I swear dogs don’t all ship the same 😂

Some examples I’ve seen:

- One dog refuses to walk past bins like they’re haunted

- Another only drinks water if you pretend you’re about to take it away

- My mate’s dog sits like a human on the sofa and watches TV like it pays rent!

What’s your dog’s weirdest quirk?

I'm currently dog-sitting my colleague's 8 y.o. coton de tulear and I'm a little puzzled by her 😄

Now, I've spent a lot of my life surrounded by dogs – most of them hunting breeds (retrievers, dachshunds, terriers, etc.) – and very used to activating them a LOT. Walks, training, nose work, you name it. Now I have this little fluff ball in my home and she is so chill. She's used to a human family of 5 (with kids aged 7, 5 and baby) and so I would have expected her to be a little more needy, but she's just plopping down, plays a little bit with a stuffed toy, and seems to like a few rounds of fetch. I take her on a few short walks throughout the day, as I only have a balcony, not a garden. And one longer one in the evening. Other than that, she just lounges around, listening to the neighbourhood sounds or napping.

I know people say a sleeping dog is a happy dog, but I'm just a little puzzled by how little she is asking for attention or activation. Is she literally just that well-adjusted and content or am I missing something? My colleague said that she's pretty chill and used to being home alone etc., but I've just never spent much time around breeds like this and am a little perplexed :D

So normally, my dog sleeps through the night. Has a strict 9 pm bedtime, wakes up around 7-8 am unless there is a potty emergency.

The exception has been when it’s an emergency outside potty in the middle of the night. For those she is really quick, runs out, runs back in.

However as y’all know it’s been “hot as fuck” outside. So my Shiloh hasn’t been getting her long walks and she has had 0 interest in going outside during the day.

The last week she’s been waking us up between 3-5 am (the coolest part of the day) to have her outside time. She acts like it’s an emergency, but then does here usual sniffs around the perimeter, checking all her spots, patrols for bunnies and relaxes in the grass in addition to her potty time. Then, once the sun starts coming up she wants to be back inside.

This has sucked for us because we need to be awake during this time. However it’s super interesting that she can tell what time of day is going to be coolest.

My wife and I have got 6 dogs. They’re all medium or large in size (smallest is 23kg, biggest is just under 50kg).

We’ve heard it all from people. From, it’s way too many to it’s amazing. My personal belief is, if you have the time, space and money, there isn’t “too many” (within reason). Some people 1 might be too much, others 10 is still within their comfort.

Anyway, I’d love to get other’s opinions on it?

I'm curious what everyone else's experience is.

I recently took my German Shepherd to a self-service dog wash. I ended up being there for about an hour and was told there was a 30-minute limit. The thing is, there were no signs anywhere mentioning a time limit.

Maybe I'm just slow, but shampooing my GSD alone takes close to 20 minutes because of how thick her coat is. By the time I thoroughly rinse, condition, dry, and clean up the area, 30 minutes doesn't seem realistic for a large double-coated breed.

For those of you with German Shepherds, Huskies, Goldens, Newfoundlands, or other fluffy dogs:

- How long does it usually take you?

- Have you ever run into time limits at self-service dog washes?

- If there is a limit, do you think it should be clearly posted before customers start?

I'm genuinely curious if I'm the odd one out or if 30 minutes just isn't enough for larger dogs.

I have a CKCS and a husband who goes to sleep many hours earlier than I do. My job is difficult with long hours, but sometimes my dog leaves his toys in the spot where I lay my head to sleep and it makes me tear up when I go to bed (‘: Dogs are such sweet, innocent creatures. That’s it. I just wanted a place to share my nightly cry.

I have heard mixed reviews and am wondering if I should steer clear of using the big box stores for anything other than food and supplies. Thanks everyone!

I just discovered a way to make sleeping with my dogs more comfortable. My two small dogs sleep in the big bed with us. Pete goes under the covers and down by our feet, which is fine. Sophie wants to sleep up against me. Due to body impressions in our mattress, she was constantly rolling downhill and tight up against my back, which made it too hot, or difficult to turn over or move without either risk rolling onto her little legs or falling off the bed myself.

Maybe some folks already know this, but when I finally figured out that it was due to the mattress, I rolled and folded a bath towel and wedged it slightly under her like a wheel chock. She no longer rolls into me, and I’m now getting a good night’s sleep. Hope this might help someone else with the same problem. She seems to like it, and often uses it for a pillow.

