https://imgur.com/a/4TsxXsK

so we found this pup on the side of the road about a month ago and we cant figure our what breed he is. the vets where im from don’t provide telling people what breed their dog is which sucks so im turning to reddit for some help. i’ve tried searching all over the internet but cannot find any results so any help is appropriated!!

After several months, my golden has decided he's afraid of the car. We don't live in a walkable place, so all he's left with is the yard. Even with half an Ativan, it was a struggle to get him into the car so I could take him to the wash your own dog place.

But as hard as it is to get him into the car, it's no trouble at all to get him to go into the car to get back home.

He's no trouble once he's in the car, or when we arrive at our destination and he's out of the car. He's been on a leash walking around after his bath. Another time I had someone help to load him into the car, then we went to a park he likes. Could he have anxiety about leaving his home?

I would love to take him to the vet for this behavior problem, but I don't want to pre-drug him to get him there. There's also the possibility of making an appointment and not being able to get him into the car, canceling at the last minute and being charge for it.

Yes, we tried treats. You know those old coin banks where you'd put the coin in place, and a hand would come out of nowhere, snatch up the coin and disappear with it? It's like that.

Hello everyone who comes across this post I (21F) was recently gifted a Pomeranian from a friend and she’s a beautiful puppy but I don’t have that much information about how to feed her I know it depends on the size of the Pomeranian but I want to know a Pomeranian meal prep what foods she should eat and how to prepare it I am kinda nervous and excited to be a dog parent

for some backstory. About 2 months ago I adopted a husky from the humane society. he’s a little over a year old. his previous owners claimed he was an outside only dog, and was too crazy so they surrendered him. When I got Zoro, I leash walked him to potty in our backyard because he’s fairly tall, and I didn’t want to risk him jumping over the fence as he was fairly scared of humans. After about a week of that I started letting him out with our other dogs and not on the leash to gain trust. He loved to follow our other husky, and myself. now, i trust him outside by himself. however he started pottying on our patio instead of the grass. right in front of the door. none of my other dogs do this. How do I get him to go potty in the grass by himself without me having to go outside and in the grass myself?

Early this morning i let my dogs off leash in the community dog park. As they were running out, one of my dogs let out the most horrific cry that i’ve ever heard.

I went over to her to see what happened and i noticed she was limping a little bit and then just laid down at my feet which is very unusual for having just arrived at the dog park.

She eventually stood up again and i saw the most horrific gash on her lower stomach/ thigh area. It was so gruesome honestly her skin was literally hanging off. I’m not sure how she was even conscious because the wound was so severe and large.

After assessing what happened, i realized that she cut her self on a piece of agility equipment at the dog park that was missing a safety feature. The equipment was a hurdle for the dogs and on either side of the hurdle there are 2 metal poles sticking up about 1-1.5 feet out the ground.

After looking at the poles, i saw on the side that my dog got hurt, the pole is missing a plastic cap. This caused the pole to be extremely sharp, it was almost like a blade because the pole was rectangular and had sharp edges and corners. i also saw chunks of my dogs fur on and around the pole :(

once i realized how severe here injuries were, i rushed her to the emergency vet. the emergency vet had to put her under anesthesia to give her sutures and repair her injuries. The vet notified me that she had more abrasions under her fur, so they shaved and cleaned those areas as well. She ended up having scrapes go from the form of her chest all the way down to her lower stomach/upper thigh area.

We ended up having to pay almost $3k to the vet. I’m just so glad that she’s ok. That being said, her injuries were so severe, will she be traumatized by this situation? She is literally the sweetest girl in the whole world! it makes me so sad because she does not deserve this type of suffering at all.

On Friday night fate decided to be cruel and took our 2 floofs across the rainbow bridge. They were our goofballs. We took Ruby (9) to the emergency vet, she has seizures previously but this time it was different. We said our painful goodbyes and left her to come home to our 2 other dogs. When we got home our bigger floof Bubba was not responding and stayed in the same spot we left him. He was unable to stand and we rushed back to the emergency vet, his heart was failing. We had to say goodbye once again and came home to an empty house. The silence was deafening. They were happy pups, always ready to greet you, and offer you a toy. Sometimes they were loud and often left a lot of hair all over the house. But they were family, we loved them and their personalities. It’s difficult saying goodbye to one pup but it’s cruel to have to say goodbye to both in the span of one night 💔

We love you two so very much, our house is empty but at least you’re both at peace.

