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Hi dog owners,
I have been thinking about how to make daily walks more fun, because for me they always feel like a chore.

And I had an idea for an app that turns your walk into a territory game. You record your route like on Strava, but when you walk a loop around a block, you "claim" it on the map.

The fun part: other dog owners can steal your blocks (or part of them) by walking the same loop. So I would have a bigger reason to go on a walk.

You could also form team with other dog owners to meet new people in your neighborhood you would otherwise never talk to.

Would this make your daily walks more fun as well, or is the walk itself enough and I am just weird?

I am finally moving into an apartment which allows tenants to have dogs and I was wondering how much savings I should have in hand to take that step. I live in Somerville, MA and work in Biotech. It has been my lifelong dream to get a dog but never really got the chance because never got the support I needed. I know I shouldn't take that decision just because it has been a dream and I need to know that it is the equivalent of having a small human child. So I figured I'd post in the most reliable place for information.
Since it would be my first time being a pet parent I would definitely opt for getting a smaller dog. I feel like I need a reality check before taking a decision.

My dog Sugar has been dealing with a rupture anal gland for about 3 - 4 months.

Age: 7

Breed: Shepard Mix

Sex: Female

Symptoms:

Open left anal gland, oozes occasionally no puss. No scooting or change in her demeanor/appetite.

We went to the vet a few months ago and she was put on a course of antibiotics and it did not work.

We changed vets a few weeks later (we did not like them very much) and went to a much better practice. They started her on another round of antibiotics, but these ones made her sick. I believe the course was for 14 days and we stopped them around 6 days. They prescribed another type of antibiotic (7 day course) which seemed to a help a little, but ultimately did not work. This was about 3 weeks ago.

We had a follow up last week and again, did not work. So expressed/flushed out her gland inside and put an antibiotic/steroid cream inside. The idea was that maybe the infection was walled off and the oral meds could not get it well enough.

Fast forward to today, that didn't work and is still open/infected. We have another appointment next week for a culture sample to determine what bacteria it is so we can try to pin point it with the correct meds. While there, she will get another flushing/ antibiotic cream inside while we wait a week for the results to come back.

She said if this still doesn't work she may need to see a surgeon about having the glands removed. Which is a last resort.

She also said theres a potential for a tumor, but it's not likely since she did not feel any lumps etc when she did the flushing last week. But can't take it fully off the table.

She has had a cone on religious the past month.

Has anyone gone through this with their pup? Any advice is much appreciated. This dog is my life and I feel so bad...

Thanks in advance!

I’m a high school junior who wants to get a Greyhound during my first or second year of undergrad, but I honestly know almost nothing about what to expect. I originally thought an Italian Greyhound and a Greyhound were the same thing until I looked it up. I also didn’t realize Greyhounds were such big dogs until I researched them. The size doesn’t really bother me, though, since I actually prefer bigger dogs.

If I do decide to get one, what should I expect? I’m debating between adopting a retired racer or getting a puppy. Right now, I’m leaning more toward getting a puppy because I plan on going to graduate school, and I worry that a retired racer might already be pretty old by then and I would probably be constantly stressed about health issues more than I would with a younger dog.

I would also appreciate it if anyone could recommend me any ethical greyhound breeders in Miami, near Miami, or anywhere in Florida.

I need to vent, and I honestly need some brutal, realistic advice from experienced owners.

I am a med student, and a few months ago, I got Luna. Everyone told me dogs are intuitive and they just "adapt" to our schedules. And honestly? At first, she did. She was quiet, she followed me around, and I thought, "Wow, people overestimate how hard this is."

I was wrong. It was a trap.

Lately, my study blocks have become brutal. And Luna's behavior has completely deteriorated. She shadows my every single move. If I stand up to get water, she jumps. If I sit down to read, she whines and bites my ankles. Tonight, after a 12-hour study session, she had the worst twilight zoomies I’ve ever seen—barking, shredding her toys, completely out of it.

