r/AskDogOwners

My resident dog (4 years old, likely a poorly-bred BYB lab with missed developmental periods; we rescued her 3 years ago) is anxious, doesn't read or give normal dog social cues, and has never play bowed in her life. Lots of work has gotten her more confident, but she's just odd socially.

We're fostering-to-adopt a second dog, specifically chosen for being submissive and great at reading cues. He's wonderful, and we deliberately did slow intros (parallel walks, scent swaps, neutral meet-and-greets) before bringing him home. Indoors they're separated by a baby gate and coexisting peacefully.

Yesterday in our fenced yard, off-leash, my resident dog got the zoomies and started doing this weird "fake-out" movement she does instead of play bowing, clearly trying to invite play. They ended up chasing each other. When he mouthed her mid-chase, she barked and bared teeth at him. He backed off but looked confused, and she kept doing the fake-out thing while tucking her tail and skittering away like she still wanted to engage but couldn't handle it. We separated them at that point.

He wasn't being pushy. It really seems like she wants to play, gets overstimulated the second it becomes reciprocal/two-sided, and doesn't have the skills to communicate "too much" without snapping.

I don't want to build a negative association between them, and I don't want him getting corrected constantly for normal dog behavior, but I also can't supervise every second once the gate comes down permanently.

For context, it is day 3 of having him with us. I really love this dog already. He is so fun and goofy. He makes me laugh constantly. The idea of having to return him because of my neurotic first dog brings me to tears. I want this to work and I want to be his forever home, but I also want to be realistic. Is this going to be sustainable long-term as we go through milestones like getting a new house, getting married, having kids potentially, etc. This is my greatest fear.

I feel like we are doing everything right and being extremely cautious and trying to keep everything positive, but despite everything, it's like the effort doesn't matter.

As I mentioned, we suspect that Resident Dog missed a critical social development period in her puppyhood as she does not seem to know how interact / socialize with dogs properly, cannot read their non-threatening body language, and does not understand what a play bow is.

Has anyone dealt with this pattern (anxious/under-socialized resident dog + confident newcomer)? Is this workable with time, or a sign it's not going to click?

TLDR: My resident dog has poor social skills from likely bad early development and doesn't play-signal normally. Our foster dog (great social skills, low-key temperament) tried to play with her off-leash and she snapped when the chase got two-sided, even though she seemed to want to play. Looking for advice/success stories on integrating an anxious, poorly-socialized dog with a confident one.

A lot of people have a single dog while others have multiple, what is the psychology behind it. Do single dog owners want to have more dogs or are you fine? And why?

I took on a temporary job opportunity in Europe for about 10 months and I asked for my parents to keep my dog. I was worried about traveling with him for a long distance just because of his age. My sister lives close by and she has kids. Her children likes dogs, which I was a little surprised by because we never owned a dog growing up. Anyway, he seems to really enjoy their company and he also likes being with my parents. And so he's been spending a lot of time with my sister and her children at their home. We were in agreement that I would come back and get him once I was done with the work assignment. I've had this dog for over 10 years since he was a baby.

I got him originally as a depression dog. I wasn't going outside. My sister won't say it but I know for sure that she suffers from depression as well. She doesn't really go out of the house or anything like that. And I've noticed that she's been texting me about her at parks and other things with my dog.

She forgot my birthday recently which wasn't that big of a deal for me since we're a bit older. The dates get hazy. But something stood out to me when she was wishing me a late birthday, she mentioned that she's just been focusing on the people who have been present in her life and she thanked me for allowing her to hang out with my dog.

Fast forward to her birthday, and I got her a gift. She thanks me for it. But she also thanked me for my dog. She also tried to reject the gift that I gave her and said that I've done enough by giving her my dog. When I called her to ask her about it, she quickly said "and we're going to keep the dog". I of course asked her what she meant by that. She then said that the kids really love the dog, and if I am coming back she wants me to give her a 30-day notice.

How would you handle this? I'm almost scared to tell her when I'm arriving back because then I feel like she's going to try and keep my dog. I think there is enough love to go around with him. And at the same time I'm thinking, maybe I just get them a dog? He's mine and I'm not ready to let him go.

