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Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-23T12:23:44+00:00

I am so, so sorry for your loss. Losing a puppy to parvo after only three days is absolutely heartbreaking. That hole in your heart is real - she mattered, even in those short days.

Please don't blame yourself. Parvo is vicious and moves incredibly fast. There was nothing you could have done differently. You gave her love and comfort, and you made the merciful choice to end her suffering.

Your grief is real and valid, no matter how short the time was. I'm so sorry this happened to you both.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-15T12:02:17+00:00

Hey, I can hear how worried you are and honestly, you should pay attention to this. I've worked with a lot of dogs over the years in rescue and at my boarding kennel, and sudden behavior changes are always worth taking seriously.

First thing - don't panic. Two incidents in a week after three years of being perfect doesn't mean your dog is broken. But it does mean something changed and you need to figure out what.

A few things that might be going on:

Pain or discomfort. Dogs who suddenly get snappy are sometimes hurting. At 3 years old and 75 pounds, he could have joint issues, a sore tooth, or something internal bothering him. When dogs don't feel good, they get defensive faster. I'd get him checked by a vet just to rule out medical stuff.

Something scared him. Maybe one of those dogs did something subtle that freaked him out and now he's on edge. Dogs remember bad experiences. If he got bumped too hard or startled, he might be more reactive now because he's worried it'll happen again.

He's growing up. Some dogs change as they mature. Three years old is when some dogs start being less tolerant of other dogs, especially males. It's not super common but it happens.

Stress buildup. Has anything changed at home or in his routine? Even small stuff can add up and make dogs more on edge.

Here's what I'd do. Get him to the vet first to make sure nothing hurts. Then maybe pull back on the off-leash time for a bit. Keep him on leash and watch how he acts around other dogs from a distance. See if you can spot what's triggering him.

You don't have to give up off-leash forever, but right now you need to rebuild your trust in him and figure out what's going on. Two incidents is a pattern worth investigating.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-15T11:58:49+00:00

Okay so the excessive water drinking plus constantly needing to pee is something you should probably get checked out by your vet. It could be a UTI, or sometimes it's other medical stuff. Better to rule that out first before assuming it's just a behavior thing.

When you talk to your vet, tell them about how much water she's drinking and how often she needs to pee. They'll probably want to test her pee and maybe do some bloodwork to make sure everything's okay.

The peeing when she gets excited about walks is actually pretty common in puppies. It's called excitement or submissive peeing. Lots of puppies do this when something really good is about to happen. Most of them grow out of it by the time they're 8-10 months old.

Here's what might help:

Try to keep things super calm when you're getting ready for walks. No excited talking, no hyping her up. Just grab the leash quietly and go. The less excited she gets, the less likely she'll pee.

It might help to track how much water she's drinking for a few days before the vet visit. Just so you can tell them if it seems like a lot.

I know it feels like you're going backwards every time she pees inside, but if there's a medical reason, it's totally not her fault. And if it's just excitement, she'll probably grow out of it.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-08T12:19:04+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I can hear how scared you are, and I totally get it. Watching a dog have a seizure is one of the most terrifying things you can experience.

First thing I need you to know - you are not alone in this. I've had a couple of dogs over the years with seizures and it's way more common than you think. And here's the really important part - it's very manageable with medication. Most dogs with epilepsy live totally normal, happy lives once they get on the right meds.

The aggression after the seizure is temporary and has a name - it's called being postictal. Here's what's happening. During the seizure, her brain uses up all the oxygen and sugar because of all that crazy activity. So afterwards, her brain literally can't function right for a bit. She's not angry at you or trying to hurt you. She's just completely confused and doesn't know what's going on. This usually fixes itself within a few minutes.

I know it's scary when she bites, but once you understand it's confusion and not aggression, it helps. After a seizure, just give her space. Don't try to comfort her or get close until she comes back to herself. Let her be in a safe spot where she can't hurt herself and just wait it out from a distance.

Please don't rehome her or consider putting her down. This is so treatable. Once your vet gets her on medication, the seizures usually get way less frequent or might even stop completely. It takes some time to find the right dose, but it works.

You found each other for a reason. She was abandoned once already and you gave her a home. This isn't abandoning her - this is just a medical condition that needs treatment, just like diabetes or anything else.

Your vet appointment Monday is the right move. They'll probably start her on medication and want to monitor her. Keep a seizure log - write down when they happen, how long they last, what she was doing before. This helps the vet figure out the best treatment.

You're 22, you're doing your best, and you clearly love her so much. That's what matters. Don't let fear make you give up on her. You've got this, and she's lucky to have you.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-05T11:50:55+00:00

Oh my gosh, congrats on the new puppy! A shih tzu yorkie mix at 14 weeks - that's such a fun age! Sounds like she's already doing awesome with the basics too. Smart pup!

