Hi, thank you for taking the time to respond to this! In a few years, once I’m finished with school, I’d like to adopt a "middle/ older aged" dog. I’ve been looking at the adoption pages at the local animal shelter and some older dogs seem to have issues like being scared of thunder or unfriendly with strangers. I’m worried about not being able to correct these behaviours. Do you think it’s easier to train a dog from scratch or to correct years of non action from previous owners?

“Easy” is going to depend on the individual dog and your capabilities. There isn’t a right or wrong answer for which one is easier because you could get a dog that was never trained properly and responds perfectly to your…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
Hi, thank you for taking the time to respond to this! In a few years, once I’m finished with school, I’d like to adopt a "middle/ older aged" dog. I’ve been looking at the adoption pages at the local animal shelter and some older dogs seem to have issues like being scared of thunder or unfriendly with strangers. I’m worried about not being able to correct these behaviours. Do you think it’s easier to train a dog from scratch or to correct years of non action from previous owners?Read more

you are always sooo kind to people who ask you questions they should be asking a professional, and your advice is always so nice! i’ve never gotten over my dogblr being recommended as a good gsd blog lmao. i love this blog, seriously, it’s great!! <3

Haha thanks! Yeah, I give advice and my opinions, but I would never want it to substitute seeking professional help. There are some things you should not try to solve via Internet! Aggression is my number one red flag. I…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
you are always sooo kind to people who ask you questions they should be asking a professional, and your advice is always so nice! i’ve never gotten over my dogblr being recommended as a good gsd blog lmao. i love this blog, seriously, it’s great!! <3Read more

I saw a recipe for home-made dog treats, and I want to look into that more. Have you ever tried making dog treats before? What kind of things should I be on the look out for, in terms of bad or unhealthy ingredients and portions?

I’m not much of a baker, I think I’ve made treats before that just used banana, peanut butter, and oats. I like frozen treats you can make with stuff like yogurt, pumpkin, and fruit! Anyone have good recipes??

postmaster Smiling Dogs
I saw a recipe for home-made dog treats, and I want to look into that more. Have you ever tried making dog treats before? What kind of things should I be on the look out for, in terms of bad or unhealthy ingredients and portions?Read more

I need help with my dog. he’s suuuuuper aggressive. he likes to lay on our bed but whenever we move near him or touch him he barks and bites us. he has this window he likes to look out of and when he hears other dogs walking he starts barking and growling at us and at times attack us. if we get near him when he eats he’ll attack us too. his bites aren’t soft and more often than not cut through skin. please help I’m getting terrified of being around him :(

Unfortunately, you need help from a professional. This is not something you should attempt to fix on your own. This is a serious situation, and it is your responsibility to make sure he is evaluated by an animal behaviorist. The…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
I need help with my dog. he’s suuuuuper aggressive. he likes to lay on our bed but whenever we move near him or touch him he barks and bites us. he has this window he likes to look out of and when he hears other dogs walking he starts barking and growling at us and at times attack us. if we get near him when he eats he’ll attack us too. his bites aren’t soft and more often than not cut through skin. please help I’m getting terrified of being around him :(Read more

My Labrador retriever has bi-lateral vocal chord paralysis which makes it harder for him to breath when he is exited. He can be pretty laid back, but he can also get really excited when someone comes to the door or when I feed him. Any tips on calming him down when he gets too exited?

You could teach him a “settle” command. Amp up your dog (in the safest way possible) then abruptly stop and display a calm demeanor. Give him soft pets, have him relax, then reward him once he is sufficiently calm and use…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
My Labrador retriever has bi-lateral vocal chord paralysis which makes it harder for him to breath when he is exited. He can be pretty laid back, but he can also get really excited when someone comes to the door or when I feed him. Any tips on calming him down when he gets too exited?Read more

Herding breed dogs shouldn’t be associated with barking! That’s all Aussies and I guess you could call what they do herding. Yes my B.Collie is talkative, but she doesn’t bark and she knows when it’s quiet time. And she doesn’t bark to herd!

Haha, I sense some sass against the Aussies!

postmaster Smiling Dogs
Herding breed dogs shouldn’t be associated with barking! That’s all Aussies and I guess you could call what they do herding. Yes my B.Collie is talkative, but she doesn’t bark and she knows when it’s quiet time. And she doesn’t bark to herd!Read more

My dog mostly ignores me in the day, but if my parents go out so we are alone at night he sticks to me like glue. As in, he refuses to go to sleep unless we are curled up together. If I move so I’m not touching him, he wakes up and shifts closer. Like, I love him and I like him paying attention to me, but it feels like he doesn’t trust me home alone? And if I go into the bathroom or something he just lies by the front door whining until I come out. I don’t know how to make him feel better

Sounds more like separation anxiety than mistrust. He just wants your parents to come home!

postmaster Smiling Dogs
My dog mostly ignores me in the day, but if my parents go out so we are alone at night he sticks to me like glue. As in, he refuses to go to sleep unless we are curled up together. If I move so I’m not touching him, he wakes up and shifts closer. Like, I love him and I like him paying attention to me, but it feels like he doesn’t trust me home alone? And if I go into the bathroom or something he just lies by the front door whining until I come out. I don’t know how to make him feel betterRead more

Sometimes I take my dogs (both dachshunds) to the dog park for a change of environment. My younger dog is a little high-strung and he will bark at any people or dog he sees, and he growls and bares his teeth when a dog tries to socialize with him. I believe this aggression comes from being scared, because that’s how he acts, though he never ever bites other dogs. Is it bad that I keep taking him to the dog park to try to socialize him?

If your pups do not enjoy the company of other dogs, then the dog park isn’t the best place for them. It is important to socialize, but the dog park isn’t the proper place for dogs without social skills. It…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
Sometimes I take my dogs (both dachshunds) to the dog park for a change of environment. My younger dog is a little high-strung and he will bark at any people or dog he sees, and he growls and bares his teeth when a dog tries to socialize with him. I believe this aggression comes from being scared, because that’s how he acts, though he never ever bites other dogs. Is it bad that I keep taking him to the dog park to try to socialize him?Read more

As someone who is financially not in a place to have a dog at the moment, what do you think is a realistic goal to work towards? Like how much money (like per month) should one be able to spend on dog stuff? I realise it must depend on all sorts of factors, but any idea of ballparks? :/ (savings would exist and be used for emergency vet stuff and other sudden larger costs). I’m resisting being irresponsible and getting a dog when I know I can;’t afford one, but it’d be nice to have a goal, y’kno

The cost of food, toys, vet care, and accessories is going to depend on the size of your dog. My dog is a Great Dane mix and his $70 bag of dog food lasts a month. The same bag of…

postmaster Smiling Dogs
As someone who is financially not in a place to have a dog at the moment, what do you think is a realistic goal to work towards? Like how much money (like per month) should one be able to spend on dog stuff? I realise it must depend on all sorts of factors, but any idea of ballparks? :/ (savings would exist and be used for emergency vet stuff and other sudden larger costs). I’m resisting being irresponsible and getting a dog when I know I can;’t afford one, but it’d be nice to have a goal, y’knoRead more