What do you recommend?

Is it cruel to leave my two dogs (2 years and 8 months) alone overnight? We are struggling to find last minute dog sitters. We have secured one that can feed them their dinner and breakfast but can’t be there overnight with them due to commitments. We would be gone Saturday morning until Sunday morning. Planning to exercise them Saturday morning. Thoughts? Feel so guilty.

Edit: thanks everyone for your feedback. We have taken it on board and while they have access to their potty garden (doggy door) and roommates to feed them as well as neighbours to check on them, we’ve decided the best thing is one of us stay home. Thank you!

Kind of a vent but....

I’ve been looking into adopting a dog for a while, specifically a German Shepherd. I found an older dog from an advertisement I was really interested in and contacted a shelter/rescue per sms/whatsapp.

I only asked how the adopting process is at their shelter and got later suddenly a phone call from them.

The problem is, I have social anxiety and autism so I have problems with phone calls especially so sudden. So I wanted to be truthful and not find an excuse why I didn't take the phone call and apologized for not taking the phone call and explained that I'm not really a fan of phone calls/ that I got some difficulties with it and asked if its possible to ask further questions and the process per Whatsapp. (We were messaging on whatsapp already)

Immediately the worker goes. "No that doesn't work, forget it. Good luck."

Maybe I'm just sensitive but that really threw me off as I was just asking a question and they basically shut me off already. It's sad, it feels a little discriminating as I was just stating my prefered communication way. I understand they probably just try to find a good owner but even people with autism or social anxiety can treat pets well? I had already dogs and I went to dog school with them and socialized them, so it's not like I would avoid the whole world and just sit at home with the dog. I also think I have good living requirements for a dog. As I got a big apartment with a fenced garden, the dog wouldn't be long alone (maybe just 2 or 3 hours) and there are nice forest areas nearby so no big city.

Before they replied that I found their website and the whole adoption process and nowhere there is something about a phone call or anything like that. Just a form and some other stuff. Not even a home visit so I thought it would go well and would be perfect for me as the idea of a home visit also makes me anxious...

It's sad as this was my first Interaction with a shelter/rescue and it kinda frightened me away to give other shelters a try and just buy a puppy instead...

Maybe shelters/rescue aren't a thing for me? Or maybe I should have asked someone for help to assist me with the process of adopting? It definitely was a lesson for me that even nowadays many places aren't open minded to different kind of people and that I will have it difficult in the future without any help.

If anyone knows about a shelter/rescue in Europe with GSD's that doesn't require a homevisit and is maybe a little more "easy going" than my last experience and would also provide transport, I would gladly take any recommendations and look into it.

Sorry for any grammatical errors.

Edit because many people are misinterpreting:

No, I'm not complaining about needing to make a phone call, I'm complaining how the person responded rude. I simply asked something and stated my prefered communication way, I'm able to do phone calls just with more encouragemen to myself.

No I'm not a social wreck 24/7. Just phone calls and something that feels like I'm being judged by other people/ exam like what a home visit probably is like.

yes I got dog experiences, also bigger dogs like akita inu and other difficult breeds.

I informed myself about GSD since years ago. Been my favorite breed since a kid. I know they need structure and all that stuff. I'm planning to join a GSD-club and train it with all the help and resources I get.

I'm also just wondering why there are no other ways that are basically the same? Form basically same result as a phone call. Instead of a home visit maybe a Video of my apartment. Same result no?

Questions I have

How do shelters do home visits if the shelter is from another country? Is it maybe just sending a video of my place? Because I could imagine that being less stressful for me.

i'm seeing a lot of videos on the internet that are highlighting how intense, manic, and crazy the lab breed is. are a lot of these genuine breed behaviors or a lack of training? a lot of these videos are yes, funny, but i could see them being pretty dangerous in reality. not hating! i have a part lab mix so i do laugh at some of the videos because they can be great, exciting dogs. just curious what others think

I adopted my dog last November and crate training her was easy and she goes in at bed time on her own. I only shut the door and lock the top latch. Last night for the first time ever she broke out by squeezing out the bottom side of the door (where it isn't latched).

I didn't know what to do other than take her outside and put her back in. I closed both latches and she only cried a bit but then seemed fine... any ideas on this random new behavior??

Edit just to clarify: She free roams house all day with toys and my other dog. I crate both dogs at night only and have had no issues up to this point.

My dog does this all the time and was wondering if it's normal. He's a 12 year old yellow lab and whenever he sleeps his tongue sticks out just a tiny bit. It's super cute but was wondering why!