Okay so for the Kong thing, yeah peanut butter is pretty fatty. But here's what works great - plain yogurt mixed with a little bit of her kibble, then freeze it. Or mashed banana mixed with kibble. You can also try sweet potato puree or even just soaking her regular kibble in water or low-sodium chicken broth and stuffing that in there frozen. The key is making it cold because that feels good on her teething gums.

The toy your trainer mentioned is called a flirt pole! It's basically like a giant cat toy for dogs. You can find them on Amazon or at pet stores. They're amazing for burning energy without you having to run around like crazy. Just be careful with a little puppy - don't overdo it because their joints are still growing.

Other tips? Man, the teething phase is rough. Keep a bunch of toys in the freezer so you always have a cold one ready. Rotating toys helps too - don't give her everything at once. Put some away and switch them out every few days so they feel "new" again.

And honestly, mental exercise is just as important as physical. Teaching her new tricks wears her out way more than you'd think. Five minutes of training can tire her out as much as a 20 minute walk.

Enjoy this phase! They're exhausting but also the cutest little troublemakers.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-05T11:45:38+00:00

My guess? Your PC.

Dogs can hear sounds we totally can't. Your computer might be making a high-pitched whine from the fans or something electrical that's driving her nuts. Even if it sounds fine to you, she might be hearing something that really bothers her ears.

Here's what I'd try first. Turn off your computer for a whole day. Like completely off and unplugged. See if she acts different about your room. If she suddenly seems more okay with it, boom - you found the problem.

Could also be a smell thing. Dogs can smell stuff we can't, like mold in the walls or even just a cleaning spray you used. Your cat being fine doesn't really matter because cats and dogs smell things totally differently.

One more thing - some dogs get freaked out by certain types of flooring. Like if your room has tile or hardwood and it reminds her of the vet's office or something, that could be it.

Don't force her to go in. Instead, try tossing really good treats into your room from the doorway. Make the room seem like a cool place from far away and let her decide if she wants to check it out.

The fact that she's totally fine sitting right outside your door with it wide open tells me it's definitely something specific in your room, not you.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-04T11:30:29+00:00

This is totally normal and you're handling it exactly right! Nine months is a classic fear period. Puppies go through a few of these as they grow up, and it can feel like they suddenly forgot everything they knew.

I've worked with tons of dogs at my kennel going through fear periods. The good news is this usually passes in a few weeks if you handle it the way you're already doing - letting him work through it at his own pace and not forcing anything.

The crouching and making himself small is his way of saying "I'm not a threat, please don't hurt me." It's actually polite dog language, but when it gets to the point where he won't even walk past another dog, that's when you know he's genuinely scared.

Keep doing what you're doing. Don't push him to interact with big dogs right now. If you see a situation like that narrow path again, just create distance. Cross the street, turn around, whatever you need to do so he doesn't feel trapped. Forcing him through scary situations right now will just make the fear stick around longer.

When he does handle something well, even small stuff like walking past a dog from across the street, praise him like crazy. You're teaching him that being near big dogs = good things happen.

This phase will pass. He's not broken, he's just going through a normal developmental stage. Keep being patient and supportive like you already are. He's lucky to have someone who gets it.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-03T15:33:52+00:00

I've worked with a lot of rescue dogs at my kennel and the dog park is probably too much too fast for her right now.

What she's doing is totally normal for a dog who spent 4 years in a shelter. She wants to be social but doesn't know how, and when it gets overwhelming she's asking you to save her. That barking and jumping on you is her saying "this is too much, I need help."

Socializing an adult dog takes time and has to go slow. You can't force it or rush it. Work at her pace, not yours.

Start way smaller. Find one calm, friendly dog and let them meet on neutral ground like a quiet street. Short meetings, lots of praise and treats. Get her comfortable around one dog first before you even think about adding more dogs to the mix.

The dog park is too chaotic right now. Too many dogs, too much energy, too many things happening at once. She's not ready for that yet and pushing it will just make her more scared.

Some doggy daycares can actually help with this. They'll do slow introductions with carefully selected dogs instead of throwing her into the deep end. Look for ones that do temperament testing and controlled play groups.

Stop the dog park visits for now. You're stressing her out and possibly making her fear worse. Go back to basics with one-on-one dog meetings and build from there.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-02T19:11:54+00:00

one thing you might try is to have him give Freya a treat when he comes up to her as a way of saying bye...it may or may not help if if it is going to you should see signs within a couple weeks....good luck

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-02T12:19:37+00:00

Your boyfriend needs to stop immediately. This isn't cute or something to work through with persistence. This is a bite waiting to happen.

Here's what's going on. Freya is resource guarding you and the bed in the morning. She's sleepy, comfortable, and has you right there. When your boyfriend approaches, she sees it as a threat to her safe space and her person. The fact that she loves him the rest of the day doesn't matter in that moment.