I have a 10 week old alaskan klee kai and he wants to be buddies with my cat soo bad but my cat has never met dogs so he's very weary. Any time they've gotten close my dog tries getting him to play in dog language and it spooks my cat

Just got a new 4 month old pitbull over the weekend. Training him has been fairly easy but right now I’m working on training him off of the couch unless invited. I don’t have a dog bed for him just yet (underestimated how expensive those are in retail pet stores) but he does have a pretty comfy crate with blankets/toys/treats as an alternative right now.

He seems to understand the down command if I say it when I see him about to jump up but as soon as I look away he’s up on the couch again and I have to physically pick him up and put him in the crate to get him down when his training treats run out to reinforce the rule.

We’ve been working on it for about a day or so but after his night time walk all he wants to do is cuddle with me before knocking out for the night.

Is it okay if I let him up on the couch with me to cuddle before bed? Or is it seen as an inconsistent rule in his eyes? Does it make me seem like a pushover since we’re still in the beginning stages of this part of his training? Will he respect the rule later on if I let him up to sleep?

I guess I’m not sure how strict I should be. We’re in a 1 bedroom apartment so there’s really no where else for him to go (he only has access to the living room, bathroom and kitchen, no bedroom yet since there’s carpet in there) besides his crate if I am on the couch chilling watching tv but I also want him to have respect for my boundaries and others’ furniture if he visits someone else’s house.

I know how important consistency is with puppies so any advice would help!

Specifically on behavior?

Thank you in advance!

Looking for a small breed that can join me on my runs.

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

Second dog.

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)?

No preference

3)Describe your ideal dog.

Small active dog that will get along with other dogs and children.

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

Papillon seems interesting but idk how far they can run.

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

I want to teach the dog to run with me and slme simple tricks.

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?

Whenever I'm home I would hope the dog would actually want to do anything other than sleep.

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?  

I would be going to a dog park at least once a week with my other dog and take it out for some runs.

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'm OK with grooming

**Personal Preferences**

10)What size dog are you looking for?

Small dog

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

Noise isn't a problem since I live in a house.

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

It would be nice but I prefer to use a leash, maybe if no one is nearby at a park. 

**Dog Personality and Behavior**

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

Either is fine. 

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

I don't understand this question.

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 would rather he barks until I open the door or he realizes it's someone he knows.

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?

Aggressive dogs

**Lifestyle**

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

A few hours a day 6-8 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? 

Others in the house would enjoy another dog

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

Yes, a 12 year old pomeranian.

21) Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

Yes, nieces might come visit

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?

PA

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

70-90

**Additional Information and Questions**

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

We have a nice size fenced backyard so we can let it out and do it's thing.

26) Feel free to ask any questions below.  

Do you know of any? Here in my city you can find just about any breed at a rescue but I’m not sure where to start. I’m looking to adopt a dog with natural guarding instincts or one that isn’t too friendly with strangers like most dogs seem to be. A mutt would be fine if it has the right personality but sadly at community shelters they put the more reserved dogs down immediately and the dogs kept there just seem to love all people which isn’t what I really want. I have cats though who do not like dogs and I don’t want a breed so aggressive that it is going to eat my cats if they get into a fight lol. Something inbetween would be a good fit for me probably. Getting some special puppy from a breeder seems really camp to me, I want an adult dog and it doesn’t really matter that much, I would rather just get any old shelter dog than one I will have to train. Thank you!

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

I’ve had 12 dogs in my life

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

I want a shelter dog/rescue

3. Describe your ideal dog.

Won’t chase cats but also not overly friendly more reserved is better. I can deal with anything else

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

I really like spitz breeds from having owned them before

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

My dogs are welcome to sleep on all the furniture and eat from the counters lol I don’t care about training

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?