Hey there everyone! I just adopted a 5-6month old Bulldog mix from a local shelter in Idaho. She is the sweetest little girl. So far everything is going pretty good except potty training. I'm aware of the usual potty training positive reinforcement techniques, but I'm not sure how we'll they are going to help me in this case. She is still very timid and doesnt seem to want to move around or walk too much. I have to pick her up to take her outside to try and get her to go in the yard, but she pees/poops immediately. I don't even have to touch her and she'll start going lol. Ive moved her play pen close to the back door to make the trip shorter. I aproch very calmly and never get upset with her. When shes outside she loves roaming about and exploring but never does her business out there. Shes only peed on the floor once so far outside of the pen(shes not locked up 24hr lol). And I try to take her out as frequently as I can. Also for reference I work 8/10hr a day so there is alone time. I am planning on hiring a dog walker here soon(nervous of strangers in the house lol). Any advice on working with a timid puppy? I know it takes time and our relationship/trust need to build just looking for some tips!!! TIA

TLDR

Timid Shy 5m old Puppy pees when being picked up for potty time.

Hi all,

been reading the latest 2026 news on this a lot and trying to find what the current experience is.

I have an older dog who is a frequent worldwide traveller.

He has a 2014 French pet passport (old style) where my old British address was listed.

There are pre-Brexit UK stamps, but all vaccination entries after Brexit were in the EU.

Tapeworm pages ran out and we have been using extra info and misc pages.

Current rabies until this October (the planned itinerary concludes before then).

I used the passport without any issues for trips to Canada, US, and back to Europe from there, for years, most recently in December 2025, we then returned via Ireland.

Now I hear about this new April 2026 thing and I am trying to understand whether our current planned itinerary will still work.

Glasgow to Toronto, Toronto to Vienna, and then back to the UK via Hoek-van-Holland to Harwich.

I am reasonably confident of leg 1 (right?). I have flown outward to Canada with him from the UK 3 or 4 times with the EU pet passport, although never before with Transat (usually with Air Canada) . Has anyone used Transat?

On American forums it seems people have not had issues using EU passports to fly back to Europe, even after April, but havent found any for Canada.

Also have no experience arriving in Vienna with the dog (direct flight). In France or Netherlands no one checks anything.

For Hoek van Holland I only assume they have to let us back to the UK because otherwise there would be nothing we can legally do at that point.

My personal conclusion is that the itinerary ahould still work, but I rather worry about potentially redundant conclusions various agents along the route will make. Attempts to procure alternative certificates for all legs make the cost of bringing him astronomical.

The trip is 1 month length overall so alternatively we will need to spend half of it getting a.. what Canadian certificate? Can non-Canadian residents even get them? Makes no sense.

Hi, we adopted a 4 month puppy from the shelter. We have been to the vet and he is 100% health but he smells extremely bad. The smell is something similar to cat piss. We have washed him 4 times now and he smells good for some hours and then the smells comes back. Has anyone dealt with the same issue? And do you have any advice on how to remove the smell? Thanks a lot!

I just applied to a private rescue and they want to do a virtual home tour. Which I can understand but they also want to see and talk to my kids. Is this normal? I understand if they wanted to see how my kids interact with the dog we want to adopt but this is just during the tour of the house. I will do it but just curious if this is a normal thing when using a rescue :)

We expect him to arrive around 24th September. I live with my partner but I will be his main caregiver e.g. walks ect as I work from home. I am away on the 2nd -4th October but my partner will be home

I'm just wondering if you think it's okay or if we should delay his arrival date. I don't want to stress him out or anything especially during the first 3 weeks.

I have an 8 month old Pembroke Welsh Corgi puppy who I can't seem to tire out. Each morning we use his breakfast for his training and put the rest in a towel knot for him to sniff out. He goes outside after this and runs around the garden, chases the hose and digs holes in his section of dirt, and when he comes back in we usually have some dedicated time to play fight or play tug with one of his toys.

After this we normally need to start work so we give him some toys to play with, cardboard to destroy or we'll hide treats around the downstairs of our house and get him to sniff them out, put some ice cubes or blueberries in his bowl for him to fish out etc. Despite these he's normally sat barking at us for attention again within 10 minutes and this goes on for a while until he eventually either gives up and flops down on the floor or starts eating my shoes...

