#potty training adult dog

[padawansuggest]

Hey so if you’re new here and haven’t been around longer than ten minutes you might not know that my fave fave fave tropes ever are 1: time travel and 2: Obi-Wan getting adopted by Mandos, so whenever I find a time travel fic where Obi goes back in time and is promptly adopted by Mandos I get so excited trust me there are a lot but rn what I really really really want is a fic where I combine one of my fave headcanon type things that I like to put in fics with my second fave trope being Force Sensitive Jaster Mereel and then combined with Obi-Wan and Anakin (and probably Shmi too lmao let’s have a force sensitive babies party here) as force ghosts with Jaster and suddenly one of them comes back all ‘YALL I KNOW HOW TO GO BACK IN TIME I FIGURED IT OUT’ and so they all go back in time with the pure goal of saving their peoples (Mandos, Jedi AND slaves okay we makin a trifecta of people who got the worst bullshit in Star Wars two of which got all the blame when literally all of it was Sith and slavers faults) and Jaster goes back in time to Korda 6 and looks around for Jango so they could retreat only for little grunts of ouchies I fell to happen and he looks over to see a small pile of toddlers Obi-Wan, Anakin, Shmi, (Boba and like six other clones you know I have to) and is all ‘oh shit. Please be potty trained please be potty trained please be potty trained’ and now he has to go find Jango to call them back to their ships and tell Jango he in fact has a bunch of new vod’ika all of whom still have adult memories and also can you hold Boba please he’s a crying mess he just wants Jango nvm you can be that one’s Buir he bites lmao NO DONT HOLD HIM LIKE THAT JANIKA I RAISED YOU BETTER and now they’re back to Mandalore and Jaster is all ‘shit. We made this plan to save ALL our peoples. Well fuck.’ And now he’s all wait a sec and calls up the Jedi (yes they had him on hold for 3 hours and he kept bouncing between departments it was very annoying with Obi-Wan’s little fangies teething on his vambraces making the most annoying sound ever the whole time) and now he’s able to sorta blank for a solid 30 seconds before blurting out that they have force sensitive babies and the Jedi can’t have them and then Anakin HANGS UP ON THEM YOU LIL SHIT THAT DIDNT SOUND GOOD and the Jedi sorta like text him back all ‘??? Good for you???’ And now Jaster has to call them again and explain that he needs help with these lil shits teething on his armor and throwing people into walls when they sneeze and the temple is all ‘listen we can send out a master with docs but we’re a lil busy looking for a Stewjoni initiate that disappeared from the nursery’ ‘oh you mean this one?’ *holds up Obi by an ankle who’s chewing furiously on a vambrace’ and says they can’t have him back the kara gave him that baby!!!!! So now they have to send out a team whereupon Plo and Dooku are suckered into a -three way with Jaster- a deal upon which the Mandos will help the Jedi leave the Republic who use them like attack dogs and then they can stop slavery together and raise babies!

Anyways. I just think that would be neat.

[snowviolettwhite]

WIP

Tagged by lovelies @anewkindofme and @im-overstimulated-and-im-sad

This is going to be a one shot or two shot about little three-year-old Eddie visiting his grandma in California and ends up meeting young adult Athena as a cop when he get lost.

---

It is summer of 1997.

Three-year-old Edmundo Diaz is super excited. Him and his eight-year-old big sister Adrianna are visiting Abuela in California. He is super annoyed to because he wants to explore but instead, he is being put down for a nap.

“Don’t wanna nap, Anna doesn’t nap. It no fair.” Looking up at his mama with his little arm crossed.

“Adrianna is a big girl. You are still little and little boys need naps or they get grumpy. Do you want to be grumpy?”

He pouts at the question. “No. mommy.”

“Potty and then sleepy time.” He shakes his dramatically no. “If you don’t go potty, mama is gonna put a diaper on you. I thought you wanted to play big boy. Big boys go potty before sleep and wear big boy undies to bed.”

“Papa took Eddie to the potty.”

“Ramon! Get in here!”

“Helena, what is it?”

“Did Edmundo go to the bathroom?”

“Not recently.” A little giggle came from their toddler. “Did you try to trick mama?”

“Maybe?”

“Helena just put on his diaper pull-up. Potty training can continue when we’re home, he going to ended climbing to sleep in bed with his sister and abuela and going to wet the bed when we are gone anyway.”

“Daddy, want hug.” Stretching his arms up indicating he wants to be picked up and carried.

“Ramon, change him. Remember don’t work him up. He won’t fall asleep.”

He grabs pulled up the little boy swinging him is his arm and place him on his hip. “Come on Little Mr. papa taking you to the bathroom and get you into your pjs and diaper. Mama is gonna put you to sleep.”

“Okay, papa.”

“Dinosaur or Winnie The Pooh?”

“Pooh Bear pjs, please.”