I am really active it would be cool to take them on my adventures and runs

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?

Several hours per day

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 to both

Personal Preferences

10. What size dog are you looking for?

Medium to large

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

If it’s not constantly in my face I don’t mind cleaning up after it

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?

Both

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

Do it’s own thing

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 would prefer the dog to be aloof and bark

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

Yes

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

No

Lifestyle

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

Few hours at most

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

No others

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

2 American shorthair 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?

Houston TX

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

80 degrees summer 60-40 degrees winter

Additional Information and Questions

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

N/a

26. Feel free to ask any questions below.

I have my dog on K9 Advantix II, but still find ticks either on her or dead near where she was sleeping almost every day. She's outside ≈10 hours/day running through tall grass, through bushes, in water, etc, so it's expected that she'll be in contact with ticks. K9 Advantix II supposedly prevents attachment, but it isn't working at all, so looking for alternatives that do.

My year and a half old husky has a history of car sickness, sometimes she does okay but it's been really slow, incremental progress. Last week, I took her hiking up a mountain trail (We're in Los Angeles) and on the way to the hike, she did great in the car.

After the hike and on the way back, she threw up in the car right as we were about to get home.

During the hike, she did great but now I'm not so sure if she didn't get some altitude sickness.

I was planning on taking her on a group trip to spend a few days in Mammoth but the drive there (4+ hours) plus the altitude change now has me worried about her getting sick. Would it be best to not take her?

I feel really bad but I want what's best for her health-wise

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

* I like breeds such as Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Viszla, etc. I like hunting dogs in general but I am open to any other types as well.

**What role is your dog expected to fill and how do you envision your dog fulfilling that role?** 

* I want a dog that provides company and can hang out with me while watching TV, but can also handle 2-3 hour hikes on weekends.

**What experience do you have owning dogs? How about training dogs?** Have you been the primary caregiver of a dog before? If yes, what breed(s)? What is your experience with puppy or senior dog care?

* This will be my first dog.

**Do you have other pets or are you planning on having other pets?** If so, what breed/type, age, and sex are they? 

* No other pets.

**Do you have children or are you planning on having children? Do you often have children as visitors, such as nieces, nephews, cousins, or friends' children?** 

* I do not have any kids, and I get visited by kids very rarely.

**Do you rent or will you be renting in the future? If so, what breed or weight restrictions are on your lease?** What type of building do you rent (condo, apartment, high-rise apartment, townhome, single-family home, etc)?

* I do not rent.

**Who lives in your household and who will be responsible for taking care of the dog?** How do the other members of the household feel about having a new dog?

* Me and my two parents. I will be responsible for taking care of the dog. They are excited about it as well but don't want to do too much work.

**How often do you have visitors to your home?**

* Twice weekly. The dog should be sociable with other people.

**Do you have a preference for rescuing a dog vs. going through a knowledgeable and reputable breeder?** 

* I would like to have a dog with predictable traits, so going through a breeder seems preferable.

**Do you want a puppy, a young adult (1-3 years), an adult, or a senior? Why?** 

* Puppy.

**What size dog are you looking for?** [Here is a size chart for your convenience.](http://i.imgur.com/vnz3usJ.jpg)

* A small to medium dog, up to 24".

**How much barking is too much barking?** 

* I don't mind barking.

**How much regular brushing are you willing to do?**

* Every day.

**How much shedding do you think you can handle?** Some breeds of dogs shed more than others.  Some breeds don't shed, but require trimming or other coat maintenance instead.

* I prefer a dog that doesn't shed a lot, but this isn't a deal breaker.

**Are you open to trimming your dog's hair, cleaning ears, clipping nails, or doing other grooming at home? If not, would you be willing to pay a professional to do it regularly?** 

* I am open to grooming the dog myself if possible, if not I will take them to a professional groomer.

**How do you feel about slobber? What about farts?** 

* Preferably no slobber.

