I've got a mini schnauzer who seems to be consistently begging for scratchies. Vet says it's not a medical thing (cause god knows I checked and double checked on his shampoo and his skin and possible fleas, and anything else), but I think just enjoys the heck out of a good scratch. And he deserves it, being the goodest boy he is.

But it's gotten to the point where he'll rub against dangling feet, against furniture, and against just about anything he can reach, but I'm wondering if anybody's found anything sort of equivalent to a standing cow brush for dogs. Little dude would deeply appreciate it as a Christmas present.

We have an austrailian shepard boxer mix. She's almost 1. She's destructive when we are not home and we've attempted to crate train her but that has not been successful. She's managed to escape, destroy the bottom plastic, and destroyed toys and blankets. Most recently she has moved the kennel over to the couch and has started destroying it.

Any tips to help keep her engaged and prevent her from being destructive either in or out of the kennel are greatly appreciated! I think shes bored but I don't really know what else to do. Neither of our other dogs were quite this difficult.

Our two year old shepherd/hound dog mix is the sweetest, most gentle, loving, playful and submissive dog you've ever seen. He loves our family and he's never shown any aggression towards anyone or anything, ever. He's also a huge coward, easily scared and startled. We adopted him from a shelter when he was nine months old, so who knows what has happened to him.

The issue... He seems to "forget" sometimes when other people are here (mostly my kids, who are with us 4/5 days of the week, but also anyone that visits us, whether overnight or just for a couple of hours). He'll be completely fine and happy with them, seek out their company, but then they'll leave the room for a bit, he'll hear them somewhere else or see them appear in the doorway, and he'll growl and lunge at them. Halfway there he'll recognize them and stop himself, but this really isn't acceptable.

I'm also just really confused by this behavior. It isn't tied to him being asleep (and then startled awake) or anything. Its literally out of nowhere. It's also not tied to strangers - the dog obviously knows my kids very well since they live here most of the time, they play together and do tricks, he gets treats from them, he likes to nap with them and watch them do things... They're family to him too. But earlier today my son was talking to me, the dog was hanging out with us (barely paying attention to us, minding his own business), and as soon as my son turned around to walk away he growled and ran at him. There was absolutely nothing strange or scary about my sons behavior. What to do? I can't crate him the whole time my kids are here, and they can't be throwing treats for him anytime they move around the house. My daughter has taken to humming loudly anytime she leaves her room, which works very well, but isn't really sustainable...

My wife and I have been going back and forth ever since she got a dog when we moved into our house. There's things for me that make owning a dog difficult and she insists we keep her.

2 years ago my wife brought home a new lab pup. She quickly grew like a weed and my wife insists she stays indoors. She only goes outdoors when we bring her on walks, when we are away for work, and when we are playing fetch etc. Otherwise, she is indoors. I cant handle it. It's on me. I get that.

We looked at the option of re-homing her but my wife insists she can't bring herself to do it. So, I'm at a loss. I'm trying to find ways to make this work, and I've been doing a ton of research into the best course of action. Any ideas are welcome.

We are planning on moving soon, so here are a few things ive personally done already at our current home. I fenced my backyard, I cut a dog door hole into the garage so she can get heat while we are away (we live in the northern states), ive put up baby gates in the house so she can only access specific rooms (which my wife took down one rather quickly because she insisted the dog gets access to the living room but that means I can't be in there very over 10 minutes)...

I'm now looking to buy/build a large dog shelter/house in the backyard of our new place so it's a bit nicer for the dog without spending another $10k on fencing. But unsure if this is a good plan. Fences are expensive, and super time consuming to do by myself. I'm just not knowledgeable enough to do it right. I'm so stunlocked I'm in shambles.

Tl;dr: my wife got a dog when we moved into our new house and it's made my life very difficult. We are moving soon and trying to find ways to make this work. Wife insists this is an indoor dog (lab), so I'm trying to find ways of minimizing my "risk" so to speak.

