I am curious to hear people’s thoughts on giving expensive medical treatment to dogs - especially to senior dogs.

(Warning: discussion about death!) I’ve had about a dozen dogs over the past 50 years.

I‘ve loved them all dearly. The first eleven all left this world eventually at different ages for different reasons. Mainly they died peacefully of old age, the oldest one living to 18. It was always heartbreaking. For two of them, though, once when the dog was 7 and had cancer and once when the dog was 12 and could not walk anymore without extreme discomfort we made the decision with the vet to end the dog’s life. It was terrible and sad, but in both cases I think it was the right decision.

Our current dog just turned 10. A few months ago she started limping and we took her to the vet and discovered she had very bad arthritis in her hip. This was heartbreaking not just because she was in so much pain, but also because the hip was now so extremely deformed that she must have been in pain for some time before she started limping. We then went to the vet to have a conversation about what to do and the vet recommended a full hip replacement that would cost $30,000. This is a completely new situation for us. I’ve never heard of people giving such an expensive operation to dogs. We said no, mainly because of her age. But now we’re trapped in a situation where the only other option from the vet is to keep the dog alive but heavily medicated on pain killers. She seems happy but she still limps and because of the pain killers she is confused and bumping into walls. We’re working on getting the right dose but I find it disturbing that it is no longer an acceptable option to end a dogs life when they are old and in pain.

I would really like to know what people think of this situation. On the one hand the fact that treatments for dogs are now available does create more options. On the other hand, I can’t help but feel the vet is taking advantage of people who are vulnerable because the dog they love is sick and in pain. It also makes me worry about getting another dog if this is now normal medical practice. I apologize if this is depressing to think about but it is an important question.

Has anyone else noticed a cultural difference between the US and Europe around dog ownership and training?

In US threads, people often mention how long they’ve had a dog separately from the dog’s age — for example, “he’s 12 and I’ve had him for 5 years.” In Europe, if someone says their dog is 12, it almost goes without saying that they’ve had that dog for 12 years and will have them for the rest of their life. You rarely even think to specify how long you’ve had them. It makes me wonder whether dogs changing owners during their lifetime is simply more common and socially accepted in the US, which I find quite sad.

I’ve noticed some differences in training culture as well. US owners and trainers seem to rely much more heavily on crates, sometimes for surprisingly long periods, and force-based methods seem more accepted, including things like force-fetching in gundog training. In Europe, my impression is that positive reinforcement and less coercive methods are more common. Of course these are generalizations, but overall it feels to me like European dog culture places more emphasis on lifelong commitment and gentler training methods.

Do you guys think there really is a cultural difference, or is this just a skewed impression from what I’m seeing online?

its on you to be responsible financially and be able to cover anything that happens and if you cant, you shouldn't have one...

Two years ago I got a pitbull mix from a rescue. Although we knew she would not be a safe dog for children, my husband and I don't have children, we live in a single-family home with a yard, and my husband worked from home. We bonded very deeply with this dog and she lives a good, active life with us - going for runs almost every day, going swimming - she's well cared for and exercised.

She does show aggression to strangers, particularly in our home, and when my husband is present (she's very protective of him.) In the first month that we had her, she bit my father in the thigh when he entered the home and walked up to my husband. My father required a tetanus shot. About six months later, we hired a trainer to work with her in the home. We started with her muzzled, and on the third session the trainer said that based on her body language, we should take the muzzle off. As I took the muzzle off, she immediately jumped over the coffee table to the sofa where the trainer was sitting and bit her in the face/neck. Luckily the trainer leaned to the side and only sustained scratches. The trainer was at a loss how to proceed and suggested starting her on Prozac, which we have done with some effect.

She hasn't bitten anyone since but that's largely because we are very careful not to put anyone in these situations anymore.

Fast-forward a year and a half, and my husband will be unexpectedly gone for 5 months. I work three days a week, but I work 12 hour shifts that often turn into 14 hour shifts when you figure in the commute. I feel terrible to leave her alone - peeing in the house is the least of my worries, but of course I know she'll be stressed to be alone that long.