**How eager-to-please or independent do you want your dog to be?** 

* I don't mind either way, I lean more towards eager-to-please but I would like to minimize the risk of separation anxiety.

**What sorts of training do you want your adult dog to have?** 

* The basic obedience training and socialization.

**Is there any behavior you can’t accommodate?** 

* The dog will be in a yard that has a vegetable garden and flowers, so I would like a dog breed that does not like to dig or destroy the flowers. I understand this is an individual trait as well, so I want to train the dog to not dig. 

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

* Not important.

**How long can you exercise your dog each day, on average? What kinds of exercise are you planning to give your dog regularly?** 

* Regular walks, 30 min twice a day, easy to moderate hiking on weekends.

**How long do you have to devote to mental stimulation each day?** 

* One-two hours in addition to the walks.

**Where will the dog be kept when alone and where will the dog sleep?** 

* In a fenced yard, in a dog house. The dog house will have heating. On days with bad, cold, or very hot weather the dog will stay inside.

**How often and for how long will the dog be left alone?** 

* I work from home so the dog will mostly have company. I go out for a couple of hours 2-3 times a week. I travel three times a year for two weeks and I want the dog to be ok staying with other people.

**If needed, could you hire a dog walker, pay for doggy day care, or come home during lunch to take care of your dog?** 

* I have friends and family that can take care of the dog in my absence.

**What is the general location in which you live?** You can decline to answer, but responses will likely assume you’re somewhere in the US without breed-specific legislation (BSL).

* Central europe - winters are cold and summers are hot.

**What is the average temperature of a typical summer day where you live? A typical winter day?** Please indicate Celsius or Fahrenheit and the climate of places you may likely live in the future.

* 26C (78F) in the summer and 0C (30F) in the winter.

**On a scale of 1 to 10, how prepared are you to care for a dog and prioritize its well-being over your career, entertainment, or other life choices for the next 12 or more years?**

* 7-8, I want the dog to have a good and fulfilling life.

**Are you aware of the costs associated with dog ownership on an average annual basis? Have you budgeted for additional emergency veterinary care and/or pet insurance?** 

* Yes, I am aware and I can afford regular vet visits and other costs.

Please help me find a breed that fits my requirements, or tell me if my expectations are unrealistic. Thanks!

We decided to get a dog for the home since my wife started working from home. He is a well behaved dog that enjoys cuddles and play time. Here is where the issues come in.

I love the dog but I am on general indifferent on pets. I can really take them or leave them. My wife loves dogs and really wants a lap dog to be with her 24/7. Because of this I am the "bad guy" in the house meaning I am the one who reprimands, puts him in his kennel at night, and such. However when I get home from work he is happier than ever. My wife even comments how he doesn't ever get this excited for her, and he will even bring me toys at the door. If we are both home he will choose to sit and cuddle next to me, and sometimes keep away from my wife.

Did we mess up? Do dogs naturally like the authority figure more than the loving parent? I've seen how my wife interacts with him, and it's not overbearing or anything like that. Any advice to help get the dog to like my wife more?

My dog bit someone a little over a month ago. He was teathered in my yard and the person he bit had walked into my yard to pet him. It was a very minor bite to her finger, just barely enough to draw blood. She wasn't mad, hasn't tried to sue or anything, and admitted that she shouldn't have tried it. But the incident did get reported by a passer by.

Now I've only been taking him outside into my back yard on a leash with direct supervision for potty breaks. And I've been walking him at night or early in the morning to avoid other people. I don't think he'll do it again, but I feel like I can't be too careful. I don't want him to get labeled as a vicious dog that has to be destroyed. But I want him to have a little more freedom to run around and enjoy being outside while still keeping him and others safe.

I have a pretty decent sized back yard. I know how to use tools and stuff, but I've never really built anything. Have any of you ever put up a fence yourselves, and do you think it would be too difficult for a person (me) with limited experience to do? Or should I just bite the bullet and hire a professional?