My birthday is this Christmas and I really want a Dachshund for my birthday, I’m very attached to getting one and they’re genuinely my spirit animal. But I’ve been researching and everything is saying they need a lot of time devoted to them and I’m nervous about IVDD. I go to a performing arts school so I’d be away from the dog on weekdays and maybe longer after school/weekends for rehearsals and things like that. I also have a very active social life so I do go out often. If needed though, I would cut back on hanging out to support the dog and let it out etc. Should I try to get one or look at different options? And if so, does anyone know a good small dog breed that is affectionate but can be at home without me for hours at a time? I have family to hang out with the dog and another dog at both my houses.

TLDR; I want a dachshund but I go to an arts school and have an active social life so I don’t know if I should look for another option and get one later in life or try it out.

I’m between yes and no to getting 2 brothers - 4 year old pedigree border collies. They are beautiful and have every trait I would want in a dog. We wouldn’t have to travel far to collect them and have the perfect amount of space for them. We also live right next to a beach ( about a 5 minute walk) and they are said to love swimming.

The only concerns I have is that
The dogs since puppies, have been with the owners, raised and loved. I’m concerned because of this they won’t be so open, considering they have spent so long with other people. I’m also concerned that 4 is maybe a bit old.

I really don’t know, I love dogs, iv have done research and I am against breeders which is why I prefer to rescue/ adopt. I just always thought I would raise them from puppies

UPDATE: Omg I’m reading through all of the responses. I can’t respond to every comment but I am overwhelmed in a great way! All of you made really good points and helped me feel less anxious and even more excited about this. I’m 100% NOT expecting this to be easy, but I think just having a positive mindset will make a huge difference but of course while also being realistic😅 Maybe specifying my kids ages would have given better perspective, they are 4.5 and 1. So I am already quite use to some chaos, have experienced the lack of sleep, and understanding that puppies are just little babies who are learning just like human babies lol. That itself makes it a bit easier to understand WHY certain behaviors are happening. Thank you all so much!

We put our deposit down for a golden retriever puppy in December. Estimated pick up day is October 6th.
Ive been coming to Reddit looking for puppy advice and generally anything that can help our family prepare. While I’ve received some decent advice, I’ve also been seeing sooo many posts about the struggles. But the posts sound so…deep. Like how people feel depressed, feel like they made a mistake, or feel like it’s ruining their life? Please tell me they are dramatic. It’s giving me anxiety reading these so maybe I just should get off of here lol.

I’ve had two puppies in my life, I was much younger at the time (between the ages 19-23) I’m 30 yo SAHM now with two kids. So my life is obviously a lot different and it will be harder this time around but I don’t remember feeling any of those feelings at all? I remember the challenges and feeling frustrated but an appropriate, normal amount and then things got better/easier fairly fast. Maybe I just got lucky. Or maybe I was just younger with lower stress levels and general responsibility? Idk.

I’ve been talking to my husband about my about everything and just feeling anxious about our decision to get a puppy. The last two puppies that I mentioned, I got them when I was with my ex and when we separated it made more sense at the time for me to not take them based off my living situation and other things. So fast forward to now, I really want a dog again but would love to hear some encouraging, exciting and positive words. Like that we will be okay!!😂😂

TLDR- I’m doing all I can to keep my dog cool in this AC-less house I’m in this weekend, but I’m really worried about her overheating. What else can I do to keep her cool? (You’ll have to read the full post if you want to see what I’ve done so far)