“Arms up?” His little son hold is arms up. Ramon pulls off the stripped green and purple Barney the Dinosaur shirt. He then moves on the denim shorts and underwear, untying the elastane waist band and pulling them down together. “One foot and two foot. There we go. How about you go potty.”

The little boy yawns and rubs his eyes “no no, sleepy.”

“Are you Papa’s sleepy little boy? Ready for naptime?”

He nods his head yes. Ramon gets the pajamas and diaper on Eddie with ease, picking and carrying him the little boy snuggles close to his daddy and sucking his thumb. He keeps falling in and out of sleep. Papa kisses the top of his little head before placing him on the bed and indicts to his wife the state of their child.

She tucks him into bed with his stuffed toy dog, Mr. Doggy.

“Will you and papa be here when I wake up?” He always wants mama and a snack after nap time.

“Mama will be here. She is not leaving until after bedtime. We will spend the whole day together. Mama loves you so much. Now sleepy time.”

“Want chupa?” Helena and Ramon are trying to ween Eddie off pacifiers. It has not been working well. They tried convincing him, dipping it in lemon juice, hiding it.

Adrianna even told Eddie that a monster would come up from under the bed and eat him if he kept using his chupa. The big sister ended up regretting. She got in so much trouble for scaring and making him cry. She suffered the conquests of her toddler brother having nightmares, causing him the inability to sleep in his own bed alone and therefore was forced to share her bed for over a month.

Helena is hoping her mother-in-law can ride Eddie of this habit while visiting. She does not want to deal with her tiny human who has been up since before the sun rise throwing a tantrum and his pacifier is cleaner than his thumb. She allows it one or two more times. She grabs the pacifier clipping it to his pj shirt and remove his thumb from his mouth replacing it with the pacifier and lightly kisses his head and soft says. “I love you.”

From behind the pacifier mumbling “Love you too, mama.”

On the way here mama and papa told him to be a good boy. They made him promised to hold Abuela and Anna’s hands when they are out of the house otherwise, he would have to stay in the stroller. Abuela promised to take them to Disneyland. She is a little old to carry a toddler for hours on end and they don’t want him to get lost.

--

Tagging but no pressure

@aroeddiediaz. @the-flaming-nightmare. @missmagooglie @babygirl-diaz @lochnesswriter @tommykinard6 @whaddaman

[treedaddymcpuffpuff]

Beneath Miles of Stone - Part five - John Wick x Plus Size Fem Reader

Summary: John has been in prison for nine months. He’s content to stay if it means appeasing the high table and keeping peace between the owners of each continental. However, he meets someone who erases that willingness. Peace be dammed.

TW: Bullying

Michael has a lot of stuff. A lot of heavy stuff. Despite him assuring her that he can move it all in on his own, she still wants to help.

It would be kind of a dick move if she didn’t assist with all of this. An hour in, and the apartment is already transformed from bland and empty into a hoard of pastel rainbow decor and soft white staple pieces.

She takes a break to admire the painting of a fluffy white angel cat over watercolor Van Gogh scenery. Michael comes through the door, panting, with his White Cottage microwave in tow.

“Who painted this?” She asks him.

He smiles, blushes, puts the microwave down and then his hand on his hips. “I did.”

Her eyes grow wide. “This is amazing.”

He chuckles. “Thank you.”

She likes Michael a lot already, but she’s also very jealous of him and his many talents and cool possessions. He makes her want to decorate and be creative, both skills she’s never been able to possess correctly.

She hasn’t gotten the key made yet, so she goes out and does that while he starts unpacking his things. By the time she’s done, her apartment looks astonishing. Fairy lights twinkle over gauze white curtains and a big speaker plays soft hiphop music in one corner of the living room. Her couch is full of comfy white and grey fluffy throw pillows. An incense burner releases gourmand, smoky aroma into the air.

Michael is stretched out on the couch, taking a break, watching Legally Blonde on DVD. Her small TV is now in her room and his bigger flatscreen dwarfs the stand that it was on.

She sits down beside him with two glasses of water. Before she can set hers down on the coffee table, he stops her. “Wait! Coasters!”

He digs through two boxes of stuff before he finds new marble coasters for them to set their drinks on.

She laughs at him and he grins back. “I know, I know,” he tells her, “typical trust fund kid BS.”

“You’re fine,” she says. “I was laughing at the coasters because the table is already a mess.”

“Listen,” he says, “this table just needs some tee ell cee. A sander and some paint would do her wonders.” He pats the wooden top.

“Can I help?” She asks, excited and jumping at the opportunity a little too eagerly.

“Of course you can,” he assures.

She remembers him telling her that his mother is an artist. “Did your mom teach you to paint?”

He nods. “She also taught me how to make miniatures. You know, like dollhouses but for adults?”

“That’s amazing. Do you trade art with her?”