I was expecting by three years old that my spayed female GSD would be a little less velociraptor-on-meth and a little more companion dog, albeit a relatively high energy, intelligent one. But no matter what stimulation is offered- walks, jogs, restraint/inhibition training, roughhousing, really complex treat/food puzzles, rigorous frisbee fetch, and more- she never, ever seems to be able to settle during the day. Exhibits near constant whining to go back outside, even when I have had to physically stop her due to a limp after sprints, extremely heavy breathing, or other signals to take a break.

Is this almost certainly anxiety at this point? Or do I need to get into cross country running shape, because clearly the 30-60 min walks/jogs and 10-15 minute sessions of all-out frisbee sprints, combined with any mental stuff like training and puzzles, is somehow not cutting it, and her reactivity/pickiness about dogs and humans she tolerates makes it unsafe to have her in certain environments like dog parks, or get involved in team/community activities like search and rescue (dream killed), flyball, or any other sort of competition that would offer a distinct training/exercise environment separate from the home so that maybe she could recognize home as a more chill space.

Maybe I need to be rotating out toys so things stay fresh? She seems to get either bored by the puzzles and toys she's mastered, or pretty quickly frustrated by the ones that are challenging. Now that I think about it, she seems to be able to settle the most when I'm standing at the oven cooking, weirdly enough; she'll lay at my feet the entire time. I don't even like cooking, so it's not like I'm more relaxed than usual in those moments and she had previously just been picking up on my own anxiety (which is now being treated anyway, and hasn't made a difference for her).

Her exercise to calorie intake ratio is actually resulting in somewhat significant weight loss, so I'm a little concerned about how to figure out better methods of meeting her finicky needs without necessarily adding on a crazy amount of calorie burning every single day (and she is getting PLENTY of high quality food and tons of treats/mix-ins). Also really hoping to be able to, you know, actually have maybe HALF a life and be able to go to school and work. So far, someone has always had to be home with her full time (minus the occasional errand), not because of any signs of separation anxiety, but just in an effort to get her more time outside, which ends up being a CONSTANT slog to and from the backyard or front door. Ignoring whining when we know immediate baseline needs have been met has been unsuccessful. Anyone else have similar experiences with driven/working lines? Did any activity or practice in particular suddenly open a door for your baby and help them seem more content day-to-day and less needy? TIA ❤️

ETA- by the way, if anyone here has a generally high-need dog and still manages to work full time out of the house, or even work from home in peace, can you PLEASE outline your daily schedule and dog care practices for me PLEASE because I'm losing my mind :') it's a vicious cycle of her getting worked up, getting me worked up, getting her worked up, etc

Both of our pups love to play fetch, but our boy Wheeler is a bit more obsessed than his brother. We throw with 2 balls so Wheeler will drop the one in his mouth to go fetch the next one we throw. We have the Chuckit! whistler balls in blue and orange and, for whatever reason, he's become obsessed with the orange one recently. So much so, after only 3 or 4 throws, he will just run back and forth with the orange ball in his mouth while we throw the blue ball for his brother. Last week, he chewed it enough around the holes for me to want to trash it, so I'm in search of something else. Preferably, not orange and with no holes for him to get his teeth into. Chuckit!'s signature color seems to be orange, and while they do have a few others, I can't seem to find many options available in the small size. I did find one set, but I'd like other suggestions if anyone has any. Included some images of the old ones we bought, the ones I found as an option, the category they're in for Chuckit!, and some dog tax. Thanks!

https://ibb.co/6gpR1Z5

https://ibb.co/HxjHRSt

https://ibb.co/YT1Kv3N

https://ibb.co/sbvWkpy

Hello everyone! I have a 1.5 years old border collie/maremma sheep dog mix that's been with me since the beginning of this year.

Since we live in an apartment, we go to the park every morning and usually we stay there for at least 2 hours. When we are outside she likes to play and run, but as soon as we are back home she goes to bed and sometimes she's is capable to sleep with almost zero interruptions for up to 6 hours. In the late afternoon she's a bit more awake and we play, train and go out on another walk; but even in between our activities she still sleeps a lot.

Does she sleep so much because she's bored? Or am I tiring her too much trying to keep her entertained? She's my first dog and I'm still learning how to understand her, am I exaggerating with the activities?