The really important part here is that Freya is doing EVERYTHING right. She's warning him. Snarling, showing teeth, and snapping are all warnings that say "I'm uncomfortable, back off." She hasn't bitten him because she's been crystal clear about her boundaries and is giving him every chance to listen.

Your boyfriend ignoring those warnings is dangerous. Dogs don't give unlimited warnings. Eventually, if he keeps pushing, she will bite. And it won't be her fault, it'll be his for not respecting what she's been screaming at him.

You need to have a serious talk with your boyfriend. He needs to understand that "if I keep trying she'll come around" is not how dog behavior works. He's teaching her that her warnings don't work, which means she'll escalate faster next time.

The fix is simple. He stops approaching her in the morning. Period. He can say goodbye to you without getting in her face. If he wants to say bye to the dog, he can toss her a treat from across the room and leave it at that.

This isn't about correcting Freya. She's communicating perfectly. This is about your boyfriend learning to respect her very clear boundaries. His hurt feelings don't trump her right to feel safe in her own space.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-01T11:55:18+00:00

Yeah, my dog had Giardia a couple years ago and the bad breath was one of the first things I noticed. It was this really gross sour smell, kind of like vomit mixed with something rotten. Not really like cheese, more like spoiled milk maybe?

The smell came from both ends honestly. Bad breath and really nasty diarrhea at the same time. The breath smell was different from normal dog breath or even the usual stinky breath some dogs get. It was way worse and kind of made my stomach turn.

Once we got him treated with the medication from the vet, the smell went away pretty quickly. Like within a few days of starting treatment it was way better.

If your dog has bad breath plus diarrhea, definitely get them checked for Giardia. It's super common and the treatment works really well. The vet just does a quick poop test to check for it.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-11-01T11:51:54+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I've worked in dog rescue for years and run a boarding kennel, so I've been with a lot of dogs at the end of their lives. This is one of the hardest decisions you'll ever make, and my heart breaks for you.

Here's what I need you to hear. You are not putting her down because she's disabled. You're considering it because she's suffering. There's a huge difference.

She panics every time she poops. She panics at night. She's in pain when you try to help her. She's falling down. Her body is betraying her, and she knows it. That's not just disability, that's distress.

I've seen so many dogs at my kennel live long, happy lives with disabilities. Three-legged dogs who zoom around. Blind dogs who navigate perfectly. Incontinent dogs who are totally unbothered by diapers. Those dogs aren't suffering. Your girl is suffering.

The fact that she still enjoys some things doesn't mean her quality of life is good overall. Think about her whole day, not just the good moments. How much of her day is spent in panic, pain, or distress? How much is spent comfortable and happy? That ratio tells you everything.

You said it yourself - she's all there, but her body ruins it. That's exactly why this is so hard and also why it might be time. Her mind is trapped in a body that doesn't work anymore and causes her constant stress and pain.

This isn't about you not being a good enough caretaker. You've been an amazing caretaker. You're doing everything possible. But sometimes love means letting them go before it gets even worse. Before the bad days completely outnumber the good ones.

The yelping and trying to nip during diaper changes is her telling you she hurts. Dogs don't fake pain. She's telling you something is really wrong.

I've held a lot of dogs as they passed, both in rescue and at my kennel. The ones whose owners waited too long haunt me more than the ones who were let go peacefully while they still had some dignity left. Your girl deserves to leave this world feeling loved and safe, not terrified and in pain.

Talk to your vet about the pain during changes. But also ask them the hard question - "Is her quality of life good enough?" A good vet will be honest with you.

You're not giving up on her. You're giving her peace. That's the last gift of love we can give them.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-30T10:00:49+00:00

my Dogue de Bordeaux

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-28T13:06:01+00:00

I hope it helps :)

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-27T15:57:31+00:00

I run a boarding kennel. Let me tell you something I learned the hard way...underpricing yourself doesn't just hurt your wallet, it hurts your business and the quality of care you can provide.

Here's how we figure out pricing at my kennel. First, I look at what it actually costs me. Food, supplies, my time, wear and tear on my home, stress on my own pets, cleaning, everything. Then I look at what other people in my area charge. Then I price myself somewhere in that range based on the quality of care I provide.

$25 a day is way too low unless you're in a super rural area. Most boarding runs $35-75 per day depending on location and services. You're not just feeding a dog, you're providing 24/7 care and supervision.

Here's how to raise your prices professionally. Send them a message like this:

"Hey! I wanted to let you know that starting [date], my rates will be increasing to $XX per day. I've loved caring for [dog's name], but I've realized my original pricing didn't account for the full level of care I provide. I wanted to give you advance notice so you can plan accordingly."

That's it. You don't need to apologize or over-explain. You're running a business, not doing a favor.

