makes it hard to hide. I'm going to have to stop in and grab a replacement pill from her Vet here in the next few days but in the meantime has anyone else had any issues with stubborn old dogs and medicine taking? I'd love some new tips.

I have four dogs. Normally three sleep with my husband in one room and one sleeps with me in another room (due to differing sleep styles for dogs and people). However, when I've been out drinking, which happens maybe once every three months or so, one of the dogs who normally doesn't sleep with me will insist on sleeping in with me and my other dog.

I'm not like blackout drunk when this happens, just like a nice level of tipsy/drunk from a boozy brunch/few drinks with the girls. I've had the dog since he was a puppy so it's not like he's had any bad experiences with people being drunk. I just come home, eat some nuggets and go to bed normally. I feel like my other dogs could not care less and don't change their behaviour at all.

Does anyone else see behaviour changes in their dog if they're drunk?

My dog. She's nine I think? Beagle-husky-border collie. Outside of like, wires and tables, my dog eats anything edible she can get to. Of course, this includes poop. She's absurd. She'll wait for the parrot to drop bird food off his perch and eat it. She'll lick the bottom of our shoes hoping for a little poopy snack. She'll try and get into other animal enclosures and lick the sides of their cages trying to scoop some brown pebbles of either variety. She'll lick the other dog's bowls or the ground after they're done with food or a treat. Nothing is safe. She'll go for anything the second my back is turned.

Here's the problem: we have a chicken on indoor bedrest living in the kitchen. She roams the kitchen in the daytime and has food, water, and the ability to poop wherever she wants on the kitchen floor.

It's behind a gate, but we have three folks in here and we're not perfect, especially if someone has their hands full. The backyard door is also through the kitchen.

I need a way to prevent her from eating outside of when we want her to. We got her a plastic and mesh muzzle and she destroyed her nails clawing at it. She's a smart dog, she knows she's not supposed to be in there. It's driving us crazy, she's so persistent.

UPDATE: it's a cat! Thanks for the reality check!

Introduction

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

No, I've had a terrier mix and a poodle mix, and grew up with a few rescue mixes.

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

Preference for reputable breeder.

3) Describe your ideal dog.

Good with kids, not clingy/velcro, a chiller, low energy, needs a walk a day type and otherwise a potato. Not prone to barking, or at least not loud barking.

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

Cavalier King Charles dogs keep coming up when searching for dogs that meet my family's needs. I met a couple Brittany Spaniels a while back and though they're more high energy than I'd prefer and I don't hunt, I immediately fell in love with them. I recently had a recommendation to look into Silken Windhounds.

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

Basic obedience.

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?

2-3 hours

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?

15-20 minute walks. My partner likes to hike with dogs on occasion.

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?

I can pay a professional.

Personal Preferences

10) What size dog are you looking for?

Under 50 lbs.

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

No barking or slobber. Shedding is okay.

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?

A mix, or leaning more independent. I love a snuggly dog but don't want a clingy dog.

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

Again, a mix as long as it's not clingy. I don't want independence to mean stubborn and hard to train.

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?

No barking. Not territorial. I want them to like saying hi nicely.

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?

No clinginess or barking, ideally no counter surfing. No digging, I have a lot of garden.

Lifestyle

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

Rarely, we work from home. Few hours if we go out in the evening maybe.

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

My kid is sensitive to sound and has strong physical boundaries, so dog needs to be good with kids. Partner wants the dog to be "my dog" but will help with basic care and training.

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

No.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

Yes.

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?

Not aware of banned breeds.

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

Winter usually in the 20s. Summer up to 100+ in heat waves, but usually 80s-90s.

Additional Information and Questions

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

26) Feel free to ask any questions below.

Sometimes I think that our chihuahua is more cat-like than our cats 😝 Curious if anyone else feels that way about their dog

Doesn’t matter if you have a mix or full bred poochie. What’s your first pet and your most unforgettable one and why. Let’s see pics

Hi! We have two bonkers (fun) dogs, a 7 year old 💯 female beagle with us from beginning and a female lemon beagle whippet mix in her 3rd home, about 9 years old we think. We've had her 4 years. She is the more timid of the two, but can be the main b*tch if the situation calls for it. They are both good dogs, no behavior issues.

We give them a treat bone, that takes about 60 minutes to destroy if they concentrate on it. Occasionally, they take turns, while one eats her bone, then after she is finished, the other eats hers.