Sorry if my English is bad, it's not my first language.

Thank you!

I got my dawg for one year now, he's 3. Old english bulldog, very chill generally.

He used to be very clingy and followed me everywhere I went. He was awful on the leash and he barked a ton when I left the home. We worked on all those things ever since and Im very proud of him because he really did improve ALOT. He doesn't follow me anymore, he's fine with being or even sleeping in a room alone, he doesn't care if I take my jacket or my keys anymore. He sleeps when I leave the home in the morning like he couldnt care less. I set up a mic occasionly and record him, by the peaks of the soundwave I can accuratly see when he barked. Some days he doesn't bark a single time in 8hrs when he's home alone.

HOWEVER, on bad days he starts barking after I left roughly around 45mins - 90 mins.
When he starts to bark he doesn't stop for 20mins up to 45 mins. He barks non fckin stop.
I don't know what to do anymore and I don't get his behavior. I mean, he's calm as a dog could be when I leave, why the hell does he starts barking after such a long time? He isn't destructive at all, he just rages and barks his brain out.

What I've tried:
- desensitize him (worked very well)
- walking 45mins before leaving, always do that
- currently trying out frozen kongs
- currently teaching him crate (he loves it, starts barking after 15 mins after I leave tho. Doing awesome when Im in the house)
- stopped greeting & stopped saying bye
- leaving and entering the home calm and without giving him attention
- going immediatly to another room and closing the door behind me when I arrive

I really don't know what to do. I can't logically understand his pattern of behaviour.
It stresses me alot and I really thing about giving him away. I always got the pressure of rushing home asap whatever I do. I can't live like that, I need a permanent solution. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Our English bulldog loves this thing and it has been through it all. It doesn’t have a tag anymore sadly so I can’t figure out who makes it or how to get another one.

I’ve looked all over and I think it’s supposed to be a frog but it’s hard to tell. Any help would be great!

https://imgur.com/a/OcRFQ4G

Hi, I've had adult dogs before, and l've helped raise puppies from family, but l've never had the chance to pick a puppy/young of my own. I'm going to adopt a scent hound or setter mix.

I live with my mom, and she has some restrictions about the dog, including size (20-60 lbs), so I'd like to raise it to her behavior standards.

I am also planning on getting a female. In my experience and from what I can gather, male dogs (and cats) tend to be more out going and goofier, more energetic personality wise, and more playful. Also like to mark even if they're neutered. Females tend to be more independent and calm, and less distracted during training and walks. Of course, l've met exceptions, but generally I find females to be a little less high maintenance. I also just have a personal preference I guess. So, the breed group(s) and gender is already decided.

Of course, I've had very affectionate female dogs (and cats). But I feel like it was by chance. I think personality plays the biggest role.

I'm getting this dog as a sort of self-therapy. Affection is a priority of mine. I'm going to try and choose the most affectionate puppy I can find given it meets my other requirements (lifestyle/size/gender).

Are there any indicators I should look for as rough predictors of basically cuddle-ability? Is there any method that has given you consistent results?

I’m kind of thinking about this dichotomy I’ve seen in litters, where the calm ones are usually more non interactive, and the outgoing ones are just full of energy and interested in playing. Should I try to go for the one that is calm but is drawn to the humans in a calm manner? Is that a thing? Or not, because on the other hand, my boyfriend’s french bull dogs are all play and jumping on you until you get on the couch and then they are just shitzu lap dogs at that point.

Any advice is appreciated!

I have two dogs that I’ve had since they were puppies they are now 8 (German Sheppard mix) and 9 (shitzu). My boyfriend and I just bought a house and he’s never had his own dog and he’s been talking about it for over a year so we finally got one: an 11 month old border collie.

She is super cute and playful and gets along great with my German Sheppard but my shitzu HATES her.

My shitzu just likes to be left alone and lay in me or my boyfriends lap but the puppy will come up and bop her wanting to play and she growls as a warning and then just snaps. There’s been two occasions now where she’s snapped at her and the 2nd time the puppy latched onto her and my bf had to pry them apart, getting bit in the process.