This is only my second time posting anywhere so that’s how worried I am- I’m at my family’s cottage that doesn’t have AC and it’s been 85-95°F the two days I’ve been here now. I knew my dogs would be hot but I’m starting to get really frustrated that I can’t seem to keep my 13 year old cool. She’s been constantly breathing heavily/ panting fast and it’s just non-stop. There’s tile floor that she can lay on if she wants, there’s water, I put a fan on the floor for her, I’ve been giving her frozen pumpkin, and I did what the google AI suggested- got a towel wet with cold water and draped it over her head, her back, and then I rubbed it on her belly, inside the back legs, and tried to get it in her armpits but that was a little hard. I wanted to try to keep her outside on the deck with us so she can get a breeze, but my mom brought her handicapped chicken with her and she’s in a pen outside and Nala can’t be in her vicinity without freaking out and getting way too overexcited and I’m worried all that excitement will just make her overheat even more. Anyway, she’s been chilling in the kitchen while my stepdad is making dinner and it seems like she’s panting a little less heavily but I’m still so upset she’s so hot. I’m even thinking I might need to leave early tomorrow morning because it’s been so upsetting to me. And tomorrow is literally July Fourth so, that’s wild for me to even think that. Okay anyway- Is there anything else I should be doing to try to keep her cool? She’s healthy but old so I’m extra worried about her. My three year old boy seems completely fine so 🤷🏼‍♀️

I wanna add a pic of her but idk how lol. You’d think a 29 year old should know how to do that. She’s an 18ish pound chihuahua dachshund

I currently have a rescue 4 lb terrier mix (and a 10lb cat). I want him to gain some weight, so ideally he will be 5-6 lbs at his healthiest. Would you ever trust a large breed dog around a dog his size? Has anyone here had a large size difference between their dogs? I am hoping to rescue another dog within a year or so, and will be doing so through a foster based rescue because I want a dog that has successfully lived with cats before. My dog likes other dogs and has been around dogs of all sizes and he either is their friend right away, or does eventually warm up to them. I guess im concerned less about aggression and prey drive, and more concerned about accidents. The dogs will likely never be together unsupervised and I am an experienced handler. I have had other dogs, and professionally work with dogs as well. I have seen successful large size gap dog siblings, but I'm curious to know how them getting to know each other went?? Sorry this is vague, I do not have a specific dog or size in mind as I plan on rescuing (though i may consider a breed specific rescue if i decide on a breed I connect with) so im not entirely sure what the next breed I will get is, but I do tend to lean toward larger breeds and wanted to hear opinions or hear personal experiences with this.

Recently adopted a 5 year old Siberian Husky from a shelter. He was given to the shelter because the family who owned him from puppy hood, until now, were moving and couldn't take him. Yesterday was our third day with him. My wife and I went out to lunch for an hour to see how he acts home alone (We live in an apartment) and everything seemed fine. A bit of whining at first, but fine. Tonight I went to work, and when I came back, the entire apartment was torn apart. Blinds were eaten and carpet chunks were missing. This could get us evicted. I tried putting him in a kennel with the tv on and a blanket that smelled like me in there, but he barked so loud you could hear it from the street. I tried melatonin treats, they did nothing clearly. I had walked him for two hours directly before I left, so he should have been tired out. He has plenty of chews and toys to play with as well. I have work tonight and I'm completely lost on what to do.

My pup is 14, now completely deaf and nearly blind. My vet said to consider letting him go sooner than later but he still has function with movement and a keen smell. He still wags his tail often.

My question is, how did you know it was time for them to pass on? Are there any major signs to look for?

My ideal is for him to pass away with me in our bed but I don’t know if I’m romanticising.

How did you know it was time?

My dog is my best friend. I’m on a trip lasting a week at had to board Penny for the first time. She’s 12 years old and this is the first time we’ve been separated more than one day. Do you think dogs have a sense of time? Hoping she doesn’t feel like she’s been abandoned. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

I have a Husky, so shedding season basically means you find fur in places you didn’t know existed.
After two years of trying everything, here’s what actually helped and what didn’t.
What didn’t work:
• Shaving her coat. Our vet quickly explained why that’s a bad idea. 😅
• Bathing too often. Weekly baths left her skin dry and didn’t reduce the shedding.
• Cheap deshedding brushes that barely reached the undercoat.
What actually helped:
• Brushing against the grain first, then with it. It pulled out a lot more loose undercoat before finishing with the coat’s natural direction.
• Bathing every 2 to 3 weeks instead of every week.
• Making sure she stayed well hydrated. Our vet mentioned healthy hydration supports skin and coat health, and we noticed less shedding after a couple of weeks.
• Steam grooming during blowout season. That made the biggest difference for her undercoat.
None of this completely stopped the shedding, but it made it much more manageable.
If you’ve got a heavy shedder, what breed do you have, and what’s been the biggest game changer for you?