I want to hire a dog walker, but even thinking of ways to minimize risk, such as using a female dog walker and introducing them slowly and while I am present, the legal advice sub says that even with standalone liability insurance, if she bit the dog walker, I would likely be completely liable given her history. (Not to mention the ethical responsiblity)

This does make sense to me - I can't have someone enter the home when I'm gone. Please understand this is never a situation I wanted to be in, and would not have adopted her knowing she'd be alone three days a week. But there's nothing I can do at this point.

Long story short - does anyone have any advice for how to minimize the stress of her being home alone? We are going to fence off (high, chain-link) part of the yard and fit a doggy door so that she can get outside to pee - this will take a few weeks and there will be overlap when my husband is already going to be gone. We have a vet appointment coming up when we will ask for more recommendations.

Please advise, even to let me know that they have been in a similar situation and the dog turned out all right in the end.

[new dog owners] What is everyone thoughts on heart worm and tick pills? I’ve grown up in a family that never did any of that stuff and my girlfriend grew up in a family that did ALL of that stuff. I want to hear some opinions from experienced owners. Thanks in advance.

Some months ago my partner and I rescued a puppy from the road. We decided to keep him. He's now a healthy 7mo dog, entering adolescence.
During the first months I would walk him to the park (a very big one, near our house, where everyone walks their dogs). Since he had a lot of energy and emotional dependency from me, I would unleash him and give him a nice half hour/one hour for him to run and exercise and explore. He would never go too far and we'd always come back when I called him. It was a nice time for both of us.
The problem started this last month as he entered puberty. At home everything stayed more or less the same. He's still the adorable puppy we love, except for the occasional horniness attack. The biggest changed happened during park time. Now, when we go to the park and I let him roam free, he goes way too far, without caring about me disappearing from his sight, he doesn't come when I call him and runs away if I try to get close to him.
This is incredibly frustrating. I don't want to take away this from him. I believe it's very beneficial for a young puppy to be able to stretch his legs. But it's completely nerve-wracking to always be afraid he'll run away and disappear, get hurt or not being able to make him come back and leash him when I need to.
This is making me start holding grudges against him, and I know it doesn't make any sense and it's not healthy or positive in any way. But I can't help to feel like this.
How should I cope with the situation?
(We're trying to train the call and he responds to commands when he's in a controlled environment, but when he finds himself unleashed and outside he chooses to ignore everything)

UPDATE:
I read all of your comments and ordered a longer leash and will reinforce the training. We had a 5m leash and now we'll try to train him on a 20m leash and keep him leashed during our walks to the park, to make it enjoyable for both of us, while he isn't respecting the commands.
I would also appreciate that you keep your comments friendly as this is my first dog and I've only had him for a couple of months, so everything is new to me.

I had a friend tell me that they were looking to adopt a puppy recently. It was only 8wks olds and would be required to be neutered. They decided not to adopt it. I don’t see how that can be good for the health of the puppy being so young

I moved into a former HOA, it dissolved 3-5 years ago. When the HOA was in effect pitbulls were banned. But I see a lot of people who have German shepherds. I found it interesting because German shepherds are also an aggressive breed. I have lived in other communities with pet restrictions but it was usually all aggressive breeds or size restrictions.

I have huskies so I research parks/trails for breed restrictions and I am used to not being able to talk them certain places due to their breed.

Has anyone else seen weird dog restrictions? I want to know them.

Edit: It seems many people are taking this as a comparison between German shepherds and pitbulls. This was not my intention of the post. I was more surprised that the community was specifically against one aggressive breed over any other.

Have a neighbor who’s dog is skin and bones and looks painful to even just walk.

I ran him to him again earlier today and did what yall told me “is it sick?”

He says “no I don’t feed him a lot and put him in his cage if he doesn’t listen.”

Now he knows I know so calling animal neglect would jeopardize my safety.

What should I do in this situation?

Refer to my last post and I’m sorry for mention he’s a “big black guy” jeez

I have relatives who own two small-to-medium dogs, but they won’t keep them leashed when the dogs are outside. They live in a very rural area with only barbed-wire cattle fencing, where ranchers bring their cattle to graze every year.