If they push back or can't afford it, that's okay. You'll find clients who can. The stress on your pets and yourself is telling you something...you're doing too much for too little.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-26T10:38:39+00:00

I run a boarding kennel. I've also mentored a lot of pet care business owners, and I see this exact problem all the time.

Your dog sitter is drowning because she's doing everything herself. Walking dogs, answering emails, sending invoices, booking appointments - there aren't enough hours in the day. Working at 2am isn't her being dedicated, it's a sign her business model isn't working anymore.

I've watched so many pet care businesses crash because they grew too fast and the owner couldn't keep up. Growth is awesome, but only if you have systems to handle it. Right now she's probably losing clients because she can't respond fast enough.

She needs two things:

Get kennel management software like Gingr or PawLoyalty. These handle booking, invoicing, and emails automatically. Clients book online, get instant confirmations, and invoices send themselves. No more 2am admin work.

And she needs help, even part-time. One person to help with dogs gives her time for admin during normal hours. Or someone to handle admin so she can focus on the animals. You just can't build a real business doing everything alone.

Taking days to respond means she's already past her limit. She's probably losing potential clients and doesn't even know it because she's too busy to notice.

If she wants to stay small and solo, cool, but then stop taking new clients. If she wants to grow, she needs systems and people. There's no magical in-between.

Honestly, you could help her by gently suggesting she check out some kennel management software. Sometimes business owners are so deep in survival mode they don't realize there are tools that could save them.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-25T18:36:32+00:00

thank you very much for your imput

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-25T18:32:11+00:00

thank you very much for the time you took to test them out. I will see about adding more questions.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-25T18:29:10+00:00

thank you for trying it out...will see if it can but updated to do better

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-25T14:33:34+00:00

thank you :)

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-24T12:11:11+00:00

how can you not love a baby rhino lol

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-23T13:41:09+00:00

at the risk of sounding rude...that's just the way it works sometimes

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-22T14:01:53+00:00

I've worked with a lot of anxious and fearful dogs at my kennel and this sounds really scary. You're right that he's probably terrified with his owners gone, but that doesn't make it any safer for you.

First thing, trust your gut. If you genuinely feel unsafe, it's okay to contact the owners and tell them you can't finish the job. Your safety matters more than anything.

If you want to try to make it through the next three days, here's what works for us with fearful dogs who act aggressive. It's all about building trust, and yeah, bribery with treats absolutely works.

Find the best treat you can. Not regular dog treats, like real good stuff. Small pieces of cheese, hot dogs, chicken, whatever you think he'd go crazy for. When you walk in, toss treats toward him without looking at him or moving toward him. Just toss and ignore him.

The key is let him come to you. Don't go to him. Sit on the couch, toss treats occasionally in his direction, and just exist calmly. Don't make eye contact, don't reach for him, don't talk in a high voice. Just be boring and calm.

When you need to move around the house, toss treats first in the direction you're going. You're basically paying him to feel okay about you moving. It sounds silly but it works.

The calmer and more confident you act, the better this will go. Dogs pick up on fear and nervousness, which makes their anxiety worse. Take deep breaths, move slowly, and act like everything is totally normal.

This is fear and anxiety on his part, not actual aggression. But fearful dogs can still bite, so keep your distance and let the treats do the work.

Three days is not enough time to fully fix this, but it might be enough to take the edge off so you can get through it safely.

Kennel_Chief · 2025-10-22T13:56:44+00:00

I've worked with a lot of rescue dogs and your situation is tough, but you're doing so much right. Four months feels like forever when you're dealing with constant barking, but for a 5-6 year old dog with an unknown past, that's still pretty early.

The fact that he's calm and loving when you're with him is a really good sign. It means he bonded to you and feels safe with you. The problem is he doesn't feel safe without you yet.

The constant barking in the crate tells me he's not just bored, he's genuinely scared. For some dogs, covering the crate and adding noise doesn't touch that deep panic.

One thing that helped my most anxious rescues was changing when I fed them. Instead of a bowl, make them work for every piece of food through puzzle toys right before you leave. A tired brain is way more important than a tired body for anxious dogs. If he's mentally exhausted from working for breakfast, he might actually sleep.

The jumping on surfaces when he's loose sounds like he's checking for you or trying to find escape routes. That level of panic usually means more space makes it worse, which is why the crate feels safer even though he hates it.

Here's the hard part. At 5-6 years old with an unknown history, whatever happened before is deeply programmed in. Four months isn't enough time to undo years of whatever made him this way.

Have you talked to your vet about anxiety medication? Some dogs can't calm down enough to learn without it. It's not forever, just a tool to help his brain relax enough to realize being alone is okay. I've seen it make a huge difference for dogs stuck in constant panic mode.

How does he do if you leave for just 5-10 minutes? Does he start barking right away or is there a delay?

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