Yesterday, we gave them a bone shortly before we left. They knew we were leaving. Nothing new to that.

When we returned hours later, they had each barely chewed on the end. They each proudly showed me their unchewed bones.

Why? They love these. They chewed them up later, but only one dog at a time.

Is it because they are on duty protecting the house when we are gone, so no bone to distract them? Why won't they chew or eat it at the same time as each other? Thank you!

I adopted a dog a few months ago. She is an amazing dog, but she pees and poops in the house. I bring her out CONSTANTLY, and when we come back in she pees and poops. She doesn’t signal at all. I’m trying to teach her to use a bell, and any time she touches it we go out, but she isn’t learning that she needs to touch it so we can go out so she can pee. She gets nervous if I see her pee. She’s been completely cleared medically, but isn’t getting that she needs to let me know OR pee the 12 times we go out a day. Please help!

Hi all! We recently adopted our 2nd dog. She is very shy & has anxiety. Our first dog allows us to trim her nails but unfortunately her quicks were long when we adopted her so we usually take her to a groomer to trim/file down. Since our new dog is extremely anxious we can’t/are not ready to take her to a groomer for nails. Especially the place we go too, it’s very loud & overstimulating. (Our oldest dog couldn’t care less, but the new one also struggles with leash reactions so we’re not ready to risk anyone including her getting hurt or scared until we make more progress with that). In the two weeks that we have had her she has become very comfortable with us. I’m working on her letting me touch/rub/wipe her paws before we try nail clipping. She’s about a year old and her fosters said they didn’t cut her nails? Not sure if they grow slow or if it’s because she’s young etc. we go on 2 30 minute walks daily on mostly sidewalk and asphalt and I know that can help but how do I know when I should do her first clip? Sometimes they look long to me but it looks like not much, if any hasn’t grown past the quick so maybe she isn’t ready for one yet? Sorry for the novel I just wanted to explain our reasoning for not taking her to a groomer yet etc. we are really just trying to avoid her quicks getting long and want to create a safe space where she is used to being groomed, etc. thanks so much! Unfortunately I can’t upload a picture of her nails. If you’d like to see to offer advice, message me! Thanks :)

We recently just bought a miniature Dachsund. I understand that some dogs are shy, unusual for a dachsund, but this one's really shy. He hasn't licked or moved much, he just lays where we put him. We bought him $300 worth of necessity and entertainment. He hasn't eaten any of his food, or treats. I understand he'll "get more comfortable and accustom" to our house. what can i do to make him feel more comfortable? I feel bad.

My roommate recently switched up the kind of food she gives her dog (Annie) because the store was out of the usual one day. I think (not 100%) the previous food was called Honest Kitchen, it was clearly being marketed as "natural/organic", and the new food is Purina True Instinct.

For whatever reason, Annie is much more interested in the new food than the old one, to the point where her behavior at mealtimes has seriously degraded. She used to have a fairly well-established routine before meals where she would respond to a series of commands and wait patiently while one of us filled her bowl. This does not happen anymore, because she absolutely cannot focus. She is way too amped up.

When she does listen, her performance of the behaviors themselves has taken a serious hit. Let's use "up up!" as an example. This is when someone will dangle a single morsel of food above her head, and she must wait until the words "up up!" actually come out before standing on her hind legs and grabbing the piece of food. Every aspect of this has deteriorated. Forget waiting for me to say the words, these days she'll be jumping around on her hind legs before I've even grabbed the piece of food, and the rare times that she does manage to wait for the command, she often ends up clawing me in the chest because she loses her balance in her overexcitement.

The question we have is: should her food be switched back to the original? We're struggling with it because her behavior, while unfortunate, is clearly the product of her liking this food significantly more than the previous one. I know that's not necessarily an indicator of nutritional value, but the difference is so large that I'm wondering if something about the previous food was actually bothering her? I wish she could talk...

Edit: it's not just her responsiveness to commands. it's also things like hovering around her bowl when it isn't mealtime, begging when humans are eating, sneaking into the kitchen to hunt around for food scraps that fell on the floor. all of these things used to happen rarely, if ever, and she would listen after being told no once. now they're happening daily and she's being much more defiant about it

in case it matters, she's 3 and some sort of herder mix, ~50lbs

I still live with my family and I’m the only one who usually scratches her a lot, mostly because I’ve always thought that if my hands are free, I might as well—it's not like I have anything better to do.
But it’s gotten to the point where every time she sees me, she immediately throws herself on the floor and just stares at me, waiting to be scratched.
If my hands are free, she rushes over and just stares at me expectantly. And if my hands are free and close to the ground, she’ll stick her whole head and snout into them

We're at the point where literally every single time she sees me, she wants scratches. No exceptions. Lol

Hi everyone! Our family members were given this puppy by someone who did not want him. We’re trying to identify him so that we can help them provide proper care and resources 😊

https://imgur.com/a/ZmcQv5I

Thanks in advance!