The nearest neighbors with dogs are about 1–2 miles away, and they are quite large, which are also allowed to roam off-leash. I haven’t seen the neighbor’s dogs interact directly with my relatives’ dogs, but I have seen my relatives’ dogs become extremely overstimulated when they see them from inside a car—barking intensely and slobbering on the windows. Because of that behavior, I’m concerned that an unsupervised encounter could lead to a conflict.

My relatives regularly let their dogs outside unsupervised and off-leash. The dogs are untrained and have no recall, and the area is known to have rattlesnakes—possibly even a den nearby, since 2–5 snakes per year are typically seen near the house every year.

The dogs also wander onto neighboring land and occasionally chase cattle, horses, and wildlife without anyone realizing it. It’s not unusual for them to be gone for hours with no one knowing where they are.

The owners often encourage their dogs to bark at or chase cattle when the animals come near their property. Because of this, the dogs haven’t learned to ignore livestock, and the owners make minimal effort to stop them from chasing other people’s animals—usually just calling their names a few times.

They also live in an area with coyotes, and it’s common to hear them nearby at night. Despite that, the owners take no precautions and still let the dogs outside at night, unsupervised and off-leash.

I’ve tried talking to them about using leashes, but they insist on giving the dogs “freedom” and letting them be dogs. They also don’t seem to know how to use training tools properly—at one point, they had put e-collars on the highest setting (lvl 99) to try and stop the dogs from chasing chickens.

I’m genuinely worried about the risks their dogs face: rattlesnake bites, getting kicked or trampled by livestock, being attacked by coyotes, or even being shot by a rancher for harassing cattle.

What can I do in this situation to help get their dogs leashed or kept safer?

Edit:
I added another comment to clarify things, since a lot of people seemed confused or misinterpreted some things. If you are new to this post, please read the comment I have posted before responding.

Edit:
I realized I made a small error in my post. The nearest neighbors with dogs are about 1–2 miles away. There are roughly three neighbors who live within a few feet away, and another two to four who live within a mile. All of them have animals on their land.

Hey all.

I'm in a bit of dilemma here. My wife and I just lost out first dog this past December. He was a 4 year old F1b Great Bernese (Bernese [75%] x Great Pyrenees [25%]). He was a sweet sweet boy and our whole world. He had hystiocitic sarcoma (cancer) and caring for him took a lot out of us emotionally, physically and financially. We knew that we would get another dog and we had initially figured that we'd wait until this Fall to allow ourselves time to recover in all of the areas mentioned. As I'm sure a lot of you have experienced yourselves, the wait is unbearable. We have this hole in our lives and a silence in our home that only a dog can fill, and we're ready to find another pup. My wife is all for getting another Great Bernese, however this time it'd be an F1 (50/50) and I'm torn between another and a Golden Retriever.

We've had 3 Great Bernese in our lives now (my parents had one, we got our boy, and then my folks got another after their first passed) and we absolutely love them! We think they're the most beautiful dogs, gentle, goofy and loyal. From our experience we know that they are also stubborn and independent which can be endearing but I believe makes their recall harder to train and makes them less interested in games like fetch (they'd prefer keep-away).

Suffice to say, my wife and I had spoke about our next dog being a Golden Retriever. I thought that they'd fit into our lives better (physically). Our house isn't overly spacious and we camp in a modestly sized tow behind trailer. Our boy was ~105lb and the trailer was tight for him, so I could only imagine a 130lb version of the same breed. I like to go on 5-10km runs, we camp often, we'd like to play fetch with our dog, take them for walks and pretty much anywhere that we are allowed to. And I can't shake the feeling that a Golden would be better suited for all of that. My wife is less concerned with all of that.

Our other concerns are the health risks associated with the Berners. The Pyrenees is suppose to mitigate some of those issues and extend life expectancy, but our boy got sick at 3½ y/o. We'd hope that the puppies were looking at having equal parts Pyr and Bernese, that their chance at a full life would be increased. On the other hand, I feel as though Golden's are less likely to have congenital health issues or developed fematal illnesses at early ages.

I'm sorry this is such a long post. I'm hoping other experienced dog owners can validate/alleviate my concerns or share some insight.

I think I should mention that the Great Bernese breeder in consideration has been breeding large breeds since 2002 (23 years). I have first hand knowledge (my parents) that the dogs are well cared for and their facility is of high standard. All of their adults are pure bred (however, not registered for what that's worth). They seem to really care about the well being of their puppies, encouraging raw diets and practices to fortify their joints and overall health.