My old neighbors put up something similar on their own, just the 2 of them (husband and wife) for their dogs a few years ago. It looks good and is still holding up. My current neighbors use it as a safe area for their small children to play. Their project made me think that maybe it's something I could manage myself. I'm just trying to save a little money and get it done. Everyone around my area who's the least bit handy is super busy and able to charge a premium because they're pretty in demand right now.

We rescued a husky/pittie mix pup. She’s 18 months old and she’s the sweetest. We love her dearly but here’s the issue. We can’t leave her for even a 1/2 hour. We have tried everything. A $1000 Impact crate for high anxiety dogs, calming chews, CBD, stimulating toys, puzzles, etc. She gets plenty of exercise to almost exhaustion and still can’t be left alone. In her crate she will pant to the point that literally there’s an inch of saliva and she’s sopping wet. If she free roams, she will destroy everything in sight - remotes, her bed, furniture, plants, etc. She likes going under my bed but even that, she eats furniture, gets into the closet and chews clothes…you get the picture. Outside she will destroy the yard and dig to get out. We love her so much but are just dumbfounded what to do. We don’t have a life. A simple trip to the grocery store comes at a cost, for her and for us. Please help. We don’t know what else to do for her.

My boyfriend and I go to my mother in laws frequently and we bring our dog. But every time she runs inside she immediately takes a shit in the front room. Can anybody tell me why or how to fix this? She goes potty on a mat and is completely potty trained. She even uses the potty mat at my mother in laws to go pee. But never to poop??? I don’t understand why and it’s embarrassing because now it’s become routine. Please help me

My 7 yr old female mutt has had a bunch of different leashes and none of them have truly done the trick. She pulls very strongly on walks when she sees other dogs so a normal collar is useless. Tried a gentle leader but it just seems to hurt her head and not provide the control I need. Tried the lightweight harness that’s more lines than vest and because she pulls it stretches out and she wiggles out of it. My go-to has been the vest type harness but those stretch too and she can wiggle out. Herein lies the biggest problem: she has a skinny neck but a very deep torso which I think is the reason the harnesses tend to work until they stretch out and the torso part of the harness slips forward and gives her room to wiggle out. I do tighten the straps when it stretches but it constantly stretches out from her deep torso but oh so skinny neck. I just keep buying new harnesses according to her measurements and watch her slowly/quickly/always break the harness’ limits. Any and all input welcome!

Since two weeks our dog hides as soon as it gets dark, does not want to go on a walk and starts shaking. Before that we used to walk her at night without issues as long as there were no issues unless there was a thunderstorm. We can’t get her out with treats or anything.

Has anyone tips or experiences with that?

All tips are welcome!

Hey , I have a 4 month old German shepherd he is a very active sweet puppy BUT he has a problem he gets way too over exited when he sees other dogs . So we introduced our neighbours dog to him today . He was on leash , neighbours dog has an adult lab ( female, is an angel ) . First they were separated by our front gate after he calmed down I brought him out . He started barking at her wagging his tail , she on the other hand was very calm but when I slowly let him go near her he just bit her . It was not a full bite where he his mouth was on the body whole time but more like a peck he just went placed his teeth ( didn’t use force ) and came back . Our neighbours have owned more than 20 dogs over the years and they guided us through this process ( our trainer also helped us ) but we are going wrong somewhere . Please do help us . Ps - our neighbours knows how to handle dogs very well their current dog is one the most well behaved dogs I have ever met

Any good chew ideas? i’ve been looking into duck / chicken feet, cow tails and pig ears since that’s what they’ve had before. they like the feet sometimes. i have 3 shih tzus and two have teeth issues so i’ve been trying to get more chews for better mouth health along with brushing. any good chew ideas?

Hi all! I am getting my Shiba Inu puppy (will be 3 months) and I’m looking for your must haves and or tips! We will be getting him in less than a month and so far we’ve only got a kennel from my mother in law so we’re looking to start buying things soon here.

My dog has some dandruff that we are working on resolving with new diet and vet help.

He loves to rub up and down the couch to itch his back, or roll around on rugs/carpet. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of carpet for that.

Does anyone know of like a scratchy rug they sell for this? Do you think just some kind of Astroturf/plastic pokey mat would suffice? Or are there scrubby posts like cows use that aren't, y'know, field size?

