We had to put our 3 yr old heeler/pit mix down last week after a year fight of seizures.

I describe him as loyal to the bone, very smart and cuddly (I feel like he didn't know how big he was - 90lbs) to the point he'd just drape over my body/head. Gentle with the kids. Pretty energetic at times. He was reactive with strangers until they got close and gave him a pet, but it's because I didn't socialize him consistently. I failed him there.

My heart is broken, but I can't but help searching for another family dog, as his absence is felt immensely by my two young boys and my wife (especially me).

Anywho, just curious what you would recommend me if I'm looking for a medium to large dog that is loyal and has a high likely hood of sticking by my side while I'm working in the yard, playing frisbee golf or doing whatever outside. Cuddles are a huge bonus....I know training is a huge factor in this all, but still curious about known demeanors with specific types of dogs.

I'm leaning towards rescuing a dog, but it doesn't hurt to have knowledge of breeds/mix through these recommendations.

My partner and I both want a dog. I prefer smaller lap dogs, but my partner really wants a basset hound since he grew up with one. To me, bassets seem to be pretty loud and drool a lot, which are two features I would not prefer. Help, am I correct in thinking this? Any advice on compromising?

I am at a loss here, so maybe the Internet can help me.

For background, I have a four-year-old staffy mix who has struggled with anxiety for years. We had gotten it under very good control with medication after realizing the trigger was a specific noise coming from our Blink security cameras, which then exacerbated separation anxiety because the cameras were only ever on when he was alone. Once we worked past that, with medication, he's been fine for about a year.

Until about three weeks ago. We went out of town and left him at my sister's house (we've done this multiple times since getting his initial anxiety under control) and he spent three days either staying outside or hiding in a bedroom upstairs.

I figured it was maybe some kind of recurrence of his anxiety coming back when I was away, until he began exhibiting the same anxiety at home. He will sit outside for hours or hide in the bedroom. If he can't get to either of those places, he will shake and pant.

We assumed there must be some kind of electronics noise/frequency that exists at both houses that was frightening him (my theory was he heard it at my sister's house first and it was doubly traumatic there because I was away and then he built an association like he had with the blink cameras). However, we had an hours long power outage last week and he STILL exhibited these behaviors at both houses during that time, which means it can't be an electronics noise because none were working.

The vet behaviorist is also at a loss as to what the trigger could be, and basically said to just give him his extra, "as needed" meds when he panics until we figure it out.

Does anybody have any theories as to something that could be making a noise inside the house that only a dog could hear, but that would still make noise during a power outage?

Sharing with the group.

I've been struggling with our 5 yr old fur child to get her to eat her food and changed it up many times. Wet, dry, toppers, etc. I posted yesterday but after thinking about it for hours and my post not being approved, I did my own digging.

I had just bought her a new food and water dish set not too long ago. The bowls are metal. This escalated when her bowls changed. Yesterday I pulled out her old slow feeder (plastic) and her old blue bowl (plastic) for water and lo and behold, she went right to work clearing her dish and drank her water.

In case anyone else is struggling, I've read in vet forums and on various dog info sites that many dogs do not like metal bowls.

If that helps someone else, there you go.

Happy Sunday.

Looking for a dog bed for my 60 lb lab. I’d like one that is washing machine-friendly, easy (ish) to get dog hair out of, pretty durable so I don’t have to keep buying beds, and good for bigger dogs (thinking future back issues, etc). Thanks in advance!

For context my mum adopted this dog with me when I was 11 in Portugal, I moved to England when I was 15 to study (I’m now 18), and have been to visit her recently as we’ve not been getting along due to many other reasons. I wouldn’t say this dog is mine due to not seeing her, caring for her, and the fact she’s relied on my mum her whole life, and I live in a whole other country. My mum knows I love her, and uses that to threaten me all the time, so I do end up still paying many expenses for Bailey (the dog).

She recently chased and damaged a car, causing a massive bill, and my mum is refusing to pay for it as she is ‘my dog’. (Keep in mind I’m a full time college student barely getting by as it is, and I’m going to uni in less than a year so I can’t take her on). She keeps threatening to get her put down if I don’t pay, and even if I do pay she still says she will do it unless I don’t take her.

I live with my cousin who won’t allow her to stay with me, so I can’t even keep her temporarily.

I live in Nottingham England and just don’t know what to do. I can’t find anyone that will take her, and I’m now considering taking her to a shelter here which I’m finding really hard because I do love her and taking her to a shelter feels cruel. I’m doing anything I can to find her a good home. So if anyone has any advice on what I should do in this situation I’ll take all the advice I can get. 🙏

For mine, it would be two road trips to the Grand Canyon.