I have so much guilt that I’m going to cause my shitzu so much stress that she dies or that the puppy will harm her, she’s double her size so it gives me so much anxiety and I’ve been on edge everytime they are roaming around freely, that they are going to start fighting and I won’t be able to stop it. And then I have the added guilt that I’m neglecting my dogs because I’m spending so much time trying to train the puppy and bond with her.

I don’t know exactly what I’m asking from you redditors but I’m just nervous and needed to vent/get opinions on how to navigate this new dynamic so anything helps :)

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.

I’ve been working remotely since I got my puppy. She’s now 8.5 months old and properly crate trained for overnight sleeping and whenever I leave the house. Working remotely, I’ve only had to leave her at home in the crate for 6-8 hours when I’ve had to go to on-site meetings. Otherwise, she’s crated generally 2-4 hours each morning when I go to the gym and do other errands. I’m resigning from my current job and accepting a position where I’ll be on-site (some may think I’m crazy for that, but remote life just isn’t for me as an extrovert!).

I’m wondering about a work day crate routine. At night and during her daytime crate time, I make the room dark and use white noise for her to sleep. She has a crate cover, I close the blackout curtains, and turn on the white noise. While this may still be the appropriate environment for overnight, should I leave the curtains open during the day once I start crating her for 8ish hours during the week? She sleeps in my bedroom, so my other thought was moving her crate to the living room and having her next to the window so she can have the sunlight and also look out the window if she wants to patrol the neighborhood as usual.

TLDR: should I use the same routine and create the same environment for my puppy when she’s crated during the work day as I do when she’s crated overnight (i.e., dark room, white noise)?

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.

Hello,

I though I should reach out here for this but if it is the wrong place feel free to let me know! Me and my girlfriend have been debating a dog here for a couple of years. We finally got a house and are ready to get one! We have been in some debates about a few different dogs but mainly a rottweiler and a golden retriever. We currently have 2 cats, but have no kids yet. I personally have been in favor of the rottweiler due to always liking them since a kid. However I have been nervous about making a move for one since the bad wrap they have had in the past. I understand most puppies will be a total pain when they are younger so I am okay with that and have done TONS of research on both. I am wanting this dog to be strong enough to at least somewhat protect me and my gf as well as just be a good family dog. I mainly just wanted a second opinion on this because I do truly love rottweilers, but I don't want to worry about it hurting my gf or our cats. Sorry if this was a mess typed it up at work lol!

Thanks!

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.

Is someone not picking up poop in front of your house? Is there an off leash dog in your neighborhood with a clueless owner? Did someone bring an out of control dog to the off-leash park? Is your neighbor walking uncomfortably close to you with an untrained dog? Here is where you can dump out your feelings and frustrations about these or whatever other topics you wish!

Just as a friendly reminder, the same rules regarding conduct in the general sub apply here as well.

Hi! I am searching for a sport prospect breed and I’m having some trouble. I’ve filtered through breeds over and over and I just cannot decide and was hoping for some input.

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

No, I have two dogs. My first dog, jerry, is supposedly (what the shelter said) a spaniel mix, and my second dog zeus is a min pin/chi mix. I got jerry when I was younger so he knows a lot of tricks & basic obedience, but we’re having some reactivity issues at the moment. I got Zeus on a whim in 2020 and, well, he is definitely not the sharpest tool. He knows some tricks and has a great recall, but neither of them are what I’m hoping to achieve with a dog.

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

Reputable breeder.

3. Describe your ideal dog.

I’d like an active breed on the small to medium side. I don’t care about fur, but I do not want a curly or corded dog. I would like a biddable dog with a good amount of drive/energy for dog sports but is also able to have an off switch. A breed that can go a few days every now and then without needing intense exercise to not eat my drywall would be ideal.

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

For a couple of years I was really hooked on Hungarian Mudi’s. I loved their drive and quirkiness, and that they’re appealing to look at. I found a great breeder but it wasn’t the right time for a dog, and I fell out of love with dogs for a little bit. Recently I have been wanting to get back into it, so I did some more research on Mudis and found their temperaments can really vary and they’re prone to reactivity. I enjoy herding and sporting breeds, but probably wouldn’t own terriers or hounds because of their stubborn and independent nature.