“I do,” he says, “we send things back and forth in the mail. Although my dad says it ‘clogs up their post office box’.”

“He’s not a fan of art?”

Michael snorts. “He hates everything except golf. Sometimes I think he hates me.”

She shakes her head. “Does he really hate you? You’re the perfect son.”

Michael sighs. “No, but he hates gay people, so it’s close enough. When I first came out to him, if my mother wouldn’t have been there, he would’ve probably shot me. He’s a real man’s man if you know what I mean...”

She nods, smiling ruefully. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean.”

Michael thinks for a moment. “We should get a dog.”

“I would love that, but it’s no pets here.”

He raises his eyebrows and sips at his water. “What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”

They decide it has to be a quiet dog, one who’s comfortable being alone at night, and there are an abundance of local shelters displaying perfect furry candidates online.

“Rocky. Pitbull mix. Potty trained, good with kids and other pets, sweet and loves everyone.” She shows Michael a picture of a medium sized black, stout dog with shiny grey eyes.

Michael shows her his own selection, a retired service beagle named Winnie. “Short for Winnifred,” he reads, “loves people and other pets, very polite, and hardly ever barks.”

“I love them both,” she groans, leaning back into the couch cushions.

“Same,” Michael sighs. “It’s one in the afternoon. Do you work tonight?”

“Yup.” She presses an arm over her face, blocking out the ceiling light.

“Don’t you have to sleep?” He asks.

She’s not tired at all because she slept through the night—wet dreams work wonders on insomnia—but she agrees because Michael sounds like he needs some alone time. Plus, her DVDs and TV are in her room now, and if she can’t sleep she can watch an old, comfortable flick.

The problem isn’t getting to sleep, it’s staying there—waking up sweating, gasping, whining John’s name. She slaps her mouth shut, presses her face into her pillow, and prays to any deity listening that her voice wasn’t loud enough for Michael to hear. First day in the new place and his roommate is a fiend. It would make any sane person want to revoke their rental agreement immediately.

She should be embarrassed and anxious that Michael potentially heard her, but instead she’s grinding against her sheets and thinking of tall men handcuffed to beds.

This won’t work. This isn’t working. She’s so pent up that it’s borderline painful. She sticks her hand into her sleep pants, past her underwear, and into a sloppy mess, tries to think about anything but John while she rubs herself raw, but in doing so her brain latches onto the thought of him and pretty soon he’s the only thing on her mind.

She tries to paint a decent fantasy of what she would like sex with him to be, but really she doesn’t give a shit as long as it’s him. And that’s what scares her. He could be absolutely celibate and she’d still crave whatever he wanted to give her whether it be a rough kick or a soft caress—she’d be his dog, and **this is the worst time for her to realize that because her alarm is going off for work.

She orgasms at the cost of being ten minutes late.

The locker room lights are off when she goes to put her things away, which is unusual. Since she started, they’ve been lit around the clock. In fact, she’s not even sure where the light switch is in here because she’s never had to use it. Fumbling around in the pitch black is making her even tardier. Finally, when she finds the switch and flips it, the room illuminates, and standing under the migraine-inducing glow is someone who makes headaches seem like a dream come true.

Benny grins from his seat on the bench, which he quickly abandons in favor of looming over her. Once again, the sweaty, edematous mass of him blocks her exit.

She’s too busy contemplating if anyone would hear her scream to see him hold his open palm out expectantly.

“Give it to me,” he says.

“What?” She asks, imagining in another universe she sounds angry and oppositional instead of whiny and terrified. In another universe, she can also kick his ass. Not in this one, though. In this universe, she does as Benny demands and hands him her phone so she doesn’t have to suffer through the touch of his greasy skin a second time.

He holds her phone in one hand while the other holds his own. She doesn’t bother trying to see what he’s doing because she can’t get her feet to move let alone stand on tiptoes and look over his shoulder.

This goes on for a while in which her only thought consists of asking herself if she could run to the door and make it into the populated infirmary before he can catch her. Again, this is a solution mainly dependent on her stubborn feet.

She’s not really worried about what he puts on her phone. It’s what he’s getting from it that sets her pulse careening.

He reaches out and tries to shove it into her jacket pocket, but luckily that’s when her feet decide to save her and step away from his hands. He scowls at her like she just insulted his mother.

“Fine.” Benny opens his hand and drops her phone on the stone floor. She winces when she hears the shatter, then looks back up at his pleased, disgusting expression.

“Remember our trip.” He pushes past her, not enough to hurt but to make her yelp and stumble, and slams the door shut on his way out.

Her phone isn’t broken. The screen has a tiny crack in one corner but other than that it’s still perfect.

She grabs her bag from her locker and brings it with her to the nurse’s station, labeling the locker room as an unsafe and off limits space, which are becoming more bountiful by the day.