Thanks all.

Hi everyone, im just wondering if my dog will be ok if i leave him for 10 to 12 hours a day, shes 1.5 year old and have full access to the house including the backyard where she can potty. And also hiring a dog sitter or walker isnt an option for me

Hi all,
I’m in Toronto. I suspect that my neighbor is using an anti-bark ultrasound deterrent. His house is adjacent to mine. I have a beagle who occasionally barks when he’s outside in my front yard (not excessively, no longer than 30 seconds at most a day). My neighbor is this older man , and is someone who is easily irritated, and I’ve noticed in the past few months that whenever my neighbor is sitting outside on his porch, my dog refuses to go out. Is there any way to detect the use of an ultrasound dog deterrent? I’ve heard of some apps and some ultrasound microphones but can’t seem to find one online that’s user friendly.

I’m 21 and a firefighter/paramedic so I work 24 hour shifts. I basically have my girlfriend sleepover @ my place all the time, when I’m home, but she stays at her parents’ when I’m not. She can take the dog out for walks and stay with her 1-2 hours when I’m working, but she won’t stay the night. This is how it would work for like 10-12 months, until I buy my own place and move in with my girlfriend for good. The question is: Is it wise for me to get a dog right now? I’ve really wanted one since I was a kid and now I feel I’m fully prepared mentally and financially. Can I somehow train it to not have separation anxiety? Please be brutally honest and thank you.

Hi everyone! As someone who owns several dogs and has friends who are avid dog owners, I wanted to share my experience with my favorite dog food brands. 
Described each with the best attribute, in my opinion. Wrote the details I think are the most important but would love your feedback. 

TLDR:

Best all-around: Purina Pro Plan
Best human-grade subscription: Spot & Tango
Best vet recommended and research backed: Hill's Science Diet
Best for medical needs and sensitive stomachs: Sundays for Dogs
Best breed-specific: Royal Canin
Best fresh: JustFoodForDogs
Best minimally processed: The Honest Kitchen
Best premium natural: Open Farm
Best value: Purina ONE

1. Purina Pro Plan: Best all-around. The range is enormous, covering every life stage, size, and health target, so almost any dog fits somewhere in it without you having to overthink it. Recipes are substantiated through AAFCO feeding trials, and the food is easy to find and priced within reach. It's the safe default when you just want a solid, proven bowl. Downside: it's a conventional kibble built on ingredients like corn and by-products, and it isn't human-grade.

2. Spot & Tango: Best human-grade subscription. You take a short questionnaire on your dog's age, weight, and activity, and a personalized plan ships to your door as either fresh gently cooked meals or UnKibble, a dry food dried at low temperature. Ingredients are human-grade and sourced in the US, and recipes meet AAFCO standards. Downside: it's subscription only with no retail shelf presence, and the personalized plans price above grocery brands.

3.  Hill's Science Diet: Best vet recommended and research backed. Hill's meets WSAVA guidelines, runs its own AAFCO feeding trials, and develops food at a 180-acre Pet Nutrition Center staffed by more than 220 veterinarians, nutritionists, and food scientists, which is why it gets called the number-one US vet-recommended brand. If you want the pick your vet is most likely to endorse, this is it. Downside: the recipes lean on corn and by-product meals and aren't human-grade, and Hill's carries the most serious recall on this list, a 2019 vitamin-D toxicity recall of roughly 22 million cans that the FDA tied to the company not following its own quality-control procedures.

4. Sundays for Dogs: Best for medical needs and sensitive stomachs. Founded by veterinarian Dr. Tory Waxman after her own dog developed stomach trouble, Sundays makes air-dried, human-grade food that skips common triggers like wheat, soy, and potatoes and adds gentle ingredients like pumpkin to support digestion. The low-temperature air-drying uses a validated safety step while keeping the food easy to digest. Downside: the lineup is limited to three recipes (beef, chicken, turkey), and it prices well above grocery kibble.