I literally sat on the floor and cried. I felt like a horrible owner. I love her so much, but her constant hyper-alertness is burning me out, and I can tell she is exhausted too. She doesn't know how to just switch off.

Someone online told me that by letting her free-roam and "go with my flow," I am accidentally placing a massive cognitive load on her nervous system, spiking her cortisol. They suggested I need to strictly enforce 4-hour isolated "Reset Blocks" in a dark room with white noise while I work, forcing her to sleep 18-20 hours a day.

But another user literally told me I'm being "self-absorbed" and that my plans for residency are unfeasible with a dog.

Now I’m torn and heartbroken. Is free-roaming and letting them "adapt naturally" actually causing this mental burnout? Am I making her crazy by being too accessible? Or is forcing a strict, isolated schedule cruel?

Please be honest. Has anyone else balanced a high-stress career/school with a pup without losing their mind?

We have a mini Goldendoodle bichon mix dog who is about two years old. She is very good natured, is very friendly and great with kids.

We’re having our first baby in June and after the baby is born, we’re going to my mother for two weeks. My mother doesn’t allow dogs in her house, so we’re leaving her by a friend. She has been by this Friend before and loves their family and their kids until we are ready to come home. I know the recommended procedure would be to bring the baby blanket to my dog for her to get accustom to his smell. I figured we would bring my dog the baby blanket while she’s at my friend‘s house.

When we are ready to go home we will leave the baby with my mom for a couple of hours while we will bring my dog home first in the morning and hang out with her so she gets accustom to being home again and set up the house with all the baby stuff (and smells) and than the afternoon and bring the baby back home

One of my friends who has a similar dog to mine was like oh that’s gonna be a disaster 😑 Is there a better way to do this?

I currently have no job, due to two of my dogs. (Father and Son) I have a Chow Chow (Simba) and a German Shepherd/chow mix (Jack). I have had Simba for 7 years, he’s a sweet heart. Jack turned 2 last year and he’s been trying to hurt Simba. I love them both, and don’t want to rehome either. I also don’t have money for a trainer to help me ( they’re usually $1,500+ to train.) I can’t work cause I’m too stressed that I’ll come home to a dead dog, or both injured badly. But I can’t live my life or afford a trainer without a job. I’m stuck and don’t know what to do. Part of me thinks it’s best to get rid of one but I don’t trust others taking care of them either. Any advice is welcome. Please be kind. This is hard. 😩😩

I’m a high school junior who wants to become a veterinarian, and I plan to get a dog during my third year of undergrad. I want the dog at an age that isn’t insanely energetic while I’m in vet school, but I also don’t want one at an age with so many health issues that I’m constantly worried. At the same time, I want a dog that will keep me active, since I have a hard time staying active unless an animal is involved.

I’ve been debating between a Doberman Pinscher, since it’s my dream dog, and an American Staffordshire Terrier because they’re smaller. I’m wondering if owning an adult Doberman would realistically fit my lifestyle, or if getting an American Staffordshire Terrier would make more sense.

I’m not getting the dog as a puppy during vet school. I’m getting it as a puppy during undergrad, so it’ll already be an adult by the time I start vet school. There’s also a chance I may get it even earlier than that. This wouldn’t be my first dog either — I already have my own dog, and I’ve also been raised around Pit Bulls and I’ve fostered Staffordshire Terriers before.

Hi,

We are a family of 4 with two older children: 11 and 14. Next year we would love to add a dog to our family as we have just moved to a lovely house with a big yard next to the Woods. We have two cats also. We are looking for a middle size dog with short hair that is easy to maintain and doesnt shed like crazy. We always wanted an English Stafford but looking into it we worry it might need too much excersize to release its energy. Like we can walk multiple times a day for 30 min upto an hour but we wonder if that is enough for a staffie. We also like Shar-Pei as they are also short haired and mid size and they seem like peacefull dogs. I read into both but still not sure which fits us best.. i am aware of health issues so we want to buy breeder dogs only. I have no one in my circle with either dog, otherwise I would have loved to have a weekend to try and see what its like. So staffie owners: are they really that energetic? I would love to hear your experiences with these dogs.