My male dane is suddenly peeing on my toddlers belongings. I don’t mean loose toys he’s peeing on night stands, diaper caddy’s, anything that i use to hide her toys away from him. If i leave him alone for even a few minutes he’ll find something to pee on even if he’s just been outside/doesn’t need to pee.

I’m cleaning his messes with Odoban/enzyme cleaners/dish soap. i’ve tried everything and i’ve even thrown out any toys he pees on that i can’t thoroughly clean. Short of getting rid of everything in our house that my toddler touches i don’t know what to do.

He gets plenty of attention during the day (i’m almost always home) and i monitor his water schedule daily. How do i get him to stop peeing on my toddlers things??

Tonight when we got home from grocery shopping we found what we think is a stray dog in the driveway we feed and water her and she hasn’t left which is more then ok with us we would have let her inside if she didn’t have fleas and we know she would be ok with the cats but she’s is obviously a senior and I think she is deaf we talk to her she doesn’t look or respond I have a video but it doesn’t let me add it I was just wondering is case we keep her cause we are very much thinking of doing so how do we go about taking care of a deaf dog? We also think she’s half blind

I have recently moved out of a multi-human home, and my 10 year old collie thinks this means I must actively play fetch or tug with him at all times.

This is obviously not possible while I am attempting to work from home, but I feel bad for rejecting him so often, and he's obviously bored. I have never been his only human in a home before now (although I've always been his primary human), so this has been a difficult adjustment for us both.

• It needs to be something I don't actively participate in so that I can work.
• Anything food related, even frozen kongs, ect. he finishes in mere minutes, 15 mins max. Food puzzles, etc. are no match for him. (I also have a small dog, and frankly they are both chubby already.)
• I can't afford to pay for a walker/babysitter/doggy day care regularly.
• I also cannot simply take him on multiple walks per day in this heat/humidity due to health issues. (Walks will resume when the weather cools down, hopefully soon!)
• He won't really chew on toys by himself. I have tried to get him dozens of toys, and either it becomes a safety hazard or he thinks it's a fetch toy and just brings it to me. He LOVES the nylabone wishbone things, but the plastic gets rough and tears up his gums, so I've stopped buying them.
• I have often considered an automatic ball launcher, and I did just order one, but he throws a tantrum if he doesn't have 101% of my attention when I'm playing fetch with him, so I fear that he won't be interested.

Does anyone have any suggestions for things to keep him busy and entertained BY HIMSELF, no human involved?

My roommate has 2 dogs who she leaves unattended for days on end relying on my good graces to take care of them. As a dog lover myself I will not let them be caged and without food/water. What do I do here? I’ve even had to plans to take care of their dogs. How can I make her take accountability without punishing the dogs?

We adopted our second dog August 7th. He’s super sweet and has settled in great. He does bark at most people except for me. Anyways, my birthday is the end of this month. I was wondering if it would be appropriate to have smaller gatherings (8 people or less including my husband and I) for it at our house yet. If so, what should be done to make him feel most comfortable? We have gates in the home we can utilize and he does have crates that he enjoys as a safe space as well. Would just like to be able to have some dinner parties for my birthday and have everyone calm and happy!

We have a 15 year-old dog and we are running into a problem we did not anticipate. He’s having a very hard time with the hardwood floors meaning he slips or once laying down has trouble getting back up.

We have put down rugs and put rugs with sticky backs on the stair treads. However, he is still having a problem in parts of the home. We’ve considered dog booties with rubber bottoms to help him. Has anyone had to deal with us and found a solution?

We do keep his nails and foot fur properly trimmed.

He sweet old guy and we hate to see him struggle. Moving is not an option.

Have a rescue and he is really settling in now (3 months) boy does he ever talk a lot lol...I guess it's just that he is feeling comfortable finally?

My 5 month old puppy has been going to daycare for one day a week for a few weeks. The daycare just sent me two videos of her playing with another dog, one is from her second week and one is from today. But I am not sure if on the second one she is enjoying it as much, I wanted to check in and she’s my first puppy before I make a decision to have a word with the daycare or remove her or know if im overthinking. I will say she loves going there, when she knows we are approaching she tries to pull, she goes in running without even looking back and is excited to see the staff so didn’t have any concerns prior to the videos.
Will add videos to comment as I can’t add to post.

A relative is giving me her dog, a 1 year old Pomeranian, because she is getting old and can no longer take care of her dog. I felt in love with the dog's personnality and she offered to rehome the dog with me. I am really excited to have my first dog!

I will welcome the dog in the next few weeks and I would like some advice on what I can do to make the dog feel welcome in her new home and facilitate this big change.