John is not her patient tonight. On her day off they must have had an influx of admissions because she’s responsible for 10 of them and the infirmary is unusually and appropriately staffed.

Her hopes of his nurse trading him are slim to none because he’s a wonderful patient and over time everyone has seemed to agree that they want him on their assignment sheet.

The other nurse’s that take and give her report always talk about what a cool, easy going guy he is and how they’re surprised that he needs that many guards with him.

“What do you think he did?” Stan, one of the day shift nurses, asks her.

“My bet’s on released a circus full of wild animals and let them trample a small town, but I could be wrong.” She taps her pen against her report sheet and laughs at her own joke.

Stan snorts. “He probably killed some rich guys.”

The other nurses like him so much that most of their theories on why John is in four point restraints with four men guarding him at all times is because he’s done something valiant that pissed someone powerful off.

That’s probably the other reason his wound looks better; not just because of her, but because if you like a patient or connect with them you’re more than likely going to give them the best care you can provide.

If she’s honest, it kind of makes her feel sick. Not because everyone has grown to like John, but because that means she’ll have less chance of being his nurse from here on out. Also, she knows it’s kindergarten mentality, but she liked him and treated him well first while the other ones had to get to know him beforehand.

Her case load is heavy. A couple IV’s, wound changes, someone with a tracheostomy. She sits down to chart, finally, at 3 AM.

One of the other nurses, Bill, calls for her across the hall.

She fights the urge to groan while standing on sore feet and walking over to his medication cart.

Bill grins at her, looking like he’s really enjoying himself. “My patient in 9 wants to see you.”

“Me?” She asks.

Bill shrugs, still looking very amused. “He says he needs to tell you something.”

“What?”

“I don’t know,” Bill tells her. “Seems that he likes your company, though.” He gives an eyebrow raise at the awkward expression crawling onto her face.

She reminds herself that this her workplace for the 80th time and that Bill’s suggestive expressions are just him messing around. Joking. That’s all. He’s joking.

John is watching the door, waiting for her. When she pops in like a mouse and scurries to his bed, he feels the urge to pat her on the head for showing up which would be the only thing he could do to stop himself from grabbing her up and kissing her.

His smile is wide and genuine. “How’s the roommate search?”

“Uh, I got one.” She smiles timidly, hoping he doesn’t think she’s erratic and air-headed for finding someone so fast

His eyes widen just the smallest bit. “That’s good, is she…nice?”

She nods too eagerly. “He’s great. And he has great decorations.”

The key word here—at least the one his ears attune to—is he. Not because a woman and a man living together automatically entails romance or connection, but because John knows men—John is a man—and most of them turn out to be less than good.

He tries not to look mean, to keep his smile, to focus on her being here with him in the present and alive and well; If he doesn’t, rage will start talking, nefarious, whispering sin in his ear, assuring him that it wouldn’t be hard to break out of these handcuffs and make sure her roommate becomes her loyal dog for the rest of the time he spends living with her and alive.

“If you wouldn’t have suggested it, I’d probably be homeless by next week.” She tries to sway the conversation toward optimism because she sees something in his expression that reads like he’s a little upset. He probably does think she’s a moron at this point.

Maybe it’s just good that she’s happy. He tries to shift focus onto that. The roommate can’t be malignant if she’s so upbeat.

It’s been very easy to talk to John most times, but then there are moments like this when something awkward and unsaid hangs between them and more often than not she doesn’t know what it is. Maybe he doesn’t either.

“Just be careful,” is what he decides to say.

She chuckles. “I will, don’t worry.”

He doesn’t understand what’s funny—again, but he appreciates the laugh. One of them can get him through a few hours, and they’re so easy to wring out of her pretty throat.

One of the security guards stands, stretches, yawns. He says he’s going to take a break. The other guards are asleep, so once he leaves they’ll be alone.

“I’m gonna go to vending, John you want anything?” He asks.

John shakes his head no. “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry if I bothered you while you were busy,” he says, too eager to talk as soon as the guard walks out. “I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

She purses her lips, which he thinks means she’s trying not to leak an expression that will probably be embarrassing. Really, she’s trying to tame her lion heart back into its cage before it sinks its teeth into him and refuses to let go.

“I’m okay, John.” She attempts smiling. “You’re the one in the hospital bed.”

He shrugs like his stab wound and near death are just a hiccup.

She talks again. “And I’m glad you called me in. I like talking to you.”

His face is all smile now. “Likewise.”

He tells her to pull up a chair if she wants, and she steals one of the metal ones that the breaking guard left behind, sitting by his bedside. They start with a casual conversation about the weather that turns into a discussion on harsh winters in Belarus.

“Did you grow up there?” She asks him.

He nods. “I traveled a lot.”

“So, you’re Russian?” She puts her chin in her palm and stares at him like he is the most interesting person in the world. She’s adorable like this. He wants to brush the stray hairs from her cheeks.