Well we brought our dog.to a family farm for the 4th. She decided to roll around in cow manure. I've given her three baths with dog shampoo.but I still smell it. I'm thinking about using dawn dish detergent. Or is there a better nuclear option?

Hi guys I have a pitbull rescue who is 3 years old and I’ve had her for a month. She is the sweetest girl and very well behaved in the house. Outside she used to walk politely on the leash but now she’s become an adventurer which shows me she’s opening up.

My husband and I work a full time job but we’re hybrid some days. If either of us are wfh she’s out the crate, but whenever we put her in the crate to leave, she just barks and cries so loudly. I can hear it down the hall of my apartment complex.

After a while she stopped barking immediately when we leave, but my camera alerts me to noise and she’ll be barking/crying very loudly after an hour we’ve left and she’ll do it on and off 5 minutes at a time and then start again like 30-60 minutes later.

I take her on walks before she’s crated and make sure she’s used the bathroom, I put food and water in her crate, she has a beef hoof, all her favorite stuffed animals, a bed, and a sniff toy full of high value treats. Oh and a kong and a lick pad. We even have the adaptil (or however it’s spelled) wall plug in right by her crate. We’ve also practiced letting her in and out the crate and we step out the door. If I’m going to the mailroom in my apartment complex or leasing office, I’ve started leaving her outside the crate but she still just cries so loudly.

But she just howls and cries and barks. My downstairs neighbor has complained and idk what to.

My husband and I are also both runners and we have a really early race this weekend with a start time of 6:50 a.m. so we’re going to be gone pretty early and I’m worried she’s gonna be barking and was my neighbors up and they’ll complain again.

Is there anything we can do??

Hi,

First and foremost I would like to say I’ve tried searching on this subreddit but haven’t found a thread with exactly my situation but I might be bad with searching…

Me and my wife love animals and when I met her she had two cats that ”came” with her when I met her. The first of our two cats died about two years ago and our last cat died may this year from complications with epilepsy. I’ve always been a lover of dogs and animals in general, but I’ve never had a dog of my own (my parents only let me have Guinea pigs but they have admitted in the past that they should’ve let me have a dog when I was younger). The cats were my now wife’s first animals and we both loved them dearly but she was especially heartbroken when they died.

With that backstory me and my wife have also tried to get pregnant for about three years but with no luck. We’ve done tests which showed nothing wrong with either her or me and she is not eligible for IVF because of her weight. Nevertheless we have said that we’re both happy if we manage to get pregnant or stay childless.

Right now we’re living in an apartment in the city with a lot of parks around us but we’re looking around for apartments on the ground floor outside the main city with a connected patio/garden or a smaller house with a garden. We have discussed the options of adopting a dog or getting a puppy in the near future (maybe in like the next 12 months) but the questions stands if she’ll be able to get pregnant or not and wether we should wait? Our worries are that the dog might be aggressive to a newborn or feel neglected if a baby comes. Or maybe it is an advantage to get the dog first to train them without a potential newborn taking away the focus and be sure the dog meet kids when it’s young so they’ll get used to being around kids before we might get our own?

I hope you understand my questioning and might come with ideas of what would be the best way in our situation, thinking of both the dog and our worries.

Thanks in advance!

Hi. I was mostly finding dog allergy posts and ill be posting other places. But thought maybe you could help. We took in a dog about 6 months ago, sort of an emergency rehoming situations. Unfortunately my very mild allergy progressed to the point of having to wear a respirator to clean and do laundry. We have been able to rehome the dog and avoid a shelter. But now I have to do some serious deep cleaning. I have a few air purifiers and went up to a merv 11 ac filter temporarily while we clean. I will be renting one of those wet vacuums to take care of a couple chairs. I know its going to get worse before it gets better as we move things and clean. What products would you recommend for general cleaning surfaces, fabric furniture, our bedding and clothing, and washing machine and dryer? Ive looked at the packets that are supposed to 'dissolve' the hair. I just keep finding sponsored ads. Id prefer real feedback and suggestions.