Not asking for medical advice!! This is for relief while the problem is being medically addressed.

We had to put our 16-year-old Havanese little family pup down. She was struggling and I know it was the right decision, but I miss her so much already 😭 we got her when I was 14 so she was around for most of my life!

Love you, buddy

❤️

Hey guys! Adopted a new pup about a month and a half ago, nearly a year old, possibly mixed dachshund/pincher mix. Have an older mix about a year and half old that I got since she was 3 months old. She’s incredibly well behaved and trained, and does a LOT of her own, dog-on-dog training (she doesn’t let him steal food, mug food, jump on me/guests…). She’s basically his mom.

The dog was found wandering and got to my house a few days later. He whines nonstop when I’m away, though my older dog helps and my neighbor friend said the whining has decreased dramatically. Still, what has gotten worse is his incessant barking for attention. He does it at me, at other people, and other dogs that he wants attention from. Most dogs just ignore him when he does that. He will also bark if I’m eating food around him, even if he’s full.

My current modus operandi is to ignore his whining (I can tell if he’s actually trying to tell me something or if he’s just doing it for attention), give him affection and treats when he’s not barking and just slowly building up our mutual confidence with obedience training, plenty of puzzles like longs, wobblers, etc scattered around when I’m not home and long walks without a leash. Mind you, he also has my older dog and they keep each other busy most of the day.

I can pretty confidently tell

Do you reckon I am doing OK? How can I improve my training and what do you think in general? I’ve doing some exercises with him like Kikopup’s “no-mugging” game as he’s a fearless, outgoing pup that used to try and mug anything out of my hand. It has been working wonders and now he just sits whenever he wants to ask me for something. But, this behavior has been replaced with incessant barking. Not only for attention, but also when he wants my food/place on sofa etc. Still, it’s much better than before.

And I can tell the separation anxiety and attention-demanding barking are both the same problem, since he gets into this over-excited state and behaves practically the same.

New dog owner here! I live in Singapore and my family has recently adopted a 5-year-old Singapore Special, which is a 'breed' title we give to our local street dogs.

Wanted to come on here and ask both new and seasoned dog owners: is your dog's routine pretty regimented or does it vary? I've read many articles that have emphasised the importance of routine, but they've also highlighted that having variety in the routine can help keep your dog engaged and stimulated.

My dog gets two walks a day in our residential area, once in the morning and once at night, and they range from 30 to 50 mins each. The timing of the morning walks vary as I don't have to work from office everyday, and at least twice a week, my dog gets to enjoy a longer late morning walk at the beach with my dad. On the weekends, the schedule changes since we have more free time, so we might do one long walk in the day (up to 3 hours) and stay at home for the rest of the night to give him sufficient rest.

In between his walks, he gets enrichment from kong toys, puzzle feeders, lick mats, snuffle mats, bully sticks etc. He's recently fallen in love with a new toy we've made out of spare macrame rope so he plays with that on occasion too.

I wanna give my dog the best life possible, and hope that the routine we've established for him is stable yet interesting enough.

Happy to hear any advice!

Edit: oof im on mobile and it took the formatting away, super sorry!

Introduction

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

This will be my boyfriend and I's second dog as adults. I grew up around dogs (5). Our current dog became reactive after being attacked and with a FF trainer he only has very specific triggers on leash. Very used to training and owning dogs.

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

Honestly both for the right dog! We have been looking for reputable breeders from the AKC search and keeping an eye out in shelters.

Describe your ideal dog.

Medium-Large size dog, likely medium coat (a bit fluffy?). Able to handle at least medium distance hikes but is good at decompressing (doesn't take long to wind down), and leaning more on the friendly temperament. We don't bring our dog everywhere, so an everywhere-buddy isn't necessary. I know any dog can be reactive, but inclination towards selectivity towards people/other dogs is not something we're looking for.