“Yes. American, now.”

“Do you speak Russian?” Her eyebrows raise.

“да, красивая девушка” His tone automatically slides into a deeper baritone when he says this, and it makes her shudder.

He needs to be nerfed. Outlawed. He should not be handsome, nice, like-able, and be able to speak a different language in his perfect voice. It’s really not fair at all.

She’s too busy trying to tame her rogue thoughts to ask him what he even said. The desire to climb into his lap and straddle him crosses her mind twenty times in different ways. She blinks heavy. “You’re the coolest person I know.”

They talk until the guard comes back from his break, mainly about Belarus and what it was like there and where else he has traveled.

Although she has a ton of charting to catch up on, she doesn’t want to leave him. The taste of human connection is on her tongue after a couple years of abstinence and she’s becoming addicted.

When she exits his room, it’s with reluctance and impressive self control.

She tells him to sleep. He promises he’ll try.

It would be easier to do her job if she wasn’t catching Benny sneering at her whenever they’re in the same space, but she gets through it, reasoning that John has it worse than her because he has to suffer through six hours with the asshole guard in his room. And, it’s easier also because of…well, John himself.

[blueboyluca]

Some puppy thoughts.

Topaz's potty skills are great. She has had a few accidents inside but it's 100% been on me not timing things right. (I don't know how people do this perfectly. I try really hard and I still mess up a lot and she ends up peeing inside.) This morning I left the backdoor open and she went outside by herself and peed, so I think she has got great skills on her own, she just needs help with access. The other great thing is she doesn't take five hundred years to go either, often she'll go right away. This was what drove my crazy with Marcie as a puppy, she would take forever to actually go and in the middle of the night I couldn't cope.

Yesterday I looked in my blog's archive and saw I was taking Marceline out to parks and the beach at 12 weeks but I don't understand why I wasn't concerned about parvo when this time around I'm feeling really paranoid about it? Something about my state of mind? It's also been hard taking Topaz out when I have three dogs now, not two. Just the logistics of three is a lot harder. Which is kind of why I want to treat it as two sets of two rather than one set of three.

But even though Topaz hasn't been to many "dog places" yet, she's been to lots of other places. Her socialisation list so far:

the vet once

a hardware store once

in the car a million times

at work almost every day for three weeks (in an industrial area and in a two storey office, so multiple different areas and sounds/sights/people)

my mum's house a number of times

my sister's house once

one walk in a trolley (gave up on this after one try because she kept jumping out)

five different parks

a cafe once

one puppy class at a primary school

met my mum's two adult dogs

met my sister's adult dog

met my colleague's adult dog

I think that's pretty good for three weeks. Topaz has had more variety in socialisation than either of my other two dogs had. But I do think I need to take her to a couple of my regular dog places so she can get used to them. I also haven't taken her anywhere with heavy foot traffic or where other dogs could be seen. So this weekend I am going to take her to two high traffic public areas so she can watch.

Puppies are really hard and I am really struggling, but what keeps me going is that she will inevitably get older and it will get easier. Once I can safely bring her to training on Tuesdays and Thursdays it will make it loads easier. I still haven't done much training with her. I am really exhausted before and after work and any extra energy I have I try to give to Luca and Marcie so they aren't neglected. It has gotten easier since Marcie and Topaz became friends though, because they spend the evenings playing together.

Topaz is an easy puppy overall and she's much adored in my workplace. If she maintains this temperament as she matures, I think she will easily become the fan favourite of my dogs. She's a lot more friendly and a lot less aloof than Luca and Marcie, but I know that could change. Marcie really changed; once she was an adult, she became more reserved.

She also sleeps through the night every night! So no complaints there.

[icey--stars]

Ghost Hounds (Headcanons)

Headcanons, names, personalities and histories of Eris's ghost hounds and loyal companions.

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

Day 4 of @erisweek2023 (Hounds / Autumn Equinox)

a/n: okay. so. i have some very interesting headcanons for eris’s hounds, so here you go. I got bored one day (while preparing Born for Tragedy) and decided “hey! let’s write some history for Eris’s dogs!” also i apologize, i was a bit scatterbrained in this lol

WARNINGS: lightly mentioned domestic abuse (beron. again.) Down towards the bottom, it mentions the loss of a pet. If you wish to skip this, stop reading after Rue (dog name)

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

Okay, so we all know Eris has 12 ghost hounds. I literally have HCs for all of them. Some more than others so let's go through them, shall we?

Eris’s first ghost hound was a birthday gift from his mother. A little puppy appeared at his door miraculously that day and his mother was extremely happy when the boy came in cuddling it in his arms asking if he could keep it. (She told him she got it for him after saying yes)

The puppy was named Percy (recommendation from LOA) and Eris fucking loved that dog. Spoiled the little shit. Percy is BY FAR one of his most loyal dogs.