We make sure he can go outside whenever he needs the toilet or wants to run around and he always has fresh water and food etc so we know his basic needs are met, but I can't help worrying we're not doing enough for him! I know he's quite high energy because of his breed so I'm constantly worried we aren't giving him the stimulation he needs.

We don't always have time to give him a proper walk in the morning so he gets a good sniff walk when we finish work and we try and give him dedicated time to play with other dogs because he loves being around them, but on an average day-to-day it's hard to keep him entertained.

I feel like we've tried every enrichment toy under the sun: puzzle feeders, treat dispensers, snuffle mats, herding balls, lick mats etc but were wary of how easily corgis can put on weight so don't want to be non-stop feeding him, we already use his breakfast and dinner for enrichment to try and stop him having too many treats.

I'm running out of ideas!!! I know dogs are supposed to be bored sometimes but can't help feeling like we aren't doing enough for him. Any suggestions or reassurance would be much appreciated :)

My dog (1.5 yo pittie mix, female) was on a really good pee schedule for the last ~year. Consistently going around 6AM, then noon, then 5 pm, +/- 11 pm (not always but usually would pee). Recently, she’s been forgoing the 12 pm pee, and even in the evening not peeing as quickly as she usually would when let out.

I know it’s been hot out but she’s not spending a lot of time outside (spends her days on the couch in the AC) she’s drinking plenty of water, and otherwise is acting pretty normally. Is this a normal transition into a more adult schedule?

Sooo my dog is 6yrs old & he is scared of everything. He’s especially scared to eat his food.
I’ve tried everything I could think of:

- Changing his food bowl (like the type - slow feeder, metal, silicone,ceramic)
- Changing his feeding area (changed areas 4 times & there’s no where else to put it)
- Creating a safe space (quiet, non-crowded, give him treats in his bowl
- Changing his food
-Adding fruits & veggies that he can eat to his regular food
- Making a lick enrichment bowl

I’ve also wondered if he was scared of his shadow &/or the dark, so I’ve tried:

-Putting a light near his bowl so there’s no scary shadow or darkness

After all that I tried something else:

- Feeding him on the floor

After this last thing I’ve tried I came to the conclusion that he is literally scared of the food moving…..
We have a vet appt scheduled to take a look at his teeth, in case that’s why he doesn’t want to eat but I doubt that bc he chews no problem on his treats like his pig ears.

We didn’t live in the house that we live in now when we got him as a puppy. He was originally an apartment dog & was fine in the apartment. As soon as we moved where we are at now…. There’s some rooms & areas in the house that he will not walk through or in….. it’s sooooo weird.

I do have speculation that the lady we got him from doesn’t treat their dogs very well….. he & his litter was a rescue w/ the lady only seeing the female dog which was a German shepherd & that’s the main breed we wanted.
Which he is only 7% German shepherd. He’s a super mutt dog but mostly lab & American foxhound.
Anyway…… I’m running out of options & things to do & help him…. Please help!

Edit: We also tried snuffle mats & puzzles before & he hates them…. Never had I known a hound to not utilize their nose…..

We also did crate train him as a puppy & he responded very very well… the 1st night we had him we left him in the crate & he only yelped for maybe less than 1 min & has never yelped or whined after that with being in the crate. We intended to crate train him until he didn’t need, want, or use one anymore & now when he goes places that need to crate him (I.e. the groomers) he seems like he hates it (still doesn’t whine or bark or anything, his body language says it all) but also maybe it’s bc of the environment & him hating baths….

Our tiny, 10 pound, Italian Greyhound is in a full leg cast for awhile. We bought a Zoosky stroller (size small) but he was able to find a way to open the canopy [rolls eyes of course he did].

We like having the carrier and the stroller separate as he has a lot of appts right now and cannot walk at all beyond quick potty breaks. I've eyed Tavo but seems silly to spend $600+! Also eyed HPZ and Ibiyaya Maxi Deep but their strollers don't separate carrier and base.

He does sit up pretty tall though as a far warning.

Help?

I rescued a four year-old dog and he is completely perfect in every way, but the second we try to go outside he refuses and he is terrified. I’ve only had him for going on a week now. I have tried giving him treats and just sitting out there but the second he sees that I have a leash in my hand he runs inside crying. I don’t know what to do.

