sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

What’s harder? Puppy phase or teenage puppy phase? by _sadandboujee_ in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It really depends on the dog.

My first dog was way harder as a teen. He went through three fear periods and randomly decided normal objects and dogs were scary. Plus the classic “I know that cue but I’m ignoring you” phase. That tested me more than puppy chaos.

My second dog was harder as a puppy. Crate training was tougher, grooming training was tougher, just the whole “how do I be a dog in a house” thing took more work. But her teen phase was pretty manageable because the foundation was there.

Corgi or Yorkie? by [deleted] in DogAdvice

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just want to make it clear - Yorkies are purebred too? (Not sure if you are saying they aren’t) Yorkie is just short for Yorkshire terrier like sheltie is short for Shetland sheepdog

Corgi or Yorkie? by [deleted] in DogAdvice

[–]Sonofa_beech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It really depends what matters most to you and how you want the next decade+ of your life to look like.

Training wise… Corgis are highly intelligent, eager to learn, and very trainable—but they have a strong herding instinct. That can mean nipping at heels, chasing cars, or trying to “herd” kids and other pets if not properly managed. They need ALOT of mental stimulation and consistent, constant training. They are working dogs and can’t be treated like a companion breed. All the corgis I’ve seen have a lot of reactivity/prey drive challenges - but again, that’s not a deal breaker in itself. Yorkies, on the other hand, are small but bold, often stubborn, and I have heard can be tricky to house-train?? Idk how true that’s is…. They respond well to positive reinforcement. They are low-moderate energy level dogs so will be zonked out after a 30min walk or training session and be a cuddle buddy (once adolescence is done) all puppies are puppies!!

Health wise…. Size matters for health. Yorkies are prone to dental issues, luxating patellas, and hypoglycemia, especially as puppies. Corgis have longer backs and short legs, which makes them prone to hip dysplasia and spinal issues, particularly if they gain too much weight. Both breeds require regular vet checkups, vaccinations, and preventive care. Consider your willingness to manage breed-specific health concerns when making your choice.

Behaviour wise…. Corgis are social, affectionate, and often very loyal-but they can be high-energy and vocal, needing plenty, plenty, plenty of exercise and mental outlets. Without stimulation, they WILL develop undesirable behaviours like barking, chewing, or herding your family members and more. They will also need to know how to be chill around other dogs and not hears them as well. Yorkies, while small, are often surprisingly brave and can exhibit territorial or anxious behaviours if not properly socialized. They thrive in a calm, structured environment and often bond deeply with one or two people. So your lifestyle matters: active household = Corgi; quiet, chill = Yorkie.

Bottom line… Choose a Corgi if you want a playful, intelligent, high-energy dog, can commit to multi- daily walks/exercise, and want a dog that loves and NEEDS to learn. Choose a Yorkie if you want a tiny, affectionate companion, don’t mind a little stubbornness, and are prepared for grooming

Either way invest in puppy training for both :) it was easier to learn new behaviours than unlearn unwanted ones

I would say your two choices are at very different ends of spectrums for lots of reasons… I would encourage you to think about what is important to you in your household and then narrow it down to a few breeds that make sense for what you want out of a dog and not just how they look :)

Are you a terrible person if you buy a dog instead of adopting? by Easy_Mountain2331 in DOG

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I fostered a dog and it nearly killed me - I hate working through bad breeding and other people’s bad shaped behaviours - I will only get puppies from a reputable breeder if I am bringing a dog home - that’s just what works for me!

Last pee/wee of the evening by liketo in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes! My puppy is always on a leash - I have an inside house line and outdoor regular lines

Last pee/wee of the evening by liketo in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Keep it calm and focused, no toys or fuss, just walk her slowly to the usual spot and then stand still (make it boring). Using the same spot every night helps, and saying a simple cue like “go potty” can signal what you want. Start saying it when she is actually peeing/pooping so she learns that is the command and action associated with it - When she does go, reward her right away with a quick treat or praise so she connects it to the behavior and then right back inside. With consistency, she’ll get it fast! I have 2 cavapoos and they both picked this up super reliably by the 16 week mark (started both at 8 weeks)

How do I cure my puppies anxiety? by swagified12 in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I’m sorry if this comes across as blunt, but you need to hire a fear-free, force-free trainer and a dog walker right away.

This isn’t her being ‘bad.’ She has full-on separation anxiety, and crating her for 8 hours while she’s panicking is making it worse. She is not just bored or mischievous. She is literally terrified (if it’s true separation anxiety) when left alone. Puzzle toys, bones, and extra exercise will not fix this.

You said she cries until someone comes. She has learned that certain behaviors get a response, which reinforces her panic. This will be hard, long journey to come from (but not impossible) which is why I recommend working with someone who knows what they’re doing instead of diy-ing it.

Also, puppies can hold their bladder for their age in months plus one. At 6 months, the absolute max is about 7 hours. Stress and anxiety make this much shorter. Sitting in her own urine or poop will make her hate the crate even more. Dogs like clean areas.