Percy’s training wasn’t as straightforward as the others’ were, but Percy is also extremely, extremely intelligent and loved Eris to death so he did his best :)

When Percy first witnessed Beron yelling at Eris, he snarled and leaped in front of the boy. The hound got a whipping for it (and still has those scars…) but since then, Eris has loved the dog like none other just as the dog has done for him.

Eris also began hating his father after he hit his doggo because who wouldn’t?? Don’t hit my puppy sir. You will pay for it. Dearly.

Now, when Eris gets a new puppy, Percy is always the one to train them in the basics of being a good puppy. Like potty training, no biting, and KISSES because Percy knows his owner loves them :)

Eris of course takes on the brunt of the training for them all and likes to train them in hunting, tracking and sometimes, for the stronger ones, attacking. Naturally, however, they all learned to defend him (ex. standing in front of him or distracting someone attacking him).

Now, Eris is pretty… well, not liked in the ACOTAR world. We can agree on that. So, when Eris is out and about in the Autumn Court, he often has his doggos with him. If he’s away- the pups get so nervous for him. They just love him so much!

Now, Eris’s next dogs are two females in a litter that he bought himself: Vixen (named for her personality) and Selena (named after a female Eris liked for a while).

Vixen is the equivalent of “I will only listen to one person” and Selena is just happy to be there. Vixen was the first to be trained in “attacking” (also known as Schutzhund for my dog nerds out there) and she was really good at it. She could take down a full-grown fae easily.

A little HC I have about the ghost hounds is that because of their fae blood, some of them can winnow. Vixen is one of the ones who can winnow- but she can’t go very far. (maybe like 15 feet)

Eris was still terrified and overjoyed when he learned of this power though and instantly was trying to strengthen it so that she could use it for every advantage it held.

Selena is a good girl and is very happy. If Eris is sad, she’s coming over there with a big goofy grin and then licking his face and pinning him down like a puppy that won’t sit still while being cleaned. In her mind, Eris is both her owner and her puppy she has to take care of.

The next dog Eris gets is once again bought for himself, but instead of a litter, it was an adult male. Now, this male has already been through a lot. His name was Cadoc and he used to have a mate. The reason his owner was selling him was because his mate died of an incurable sickness. 

In my mind, ghost hounds are very like fae. They can winnow, and they are extremely intelligent, just like doggos in real life! But, they also have lovers in the same way. Mates. 

So, when Eris did get Cadoc, he was a very sad pupper. He wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t get up, wouldn’t even drink. Eris took to taking care of him very gently. Bringing him his food (more on this in a minute) and water and even hand-feeding him when Cadoc wouldn’t even raise his head. And yes, sometimes it did get down to force feeding, but Eris would not give up on Cadoc. He knew the hound had more to him. He was more than just a breeding stud- he could be amazing!

Briefly, let’s also just mention that Eris feeds his dogs very well. Raw diet with a variety of meat, and other healthy things. (so, envision that really expensive raw dog feedings that we see on social media named the BARF diet for doggos)

Cadoc was still suffering however. Eris did his best, but after a year, there seemed to be no hope.

Unknown to Eris, however, Vixen, his spunky little female who listened to nobody, seemed to take pity on the sad male. She growled and forced him to his feet when Eris arrived and then practically dragged him outside to come on a walk.

Eris found it very endearing, to be honest. Vixen wouldn’t give up on Cadoc either.

Cadoc eventually began to stand on his own in greeting, if even just to avoid a nip from Vixen when she urged him to his feet. He began to trot outside and smell things.

Eris began to train him as well and he took to schutzhund training very easily. The male was bulkier than Percy and was perfect for taking down either fae or deer. Cadoc’s condition began to look up steadily.

His personality began to come out. He was very protective and obedient. He liked to please and he was kind of like the equivalent of a big, gentle giant.

Vixen and Cadoc also grew a lot closer. Because they were trained in similar things, they hung out a lot.

Now- I want you all to imagine a tragic, romantic scene between Vixen and Cadoc and then- yeah. Basically, they become mates. Spunky female and gentle giant.

Cadoc is one of Eris’s most loyal doggos (right behind Percy).

The next puppers aren’t bought by Eris, however. Mama Vanserra has been keeping an eye on Eris and his pups and has the perfect gift in store.

It’s three littermates. Three ghost hound puppies. Nimbus (male), Sorrel (female) and Soot (male). Eris could barely contain his excitement at the gift tho. Like literally, he was close to squealing. He for SURE was catering to his mother’s every need for at least a month. Checking up on her, offering her tea, getting her lunch personally from the kitchens- all little ways to show his appreciation.

Now. Sorrel and Soot are the troublemakers, first off. Nimbus is a little quieter, but he’s one of the strongest ones.