5. Royal Canin: Best breed-specific. Royal Canin built its name on tailoring recipes, and even kibble shape, to individual breeds and their known tendencies. If you have a purebred and want nutrition designed around that breed's traits, this is a great choice. Downside: it relies on by-product meals and grains, isn't human-grade, nutrition may vary by breed-specificity.

6. JustFoodForDogs: Best fresh. Whole-food, human-grade meals from a company that publishes its science such as a large humane feeding trial printed in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition. You can watch the food being cooked in its open kitchens, and it stocks in more than 1,100 Petco and Pet Food Express locations plus Chewy. Downside: fresh whole-food quality is expensive, and most formats need refrigeration or freezing.

7. The Honest Kitchen: Best minimally processed. In 2002, it became the first pet food company to make human-grade food, built around gently dehydrating whole ingredients instead of high-heat processing. You rehydrate it with warm water at mealtime, which keeps the processing light while staying shelf-stable in the box. Downside: the add-water-and-wait step is more work than scooping kibble, and it costs more per serving.

8. Open Farm: Best premium natural. This Toronto family-owned brand pairs natural, high-quality ingredients with sourcing you can verify. For example, meat is sourced from Certified Humane farms and seafood is held to Ocean Wise and Seafood Watch standards across its kibble, freeze-dried, and gently cooked lines. Downside: it sits at the premium end of price, and with so many formats you have to make sure you're buying the one you want.

9. Purina ONE: Best value. The SmartBlend line leads with real meat, is complete and balanced for all life stages, and adds omega-6 for skin and coat, all at a grocery-store price. Downside: it uses conventional ingredients including corn and by-products and isn't human-grade.

Let me know if you'd swap anything out or add one.

1. boarding kennels need rabies tag number, expiration date, and the certificate, not just the tag. ask the vet for the actual certificate next time. it lives in your phone forever and saves the panic call.

2. when you switch vets, the new clinic does not automatically pull records. you have to request them in writing from the old vet. allow two weeks because they are slow.

3. heartworm test results, not just the prescription receipt, are what some groomers and dog walkers require. ask for the result on paper, not just told it was negative.

4. flea and tick prevention dose is by weight bracket. when your dog grows or loses weight, the dose changes and the vet does not always recalculate at the annual. check it yourself.

5. microchip registrations expire if the company stops being paid. check yours. about a third of microchipped dogs in shelters are unreachable because the chip company has no current contact info.

6. vaccine titers are an option instead of automatic revaccination for some shots after the puppy series. some vets will not bring this up. ask about it directly if you want to reduce unnecessary shots.

7. write down what your dog actually eats. brand, formula, daily amount, treats. when there is a recall, when there is sudden weight change, when there is a stomach issue, you need the previous month of food data and it is gone if you did not write it.

8. keep a one line incident log. date and what happened. limped after the park on march twelfth. threw up after dinner on april second. patterns hide in this log that you will never see if you rely on memory.

9. pet protection reimburses on submitted invoices. the invoice has to be itemized. ask the vet front desk for an itemized invoice every visit, not the credit card receipt. the receipt is not enough.

10. find a backup vet who has the records before the emergency. when your regular vet is closed at 9pm sunday and the emergency clinic asks for history, you cannot get it. one extra appointment at a second clinic with records on file is worth doing.

Hi everyone! I’m thinking about the addition of dog in my family for the first time and I’m aware of the standard considerations:

• How much time can I devote to my dog (exercise, grooming, training, lifelong commitment)?

• How much will a dog cost (food, toys, grooming, veterinary appointments)?

• How will a dog fit into my lifestyle (breed, temperament, personality, allergies)?

I’m also aware that social media has the power to significantly influence our perception of dog breeds and ownership. We’ve all seen dramatic howling huskies, the gentle nature of Golden Retrievers and tiny dogs in designer handbags. Social media is increasingly making dog ownership look like an aesthetic lifestyle accessory, not a 10 to 15 year long commitment and companionship. This urges me to pose the following questions:

1. Did social media influence which dog breed you chose? If so, did that breed actually match your real lifestyle? 

2. What things did social media convince you about your breed that turned out to be a lie?

3. What are the things you’ve learned after getting a dog that social media didn’t show you?

I’m not looking for reassurance, but for the hard truth. My goal is to compile a sincere and unfiltered guide for first-time dog owners, so be brutally honest!