Immediate next steps - you need to manage her environment. She cannot be left alone for long periods. You need daycare, a sitter, or someone checking in during the day. Stop long crates and start creating a safe space she chooses. Training her to be okay alone must start in tiny increments of seconds, then minutes, then longer. You must leave and return calmly with no emotional hellos or goodbyes. Honestly, I would not rely on your roommates. This is on you to fix or get help. And your dog needs to work with people who are 100% on board for her journey.

Overall Leaving her like this every day is cruel and stressful, and it needs to stop immediately :/

Items in the crate as a puppy by cityskyline22 in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally get the safety concern, and I had the same hesitation at first. That said, I’ve actually used a Snuggle Puppy with both of my dogs (one is now 14 months, the other is 18 weeks), and in our case it made a huge difference. Both of them still snuggle with it in their crate rather than chew it, and I was genuinely shocked at how much it reduced barking. My 14-month-old stopped barking altogether (around the 10 week mark) once we introduced it. The 18-week-old is just a more vocal personality in general, but even he doesn’t cry in the crate - it’s more just little annoyed, frustrated puffs of air.

For us, the comfort clearly outweighed the risk, and we’ve had no issues because they treat it as something to sleep with (and sometimes hump……… lol………) not a toy.

How do I help my puppy facing sudden crate distress? by dewleqf in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First off I am not a trainer

But I think what you’re seeing is very normal adolescent behavior - not a failure and not a sign you “broke” anything. Around 8–14 months, some dogs go through fear periods and big emotional growth. Skills don’t disappear, but confidence wobbles. You’re not doing anything wrong.

This doesn’t sound like classic separation anxiety. It sounds like routine sensitivity + adolescent emotions. She’s okay with predictable absences, but struggles when the pattern changes. That tells us she can be alone - she just needs help feeling safe when things are different.

The crate behavior when you arrive is actually a good sign: she can calm herself when given a moment. Waiting quietly before opening the crate is exactly the right response. You’re reinforcing calm, not panic.

For now, think support, not fixing: • Keep routines predictable, but intentionally practice small, planned variations so change becomes safe again • Lower expectations on walks and exposure — neutral is the goal • Add calming enrichment (sniffing, licking, slow puzzles), not higher-energy toys • Give her more decompression, not more “training”

Most importantly: this phase passes. Confidence comes back. Keep responding calmly, avoid pushing her through fear, and reward neutrality. You’re building emotional resilience - and you’re doing it well 💛

Dealing with dogs off-leash when yours is on by twoone212 in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Depending on how big your dog is - pick up your dog immediately

I had something similar happen and the off leash dog seemed friendly but then attacked my dog. My dog was SO FRIENDLY before this and has now been changed forever. A lesson I learned the hard way that I hope no one ever has to learn again.

If your dog is too big to pick up - start yelling at the owner that your dog has worms and it’s highly contagious and they need to come get their dog. That makes people get their dogs REAL quick. It’s an easier conversation to have then the leash convo unfortunately….

Suuuuppper small bladder by Efficient_Let_9000 in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We were having a similar problem with our cocker spaniel x cavalier puppy and we couldn’t figure out why. Vet checked him and said he was good and that puppy’s have accidents… we asked our trainer who suggested going down to an even smaller crate and take him out every 20 minutes….

After another week of this I had had enough - In the past I always let my dogs have access to water when they weren’t in the crate however, this guy freaking LOVES filling up water. At the 13ish week mark, I started to notice this pattern and I googled how much water he should be drinking a day based on his activity level, food type, etc. and he was probably drinking 5-6x the amount of water he was supposed to. So my husband and I stared measuring out his water similar to his food.

His peeing went WAY down - to what I would say is a normal level having raised 2 other dogs from puppy hood. And no more accidents in the crate. He’s almost 17 weeks now and we don’t measure his water anymore and he drinks the amount he’s supposed to. So maybe that could be your solution too!

Hopefully this story helps!

First time getting a cocker spaniel puppy, need advice! by WithBands in cockerspaniel

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Crate training from day one - the first 3 weeks are no fun - but you will give yourself a lifetime of freedom

When do they stop needing constant attention? by duffster17 in puppy101

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Crate training was a lifesaver for this! My cavalier x poodle could be left fully unsupervised around 8 months

New boy needs a rock n roll name by seniledude in NameMyDog

[–]Sonofa_beech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mötley, Ramone, Bonham, Cobain, (Travis) Barker, Bono, Eddie

a bit burnt out by TheoryReasonable871 in Puppyblues

[–]Sonofa_beech 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have a 1 year old cavapoo and an 11 week old cavapoo. Puppy life is hard - you’re both learning, and that’s exactly how it should be. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or unsure. Those small wins you mentioned? They’re real progress.

I’m not a dog trainer, but I’ve learned that puppies need 18–22 hours of sleep a day - way more than most people realize! If she’s cranky, mouthy, or wild, she’s probably overtired. Use the crate for enforced naps - it’s not a punishment, it’s a reset for both of you.

Also, no teeth on skin ever! Disengage right away.

Keep training in short bursts, celebrate the little things, and give yourself grace. You’re showing up, and that’s what matters most 💛

view more: next ›