Sorrel is by far one of the fastest ghost hounds Eris owns. Absolutely blazing speed. If only there were enough ghost hounds to race them, huh? Eris tries to find one and manages to get one little competition, but literally, it's just three dogs and obviously, Sorrel wins. The ghost hounds are much too fast to race against like greyhounds or something. And not many have them in the Autumn Court- most have hunting dogs for their good noses.

Nimbus is Eris’s sweet little boy who’s one of the best at cuddling. (though, Selena does come close). The pup just sneaks into his bed in the middle of the night, undetected, and Eris wakes up with an armful of ghost hound. (he loves it)

Soot is forever the troublemaker (equal with Rue, who we will talk about later)

He gets into the food, the chicken coops, the farms, the sheets, the kitchens– all of it. He is a chaotic pup and while Eris can try to tame that troublemaker spirit, he will never break it. Soot is one of his worst in obedience for that reason. But, Eris still loves him of course. How can he not with those adorable almond-colored eyes?!

The next pup actually, is not bought, nor gifted. Vixen was found with a more swollen-than-usual belly and exhausted in her kennel one day (when she didn’t arrive to greet Eris like usual) and Cadoc right beside her, licking her ears.

Eris at first panicked, of course, and thought that Vixen was sick and dying of some horrible thing. A vet reassured him that she was in fact not sick, just tired, needed more food and rest, and that she was pregnant.

After that, he’s honestly even more panicked. He knew this was a possibility, but he’d expected it later! When he’d done his research already!

As soon as possible, he reads every book ever on ghost hounds, pregnancies with dogs and everything related. He even managed to request some books from Day Court’s libraries temporarily.

After he’d done his research, he was still anxious, but less so. He knew what was going on now and what would happen once the pup(s) were born. And what he needed to do to support his pupper.

The pup is born without any issues at all. And Cadoc and Vixen turn out as wonderful parents.

The one pup is a male that Eris names Ash.

Ash has adorable quirks to him. He always barks when Eris comes in and rolls over onto his back once Eris does start petting him and is especially playful with the other dogs. (after all, they were like aunts and uncles to him!)

The next two dogs aren’t related, but I’m grouping them together because I don’t have too many headcanons for them actually:

The next pup is Taunya (female), bought by Eris. She kind of has that “mother” personality. As a pup, she always was licking the other dogs and when she grew up, she often was found urging them toward their food, or resting with them when they were tired.

Nimbus takes a fascination to Taunya specifically (and let’s not get on about some age gap thing. Just look at feysand or nessian, alright?). And yes, they do become mates. Nimbus is extremely protective over Taunya and Eris always laughs when he seems to panic as she goes to cuddle with some other dog as if he’s thinking “you are so darn hard to protect woman! goodness! quit cuddling with the threats! gods!”

Taunya doesn’t change though, of course. She’s always gonna be the sweet one.

The next pup is a male called Pyro, also bought as a pup by Eris who is just loving the fact his ghost hound obsession is growing and Beron doesn’t seem to mind. I mean, honestly, they’re quite helpful. They come with him to the military and are perfectly behaved, they help him win hunting competitions… all of it.

Pyro is named for his more amber-colored eyes. 

This pup has the farthest ability to winnow out of any of the ghost hounds. He’s quite powerful, to be honest. When Eris fully tests it, Pyro is able to winnow from the Winter Court border to the Forest House with ease. Even from the Summer Court border! 

Eris doesn’t dare take his dog outside of the Autumn Court except for missions though. He doesn’t want to risk any rumors or threats or harm to his pups.

The next dog has a bit of story. This dog’s name is Rue. A chaotic, insane little pup.

Rue was gifted to Eris by Hue, his brother. Hue actually wanted Rue’s name to be “Hue,” but Eris was not going to allow it and simply settled for something that rhymed. It’s not like it was that bad of a name either. Just confusing when both his brother and dog responded to his call.

Rue is a troublemaker like Soot. However, he’s a bit better at paying attention than Soot and better at sitting and staying. Soot has no self control compared to him.

Rue loves to hunt. Whenever Eris pulls up on his horse with a bow around his shoulders, Rue is up and at ‘em and ready to sprint through the forests to his heart’s content. Even if he’s not as big and strong as Cadoc or as fast as Sorrel, he’s perfectly happy just being there. He’s so enthused when he gets the order to track an animal or catch a rabbit- just so happy.

But, to be completely honest: Rue is the most lazy of the dogs. He groans as he gets up to greet Eris and then proceeds to lay right back down to take a nap. Absolutely loves to nap in the sun.

Eris did have another dog between Jack (later) and Rue. He used to have a dog named Adria. A female who was the best tracking dog that he ever did have.

She was the pup to grow up with Lucien.

However, on that fateful day that Lucien had to run to the Spring Court, Adria followed. Unluckily, she caught an arrow to her chest and died.

She loved to chase deer out of anything, just bounding through the forests.