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

I chose our first dog (a pit/cattle dog mix) and my boyfriend is taking first choice in our next dog (though I am in agreement with the breeds). His dream dog right now is a Rottweiler, but he equally wants a chocolate lab. He loves the size, fur length, and look of these breeds. I've told him the temperament of a lab is likely more of what he wants, though.

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

We don't live in an area that has sports, but really we want a good outdoor companion. We play disc golf and want to train the future dog not to pick up our discs and preferably recall, but besides that really just great obedience (not jumping on guests, leash walking, etc). and maybe some fun tricks mixed in.

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?

We live in an area where there really isn't any of these sports, but lots of working dogs. We will likely not have the new dog compete or work in formal sports/jobs unfortunately.

Care Commitments

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

We're able to do a couple hours each day for training/playing/interacting with the dog. We on average spend time with our current dog from anywhere 2-4 hours a day doing walks, playing, or training.

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?

Likely the same as above, 2-4 hours. We usually do long walks in the morning and evening on weekdays, with mini walks on my lunch. We usually try to squeeze in a hard play sesh but it has been too hot and smoky, so we do mental stimulation like snuffle mats/training/indoor play. We used to go to the dog park like once a month, but we don't usually plan on it over ball time/swimming in the river. The weekend days has the longer end of exercise, because both my boyfriend and I are off work.

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?

Probably about a medium amount of grooming. We don't mind brushing every couple of days, and our current dog gets a bath and brush about once a month (short coat). I'm comfortable trimming nails, cleaning ears, and small trims where I won't botch it but otherwise am willing to pay a professional to do a much better job than I could.

Personal Preferences

10. What size dog are you looking for?

Medium-Large, our current dog is around 45-50lbs and we'd like the same size or bigger but not huge.

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

Don't mind any level of shedding, don't mind barking but we live in an apartment so if the dog is prone to barking/baying/howling training would be more necessary, and my boyfriend doesn't mind slobber but I'd prefer not an overly slobbery breed.

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

Not super important, but in areas like rivers/lakes it would be nice for the dog to be responsive to recall training.

Dog Personality and Behavior

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

In between, we don't want a super velcro dog, but would like one that is good with being hugged/cuddled/smooched/etc. by us.

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

Eager to please would be a nice change from our current boy who is more on the do his own thing side of the spectrum.

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?

Our current dog has been trained to wait until we give a release word from his crate to say hi to people, though he occasionally barks if he doesn't see them. We'd like a dog that is friendly to people knocking or coming into our yard, and is pretty neutral to strangers on walks and out and about. We'd only really let the new dog greet when we allow it.

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

Our current dog was on the frustration-excitement end of the reactivity spectrum, but we're not sure if we'd like to introduce a dog that is aggressive. Probably not.

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

We've handled a lot of 'bad' behaviors with our current dog (he has nipped one person, a level two bite) so we can handle a lot, but preferably we want to try to avoid or nip these reactive behaviors in the bud with the new dog.

Lifestyle

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

Likely around 4 hours once or twice a week. I WFH so I am always around M-F.

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 boyfriend will be a co-caretaker, basically the same involvement as me besides the M-F workday as he goes into work.

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

We have one other dog, a 45-50lb pit/cattle dog mix.

21. Will the dog be interacting with children regularly?

Likely not, but my boyfriend does have some younger brothers but they are all 10 and up. No young/touchy children.

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

We rent, and its the typical no 'aggressive' breeds and no weight restriction. Our current dog is an ESA for myself.

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

We live in the US, in MT. There are no laws banning certain breeds in our city.

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

We're in a heat wave right now where temps have gotten up to 101 degrees F. The average non heatwave weather is between about 80-95 in the summer. Winter, depends on if there is a cold snap, but is usually around 30 but has dipped well into the negatives before during a cold snap. Our current dog doesn't spend time out in the hottest part of the day, and wears boots and coat(s) during the winter.

Additional Information and Questions

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

We plan to have the dog go through a training package with our FF trainer within 3 months of being with us. Our current dog is not dog aggressive and is great with other dogs.

26. Feel free to ask any questions below.

I did list the two breeds we'd like above, but would love ANY recommendation!

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.