Hi everyone! I’m a 19-year-old woman and will be going off to university soon, and I’d really love to get a dog. I’ve never owned one before, so I don’t have any direct experience, but I grew up with a cat and I’m very willing to learn and put in the effort.

I’m not especially athletic or sporty, but I do genuinely enjoy long walks and occasionally go hiking on weekends when I have the time. I grew up hiking with my family ever since I was little. I wouldn’t call myself highly experienced, but I can easily manage hikes of around five hours. I also love swimming and going to the beach. I travel quite a bit too, usually to warmer, sunny places where I can either relax in nature or explore cities and beautiful landscapes, so ideally I’d want a dog that could comfortably join me in those kinds of activities.

One thing that is important to me is feeling safe. Since I’ll likely be living alone, I’d love a dog whose presence would make me feel protected. However, I’ve also heard that traditional guard breeds like German Shepherds or Dobermans can be difficult for first-time owners, and I’m not sure I’d be equipped to properly handle breeds with those kinds of needs. In terms of size, I’d prefer a medium-sized dog. I’d also like a coat that doesn’t shed excessively if possible. I don’t mind brushing occasionally or dealing with seasonal shedding, but ideally not constant daily maintenance, haha. I don’t have allergies, so that part isn’t an issue. I’d also prefer a dog that isn’t extremely vocal; I’ve heard breeds like Huskies can be very loud and howl a lot, which probably wouldn’t be ideal for me as I‘ll probably be living in a flat and excessive howling could disturb other people.

As for appearance and breeds I’m drawn to, I absolutely love Shiba Inus and Akita Inus aesthetically. I also find Golden Retrievers and Border Collies adorable. Dalmatians were probably the first breed I ever fell in love with because of 101 Dalmatians, and honestly I still kind of adore them.

Based on all of this, what breeds do you think might suit me best?

Hey everyone! I’m a medical student and recently welcomed my puppy, Luna, into my life. 🤍

My schedule can get pretty packed with lectures and study blocks. I’m heavily focusing on building a calm environment and a solid routine for her, but sometimes the "mom-guilt" hits hard when I have to focus on my books.

For those with busy careers or demanding studies, how long did it take for your dog to fully settle into your routine? Did you focus more on physical exercise or mental stimulation/calm training to keep them happy while you work?

Would love to hear your experiences and any advice for a stressed-out student! Thanks!

Lately, I’ve been dealing with a lot of body aches because I suddenly became more active. I’ve been doing around 15k steps on the treadmill plus Zumba, so my muscles have been sore almost constantly.

What’s weird is that my dog always seems to know exactly where I’m hurting.

He’s a very affectionate dog and LOVES licking people close to him. I usually stop him because I don’t like his saliva on my skin 😅 but he’s incredibly persistent and seems a behavior I cannot control. Recently, I noticed something strange: whenever he licks the exact spot where my body aches, the pain seems to disappear almost instantly after a few seconds.

At first, I thought it was just coincidence.

But then I started paying attention, and it kept happening over and over again. It’s always the specific area that hurts. After he licks it for a bit, the ache noticeably eases.

This also reminded me of something that happened about a year ago. I had a really bad anxiety attack, and somehow my dog noticed it. He came up to me and kept licking my leg until I slowly calmed down. Back then, I just thought he was trying to comfort me, but now I’m wondering if dogs can actually sense when we’re physically or emotionally unwell.

I truly love this dog so much. I honestly see and treat him like my own child, so maybe that strong bond is why he’s so emotionally attached and sensitive to what I’m feeling.

Per ChatGPT, my dog is probably not ‘healing’ the pain in a supernatural or medical sense, but what I'm experiencing is still very real.

It explained that dogs can calm our nervous system, reduce stress, distract our brain from pain, and emotionally comfort us — especially when they’re very bonded to their owner.