Hi y'all. I've always had two dogs...but lost my best girl March 13. Still have my best boy (5yo). Husband encouraged me to get another dog. Rescued a 5yo female. Almost have her now for 3 weeks. Did the slow roll...dogs are getting along really well...but today she started growling at boy dog. First, when I came home and she was getting some pets, he got near her and she rumbled. Then, later when my son came home, boy dog got near her face (walking past her) and she growled at him. He did not react each time-he moved away...but I forgot how stressful it is bringing a new dog home. My anxiety is yo-yoing up and down. Now I'm afraid to leave them alone for one second (if no one is home with them, they are separated with gates to be safe.) I second guess myself....like, why did I get another dog? Why can't I just be satisfied with what I have? All in all-she's an amazing dog and I know it's going to take time for the two of them to totally acclimate to each other...I just stress about everything and I worry like there's no tomorrow. I guess it's just the new dog blues? Thanks for you feedback or input.

So a little back story we live on the road for my husbands work, we have a 2 year old german shepherd he’s been on the road his whole life! he is the biggest sweetest baby to anyone he meets, he loves my husband, cuddles him and plays with him everyday after work!

If my husband naps with me the dog is fine, if he gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom the dog is fine. but every morning at 5 am my husband gets up and takes the dogs outside to potty, he gets dressed for work then brings the dogs back to the room to be with me. but if my husband shuts the door then opens it my dog will then start to growl at him, he’ll put his ears back and his head all the way down to the bed and growl at my husband louder and louder the closer my husband gets😭😭

side note:i went back home (19 hours from where we travel with the camper) i brought the dog with me to michigan for those 5 months and he only saw my husband once at 4 month mark as i was prepping things for our wedding back home. so this growling only started 2 months ago once we got back on the road!

Hello,

I adopted a dog a month ago. She is seeming to have settled in at home, but the problem is on walks/hikes. She was in a foster home with a woman for two weeks before I got her, and she was in the shelter for two months before that. I have no idea what her life was like prior to her surrender to the shelter when she was about 6 months old.

She is now 9 months old and she doesn't want to hike with me. It takes me forever to get her to start, she just stands around at the trailhead and looks around like she is waiting for someone else.

The worst of the issue if there is a woman coming up hiking behind me on the trail. She will lay down in the middle of the trail and wait, refusing to move. Then as soon as the woman passes, she will get up and excitedly follow, like she wants to go home with the woman instead. Especially any young woman hiking alone. I have had to turn around early on trails because I can't just go around following behind women who she wants to follow. It's rude and borderline frightening, so I'll just have to pick a different direction if it happens. It's very frustrating and I certainly don't want to be intimidating someone else because my dog wants to follow *them* and not me.

But there are always people on the trails and I can't always go a different route every time I encounter a person.

I keep a packet of small pieces of high value dog treats but she will only take a few steps until the treat and then sit down in the middle of the trail again.

She is a high energy herding breed and needs exercised; and once she gets going she does fine for a few miles. We keep it short as she is still young.

This behavior is not from getting tired or anything, in fact this behavior is worst at the start of the hike. She will also jump and try to break out of her harness for any woman going the opposite way along the trail.

What can I do to encourage her to stay with me and trot at an appropriate and consistent pace without trying to chase/follow/wait for other people, especially women?

I know a dog owner that puts a diaper on her dog almost 24/7. The owner works from home and does take the dog outside for walks at least once a day. The dog doesn’t wear diapers outside.

The dog is young…maybe 2-3 years old. Small breed - idk the kind but it’s no more than 25 pounds. As far as I know it, there’s no medical reason for the diapers. Her reasoning is “the dog likes to mark inside the house”.

Could someone please tell me if this is normal? Please give your honest opinion on this. Thank you.

Hi everyone! I am planning on adopting a dog (picking him up in a few weeks!!) and am looking for some advice on where to source everything he will need. My options are:

1. Use a “one-stop-shop” like Petco or PetSmart for food, supplies, grooming, vet care etc.
   
2. Use a private vet and private groomer, then buy food and supplies from a pet retailer.

Any advice on what I should do or does anyone have positive/negative experience with any of the big stores like Chewy, Petco, PetSmart? Would be much appreciated!!

I’ve been wanting to get my german shepherd into school for training…any opinions on the place called All Dogs Unleashed?!

Looking for help. So i’ve been trying to get my dogs to go outside but to be honest it won’t be practical in the winter time so what are some suggestions especially for those that live in apartments for how to dog train dogs to go in same spot so they don’t poop and pee everywhere.

Anyone try cat litter and liter box?