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

Obedience, leash manners, neutrality, all of it. I enjoy trick training as well.

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?

Yes, I would like to do Dock diving, Rally, Disc, and Nose work. I’m not a huge fan of agility, but I would be open to trying it solely because there are so many clubs and trainers near me. I haven’t had much experience with dog sports. I have been to a dock once with a friends sport dog. I definitely understand the fundamentals and have a bit of second hand knowledge.

Care Commitments

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

Around 4-5 hours. Ideally, I’d get a dog in a year or two and my schedule would be much more open. I really love training and it’s the main reason I want another dog.

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?

Definitely no dog parks. Honestly, I hate structured walking and would much rather drive to a big open park/field for exercise. Sport foundations/training would probably be the main form of exercise and stimulation.

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 don’t mind grooming. I take Jerry to a groomer once a year for a nice buzz, but I do everything else at home.

Personal Preferences

10. What size dog are you looking for?

Medium. I wouldn’t be opposed to large or small, though.

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

I would like a dog that doesn’t shed everywhere but it’s not one of my main concerns, and I’d be willing to deal with it. I don’t care about barking. Slobber is fine but it’s not preferred.

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

Pretty important. I have a pool and an average sized grass area in my backyard, but I prefer to go into the larger grass area in front of my house with my current dogs. Also like I said before, I like going to fields and parks.

Dog Personality and Behavior

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

No preference. I have both and there are positives and negatives for each.

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

Eager to please 100 percent! I don’t like having to get excited for a dog to engage with me. I hate stand offs and having to repeat commands.

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?

I don’t care. I have both and there are positives and negatives for each. However, I think i’d lean more towards open with strangers because it’s less of a stress. Not a top priority, and I could deal with either.

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

Leaning towards no. I would like to compete in dog sports, so interactions and neutrality towards other dogs is important.

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

I’d like to avoid breeds that are prone to separation anxiety. I live with other people and couldn’t do the whining while I’m not around.

Lifestyle

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

5-7 hours.

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

I completely take care of my current dogs and would continue this with any future dog. My family doesn’t like hair or barking, but Jerry sheds and barks constantly so it would not be anything new to them. I’ll also be moving out in a few years (hopefully), so they won’t have to deal with it for very long. Though, it is likely once my sister moves out of our basement that I will move down there, so it shouldn’t be an issue either way.

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

Yes, I have 2 small dogs. I would like a bunch of other pets. I want reptiles, fish, cats, and possibly rodents. There wouldn’t be any issues separating them, though. I like sporting breeds so I wouldn’t mind waiting a couple years for other pets.

21. Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

My little sister is 11, but she has pretty good boundaries. Other than that, not regularly.

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?

America! There are no breed restrictions!

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

I live in Arizona. Typically 110 in the summer and mid 50s in the winter, 70s-80s during fall/spring. I don’t leave my dogs outside for extended periods of time during the summer.

Additional Information and Questions

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

Kind of random, but a lot of breeds have thrown me off because of how they look. I don’t mean to be shallow but I don’t particularly want an unappealing dog. I don’t like stocky, brachy, or droopy breeds.

26. Feel free to ask any questions below.

I would love to hear any suggestions or feedback. Other than that, no questions.

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.

Random thought that I recently had. I rescue dogs, only have ever had 1 from puppy hood.

Most of the ones we've had, have had bad history.

But some, it's a good history, they were just left behind due to deaths.

When I get to heaven, I know that the ones who had the bad history will be there for me. But what about the ones who had a good history?

Do you think they will split their time with me and with their other people? Or do you think we will all just be hanging out together? Humans and dogs alike?

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.

I live in canada and have a medium sized lab mix, 60lbs, that is lean and somewhat deep chested. Jackets and sweaters tend to slide off of her.

Our winters can be very cold and wet so I'm not sure what brand I should get her. I was looking into Chilly dog but the warmest one they have isn't water proof.

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.

Hello everyone...

Me and my bf adopted a dog like 8months ago... We found her outside our place and decided to keep her. She was really scared and took her months to trust us and start acting like a dog.