So maybe my dog isn’t magically healing me… but honestly, the comfort feels real enough 🐶

i was just on our morning walk with my boyfriend and he was holding the leash. it was a great walk with multiple people and dogs walking past us, my dog didn’t react or seemed to mind any of them. she’s from a shelter and was very scared of people when we got here at 6 months old, but has gotten much more confident since then.

towards the end of our walk an old lady was walking past us and my boyfriend let our dog get really close to her (something i usually wouldn’t do). our dog sniffed the ladies hand and she got spooked (valid, i would too) and then my dog nipped at her jacket (no barking, no growling and my dog immediately let go). i asked the lady if she needs any contact information from us, since her jacket has a little hole (about 1cm) and if she’s okay, but she didn’t want that.

i have already talked with my boyfriend thoroughly about this, but i’m still a little shaken / confused about the situation.

has anyone experienced something similar / should i be concerned? thank you!

Hi everyone! (This is my first reddit post ever so I’m sorry if I’m posting this in the wrong place.)
My lifelong dream is to have a dog, but I want to be responsible and do my research first. Could you help me choose the right breed for my lifestyle so that the dog and I are not miserable?

Some info:
- I am 40 (no kids) and I just bought my own apartment. It is a really small place. (Two small rooms.)
- I work from home and my hours are very flexible.
- I live in a small coastal town in Italy, perfect for walking, so I go for a long stroll every day. It’s something I’m used to.
- Sometimes I travel for work (but I get to choose the conditions) and I’ve seen other people in my field bring their dog along. These trips are not mandatory, though.
- I have some savings for emergencies (vet bills etc.) but I’d say I’m lower middle-class.
- I want to adopt. I would never buy a family member.
- My only experience with dogs was when I was petsitting for a friend: a large breed and I had her for a month. It was amazing. We walked every day and honestly somehow I managed to be more productive with a clearly structured day than when I’m on my own. (For me though I’d get a smaller dog given the size of my apartment.)

Which breed would you recommend for me?
If you have any other tips, please share. And give me the tough love, I know I’m probably idealizing the whole thing right now. Thank you!

I got my Maltese/poodle mix from my cousins for free when she was around 6 months old, about 3 years ago. She’s honestly been one of the best things that’s happened to me because I’d wanted a dog since I was little. Lately though, we’ve been struggling with a few behaviors and I want to fix them the right way.
The biggest issue is that she’s started peeing on the couch. I’ve looked online, but most advice says dogs only understand correction if you catch them in the exact moment, which is difficult because she usually does it when I’m not looking or not home. I’m trying to figure out how to actually prevent the behavior instead of just reacting afterward.
She also gets extremely overexcited around people (especially little kids) and other dogs. She isn’t aggressive — she just barks nonstop and tries to rush over because she wants to play. Looking back, I realize I didn’t socialize her enough as a puppy, and now I’m trying to work on that.
She’s incredibly smart too. Before she was even a year old, she figured out how to push open doors that weren’t fully shut. Because of that, I’m wondering if part of the problem is that I’m not mentally stimulating her enough.
I love this dog a lot, which is exactly why I want to correct these behaviors properly instead of punishing her unfairly. I’m open to any advice on:
stopping the couch peeing,
helping with overexcitement/reactivity,
mental enrichment ideas,
and whether I should look into a trainer or vet visit first.
Also, I know a lot more now about backyard breeding than I did back then. At the time I honestly didn’t know anything about it, and I probably would’ve made different choices if I had. Thankfully she’s healthy and doesn’t have any major medical issues.
Any advice is appreciated.

I want to get another dog when I go to college, so fixing this issue will tell me if I can handle another dog in the future.

hi i was hoping to get some opinions/recommendations for flea and tick prevention. ive seen a lot of bad reviews and horror stories when it comes to those types of medications/topicals. 1 story is enough to keep me away from those things. i was hoping to know some effective natural ways to keep my boy safe and protected.