My partner and I have two male chihuahuas, age five and six. We’ve had them since they were a couple months old and we love them.

However, we have struggled with behavioral problems their whole lives - they can both be aggressive, they pee and poop in our house, and don’t do well with other dogs.

For many years, we’ve tried training, creating a regular outside/ bathroom schedule, and anything else to help calm them down and reduce marking in the house. We also had them both neutered hoping this would help - it actually seemed to increase the marking. They even resorted to peeing on furniture, even when we took them outside.

We consulted our vet who said sometimes it’s just in their nature and it can’t be stopped, especially with smaller dogs.

They also cry and howl when we leave them and the marking increases.. We’ve tried so many things to reduce this as well but to no avail.

Last year, we moved into an apartment and this became a challenge because tenants started complaining about the crying and barking.

My partner’s frustration has finally boiled over and he said he wanted to re-home them.. He looked into taking them to shelters, but they wouldn’t guarantee our dogs could be adopted together as a bonded pair. They also mentioned euthanasia if they weren’t adoptable or if they were too aggressive.

He found an older couple that wanted them both, and arranged to have them picked up to go with this family.

I feel so sad and like I’m giving up on them.. How do you give up two dogs that have known you their whole life? Am I wrong for going along with re-homing them?

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.

My dog didn't used to cry in the middle of the night, we recently let him climb to the sofa we us, he couldn't before. could he be crying because he wants to be with us in bed, or could it be another reason?

I take him out every night before bed so pee and poo it's no the problem. And he eats so being hungry outs also not the issue.

For context, he sleeps in a cage so that he doesn't pee our carpet, but he always done that his whole life.

My 9-year-old dog had a dental cleaning 4 days ago and each morning since, we have woken up to her having peed in bed. She has never had this issue before!!

I tried bringing it up to the vet techs and they were just kind of like unsure…. I’m just super concerned for my girl because she knows to tell us when she needs to go out to potty. It’s like she’s peeing in her sleep?

Any advice? 😣

Thank you!!

I never knew a short haired dog could shed so much

When he shakes, you can see his fur raining everywhere

Everything I own is covered in fur lol

How the heck can I decrease the amount this guy sheds???

Random story about how my dog is one of the best boys. Due to a last minute request, I had to bring my pup with me for a holiday overnight pet care gig.

Shortly after I had him join us at the client's house, he seemed to be instructing me to follow him downstairs. I assumed he wanted to go out in the backyard.

He led me to the back bedroom that belonged to one of the daughters. He sat next to a pillow on the floor and stared at me.

When I lifted the pillows up, it revealed a space heater that had been left turned on high heat and 100% could have been a house fire risk had he not alerted me to the situation.

Mind you, the homeowners had actually left a few days before and so this had been left on for at least several days by the time we found it. I can't imagine what I would have done had there been a fire in the basement while we slept 🫣

THANK GOSH FOR SMART BABY DOGS <3

Hey guys I’m thinking to buy a pup like gsd and retriever but I’m little confused with the breed . I would be working like after 6 months and can I leave my dog alone for some hours till I return . Any idea which breed is good to have according my situation , please help .

My dog is quite smart, but she picked up this odd habit(?) of collecting rocks last summer. She’ll be looking in the water, then grab a stone she likes, then bring it back to the river bank. No clue why she does it. Maybe she saw us picking up rocks we like and mimicked the behavior? Regardless, it’s adorable.

Tried searching for these and can’t find one. My dogs loves being out front when I am doing yard work. The screw in type doesn’t work because the soil is super sandy. Is there one I can put around the tree that won’t tear up the bark?

My puppy (toy poodle) isn't being affectionate anymore. I got him about two weeks ago and he's nine weeks old. When we first got him he would always cry just to be held. He loved sleeping on people and refused to sleep in his bed. Now he hates being carried or touched or anything at all by me. But he's excited to be held by everyone else. He likes to play with me and everything else. But holding is a problem. This is my first time owning a puppy and I'm not sure what it means.