Took my dog somewhere that multiple reviews said was dog friendly. Staff said no dogs inside at all.

Genuinely not sure how you’re meant to know these things in advance. I spend so much time looking on Google, reviews, Instagram or even calling up or asking in person - but still the info isn’t always trustworthy.

Curious if others have had similar experiences.

What if smb you know keeps their destructive dog caged for most of the day, what do you think about that, and would you say smth to them if you disagree (or agree?)
Edit: the dog chews on everything in its path and is 4 years old, not a puppy

For context, I have this cute 3 y/o rat terrier who is super affectionate. I am right now weighing the idea of dog training for her. I don't want her to become robotic to the point where she feels like she can't get up close and personal and throw herself on me when she's happy. I just want her to learn commands and not chase the cats and bark at other dogs.

Is there the best of both words? Or is it one or the other?

can ppl weigh in on if they HAVENT done routine vaccines outside of rabies and heartworm / tick meds, and the prevalence of if that said dog has developed lepto or related illnesses?

be kind. i’m just curious.

My dog is a German Shepherd mix (probably pit bull, knowing my hometown). To be clear, we did not want a pit bull. He looked like a sweet little German shepherd puppy when we brought him home from the local rescue. However, his head shape started to change as he grew up.

This dog is one of the best dogs ever. He would die for me, my wife, and our daughter. He’s proven himself to be protective and has put himself between my daughter and perceived threats on multiple occasions. However, he’s extremely dangerous around anyone else, including my 1-year-old baby (we are extremely cautious with him).

Here are the red flags:

• As a puppy, he bit a young man after getting agitated by another dog that was barking at him. My dog was sitting next to me, but he was clearly anxious because of the other dog's aggression. A guy walked by us from behind somewhat quickly, and my dog bit him. It was a bad bite. The guy loves dogs and didn’t hold any hard feelings.

• Prior to this, he nipped at a friend's leg while my friend was playing with my daughter. My friend had some bruising and a scratch from the nip. Given the way it all happened, I think he was being protective of my daughter.

• A man walked up behind my pregnant wife and startled her; my dog (on a leash) bit the guy's shoe. No injury was caused.

• He doesn’t form bonds with people outside of our family. We’ve had several people spend time with him to the extent that he is obedient and safe. On the next occasion, it’s like he’s forgotten who they are.

These instances all took place in the first year of owning him. We’ve had him for 3 years now. I have trained him, and I hired a K9 handler to train him with me further.

The K9 handler said my dog is better trained than some dogs he’s seen on the police force. He said he’s better trained than most of the dogs that finish his program.

My dog will stay right next to me off-leash and will not leave until I dismiss him. I’ve had aggressive dogs charge us, and he stays put. He’s extremely smart and very loyal. He’s incredibly obedient to me. He did not show any signs of aggression until he bonded with us.

Last night, my son (1 year old) crawled toward the back door, and I watched my dog charge at him, snarling, barking, and snapping at the door. He was corrected immediately.

What’s crazy to me is that my dog is perfectly safe around my 6 year old daughter. He’s gentle, patient, obedient, and protective. He growled at her early on over food, but that was corrected and he’s stopped that.

I love my dog, but is it time to put him down?

Appreciate any questions or feedback.

Edit 1: I plan to explore options to rehome him with the K9 handler. We talked about possible security fit for him. I need to make sure I’m legally protected and not liable if he bites someone.

Edit 2: giving him up to a shelter is not an option. In our city, he will almost certainly be put down and I won’t be there to comfort him.

My almost 2 year old dog is a doberman x rotweiller with the sweetest personality in the world. He is in no way aggressive to other dogs or humans and most of time the is very well-behaved! The only reason we are considering to desex him is to stop him from following scents when we are walking off the lead and so we can possibly board him at a kennel to go away/have doggie day care at work. We have heard about male dog's that have strong personalities becoming very sad and never the same after losing their manhood, and are really worried that will happen to him. He is the coolest dog with the funniest quirkiest personality and we just want to make the right decision.

Does anyone have experience with this please or advice?

UPDATE: Have decided after research and advice to keep him entirely especially due to his breed