We've spend time for basic obedience training and a few tricks and she is a fast learner...she follows the commands inside the house but where we're outside there are times where we can't get her attention. I've tried using treats but she doesn't seem to be interested...any ideas or strategies on how to get her attention?

We haven't had the chance to practice much outside since our priority was to make her feel comfortable in different cases and overcome her fears...

TLTR: How can I get my dog's attention since treats don't interest her?

Hello! Looking for breed recommendations please as I’m struggling with finding the perfect breed! Thank you in advance!

Introduction

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

First dog! No direct experience of the owning / training side. Had dogs growing up.

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

Likely to want a puppy, so reputable breeder.

3. Describe your ideal dog.

Cute Loving & snuggly Playful Intelligent Medium size Good with people & other dogs

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

Springer Spaniel: intelligence, easy to train, medium size, cuddly fur Border Collie: intelligence, easy to train, medium size, cuddly fur Standard Schnauzer: intelligence, medium size, unique look and stature, easier grooming / less shedding Bernese Mountain Dog: cuddly, intelligent, not too much exercise requirement

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

Standard things like fetch, sit, roll-over, paws, bark, quiet generally. Basic obedience is a must and move onto advanced 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 competing or work.

Care Commitments

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

Partner as much as possible, me maybe around 2-2.5 hours (30-60min walk, half hour training, and hour other interaction throughout day / evening)

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?

An hour of walks around the country park right next to us. Can also let our dog out onto the field next to us for extra play / exercise as needed. We’ll be going to dog parks and dog agility for exercise at weekends.

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?

Absolutely. We’re happy to clean ears, trim nails and do some basic grooming tasks as needed at home. However, we’ll absolutely be paying for a regular groomer to give them the full grooms!

Personal Preferences

10. What size dog are you looking for?

Medium or medium small Our house isn’t huge so the dog cannot be too big but I definitely don’t like small dogs generally.

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

A little barking. Don’t mind some shedding but nothing too crazy. Don’t mind slobber.

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

Important. I understand the need for leads for safety but would prefer to put the effort in to have a well trained dog that can be off the lead if possible.

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?

Eager to please. Albeit happy with a bit of a hybrid if there are breeds that like a bit of both if it meets our other needs.

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 for a dog to bark when someone rings doorbell / knocks on door but would want a dog that’s happy to meet strangers and visitors.

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?

Barking constantly Whining / neediness around the house I.e having a shower with door closed and dog waits outside / whines

Lifestyle

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

A few hours at most but not often during working week. During the working week, I mostly work from home. My partner works shifts and so they are in the house on weekdays at times. We will likely work it so that I go into office when partner is at home and vice versa or if we are both out, I can come back on lunch break for 30 minutes. At weekends, if we are out for longer than a few hours, we’ll be using family for dog sitting and overnight as required.

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

Already taken into account!

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

Not currently.

21. Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

Occasionally rather than regularly.

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

No plans to rent and not renting currently.

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

UK

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

Standard UK temperatures so winter is 2-9C and summer is like 20-25C.

Additional Information and Questions

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

• No additional information.

Hi All, I know this is a silly question. What did you do for the first few days you brought your pup home?

I brought my newly adopted dog home about 40 minutes ago. I live in an apartment and I walked him around a bit. I’ll walk him outside every couple hours or so to get used to the place and help with potty training if he needs it. I can tell he’s unsure and sad which I know is normal. He came from literally the best foster home. I’m so sad for him that his whole world has changed when it was so great for him. But I know it’ll take time to get to know each other. Now I just don’t know what to do-he’s not interested in his toys quite yet. Do we stare at each other, watch tv?

Edit: thanks, everyone, for your replies. It helps to ease my nerves reading them all. I’m aware of the 3-3-3 rule but it’s been 16 years since I brought a dog home and she was a puppy. So this feels like a new world for me! Considering it’s been just a few hours my new pup seems to be doing well! Taken naps, walks, and follows me everywhere. He’s currently napping next to me on the couch-he’s probably exhausted from a big day. I asked my foster all the questions the few times I’ve talked to her so now we just have to get to know each other!