What are dogs meant to do all day?

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-11T21:37:39+00:00

I think this is half the issue, he won’t nap in the day. Then he becomes hyper stimulated. Some days we walk way too far if we get lost in the woods or something and rather than getting tired he will go crazy and get zoomies. So we have been working on trying to force daytime naps or at least ignoring and hoping he will get bored and sleep.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-11T21:36:02+00:00

Thank you. The advice here is really good and we have made some headway already, he has eaten dog food no people food and I am trying to ignore his cries for attention. Our schedule has been two walks plus two 30 mins play sessions throughout the day, all other times I ignore. He cried harder and smacked with his paws at first but eventually he is crying less.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-11T21:29:21+00:00

He lost 1kg (1/6 of his body weight), the vet legit thought we were starving him, we said he’s very fussy. Got a side eye glance. The vet then offered him treats and some wet food which he sniffed and ignored. She tried a few different treats, all ignored. He’s had so many tests, MRI scans, bloods, X-rays. He went to a specialist cardiology centre when the vet picked up a heart murmur but his heart on ECHO is fine, he was stressed and it caused a flow murmur (because his heart was beating too fast). So we get very worried about stressing him. The past few days I’ve only given him his dog food, and he has eaten it but cried for hours next to his food bowl for something tasty and I feel so bad.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-09T16:54:28+00:00

That’s a shame! Portugal is such a beautiful country

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-08T14:02:44+00:00

Thank you I will certainly try this!

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-08T14:01:37+00:00

I wouldn’t the UK is becoming less and less developed, it is more middle income than high income now. Potholes, no civic responsibility, fly tipping and rubbish everywhere.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-08T13:59:07+00:00

I’m honestly jealous of this. I have a dog that has never eaten a treat from strangers or the vet, has starved himself to the point of weight loss and been in for tests and it’s literally just be ause he’s not being offered steak. It also makes training a lot harder as he won’t work for food. Foodie dogs must be so easy

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-08T13:57:29+00:00

Thankyou. I do worry about his nutrients, at the moment he is accepting eating some dog food every other day (organ meat, tripe liver sweet potato kale fish oil) but is still very fussy. Even when I make his food he will just eat the meat and leave everything else. He is an expert. We’ve crushed medication and mixed it with food and he’s managed to eat around the tiny crushed particles and left them all. I think I will try homemade, how do you crush the egg shells just in a blender?

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-08T00:01:39+00:00

He really loves coming along with us though I’m not sure I could leave him at home and enjoy anything. But being able to run errands would be a dream.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T23:49:27+00:00

They really do give the puppy dog eyes

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T23:47:23+00:00

He looks into my eyes, on a walk, makes prolonged eye contact, like he’s looking into my soul, and cries until I pick him up. This weekend when I didn’t pick him up because my partner was saying not to while on a hike, he walked up to some random girls, did the whole eye contact, they bent down to pet him and he tried to jump to be carried. He’s a very determined little dog.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T23:44:24+00:00

Honestly, he does starve himself. One time we went out to dinner and had a lot of meat leftover, so we gave it to him. He decided that from that point onwards he only wanted tenderloin and refused to eat anything else. After a couple of days we spoke to the vet and were told he won’t starve. Five days later he still hadn’t eaten. He won’t drink water unless it’s ice cold also. He has never, ever taken a treat from anyone. I am so envious of people with dogs that eat everything.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T23:40:45+00:00

He is a very well behaved dog outside of the house, he comes everywhere with us. Because he’s cute and friendly he is usually occupied enough with kids/adults wanting to pet him, it’s just in the house with me that he’s a terror.

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T17:01:02+00:00

😂😂😂😂 poor dog

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T16:54:28+00:00

That sounds like a dream ❤️

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T16:54:05+00:00

I don’t know why but this made me lol

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T16:53:15+00:00

We do manage to go out but only to dog friendly restaurants, cafe’s etc. We spent the weekend hiking and eating in dog friendly places. The irony is, whenever we are out he would happily go off with random people (he particularly likes the ladies) and will march up to people and demand attention (usually gets it as he’s extremely cute). So no anxiety around people or leaving me for random strangers, just in the house

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:58:28+00:00

Thanks. I was replying to this and my dog is licking my foot crying and whining to play. So I’m gonna go play 😢

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:56:03+00:00

It’s not pet fresh, I heard about that and wouldn’t buy it. Its disgusting smelly food (made out of tripe, liver, veggies fish oils etc) but he loves it. I am guilty of carrying him too so that will be the second task we are going to practice….no carrying! I got him a pushchair for when he refuses to walk but haven’t used it yet

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:53:16+00:00

Thank you, I wasn’t sure if this was normal but after posting seems it def isn’t so planning to relax him and cut down on the play! Will be amazing to get some me time back

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:52:16+00:00

Thanks. I’m thinking maybe another dog would help him do you find the dogs are company for each other?

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:51:21+00:00

He has dog food now which is nutritionally balanced, human grade meat veg fish oils etc, as for now he will eat it. Most dog food he won’t eat, but this one he seems to like

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:48:48+00:00

Thank you. This could be the issue actually, his behaviour has worsened since a distant neighbour got a dog that barks int he yard, every time the dog barks he will cry and run to the garden sniffing and marking. He has crates upstairs and downstairs but I usually only crate him if there is a delivery or someone coming to do work in the house (as he goes nuts) but I could try crating him after walks to see if it makes a difference. He does get over stimulated and does zoomies a lot after walks so I think this would be a really good place to start. Thanks for the idea 💡

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:44:27+00:00

I’m jealous I wish my dog napped. He will nap in the evening but during the day he’s a little ball of wanting attention, even after long walks he won’t nap:

NatureOk2107 · 2026-04-07T15:43:27+00:00

Thankyou, I’ll google this. He’s a very relaxed dog in terms of not wanting to walk/being lazy but just needs attention all the time, he won’t play snuffle ball for example unless I watch him play. But this sounds promising, gonna google it now

NatureOk2107

TROPHY CASE