Eris still misses her (as does Lucien. He didn’t expect the pup to follow him)

The last dog is another pup of Vixen and Cadoc. Eris’s last ghost hound. Jack.

Jack is like Cadoc but not ever having been sad. He’s a happy pup who’s always wagging his tail and barking excitedly at anything and everything. Almost similar to Percy as well.

He was raised before Adria died.

Adria was actually still quite young when Jack was born so they were the best playmates. Even after the female’s death, he was still happy as can be. Eris does see him staring off into the woods she ran off into every once in a while though.

Eris never got another dog after Adria’s death. It hit him so hard. Like a blow to the chest, he just couldn’t do it anymore. So, afterwards, he took to putting most of his energy into the dogs that he already had. He spoiled them rotten after he found Adria’s body on the border that day. He’d care for any future pups that arrive but never buy another dog.

Adria’s grave sits outside of the heated cabin that houses the dog’s kennels. (anyway, im sobbing now, im sorry for that)

List of the Hounds in Order: Percy, Vixen & Selena, Cadoc, Nimbus & Sorrel & Soot, Ash (V+C), Taunya, Pyro, Rue, Adria 💀, Jack (V+C)

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

Btw, feel free to ask more questions about the headcanons <3

TAGLIST HERE! - see post for specifics <3

Tagged in all ACOTAR Stories: @bunnymallowo, @officiallyunofficialperson, @margssstuff, @rebloggiest-reblogger, @inpraizeof, @graciereads, @eos-princess, @bubybubsters, @thegirlintheshadows101

(please let me know if you'd rather not be tagged in Eris Week or would like to!!)

[elvenferretots]

Why is your dog intact? No judgement, just genuine interest.

I'm guessing this is about TenSoon, but I'm unsure about context. The reason is pretty cut and dry. I have show dogs, and show dogs are left intact. But I'll go into deeper context as well, just in case.

I don't prefer to surgically alter an adult dog if I don't have to. You'll notice Ten's left ear doesn't stand quite right. This can be surgically altered, but I choose not to and rather just make sure it's dry after swimming so he doesn't get ear infections. His being intact is currently less inconvenient for me than the wonky ear. He has a recall, never gets left to wander the neighborhood, goes everywhere I do, is trained to ignore bitches in heat, is potty trained, is supervised closely with other intact males. If he's especially weird or difficult for my partner to handle and supervise around our own bitch when she's in heat, I'll consider a vasectomy since he should get a gastropexy anyway (both his parents died of bloat) and could likely get both at once.

There are proven health benefits to leaving your dog intact, and proven health drawbacks to spay/neuter. I have no problem with surgeries for human convenience, but I choose not to get them done on my dog if they are proven to be bad for his health. If I do have to alter, I'll likely go with vasectomy or ovary-sparing spay.

TenSoon is a member of a breed that is dying from lack of genetic diversity, and he lacks any genetic markers for the most common health problem in the breed. While Ten has Wobbler's syndrome, he has none of the genetic markers for DCM, which is most dobes have one or more copies of. This is rare enough that a few show breeder friends have suggested to get him collected so that we can save that genetic variety in case the genetic component in Wobbler's can be isolated and bred away from. I don't plan to breed him as is, and would be choosy due to his temperament even if we could isolate the Wobbler's. But why close a door when it's free to leave it open?

I do find it incredibly funny that people get mad that my dog has balls. I find it even funnier when people try to pick apart my masculinity about it. I find it funniest of all to deck him out in pink gear and watch people lose their minds.

[myglassesareinkansas]

It genuinely became too much for me to handle and I asked my parents to take care of him

I’ve never dogsat a puppy before, much less one that was only 16 weeks old, and I am. Very overwhelmed

[fireheartedpup]

Weird to have a supportive family that triggers the fuck out of you. Dad asked me to get dinner, which he paid for, and we ate together. He gave me meat from the freezer.

I tried to help with the puppies, and he didn't like me messing with their routine, and I'm nervous about them resource guarding, and they still have puppy pads in the house because for some reason the rescue they're working with recommends this???

I don't remember the rescue's name, but one of the first things you learn in house training is that if you use pads AND try to get them to pee outside, it can confuse them. You keep them in a room with you, tether them to you, or keep them in a crate until they're potty trained.

They are not doing this.

Little Bit is still scared of the puppies, and it's not funny anymore. I really only thought it was funny the first time because I was able to control the situation and I was trying to keep her safe.

Mom thinks it's fine and that she should get used to them, and tried to bring her up close to the puppies more than once. This is NOT how you're supposed to do it.

They got upset that I put the puppies back in their pen so we could leave in peace. It's the perfect place for them to get used to each other, since they can see each other but can't get to each other, but God forbid I don't follow the schedule exactly.

My dog was shaking when we came in. I was holding her, and the puppies were at my feet. I don't think bringing her over there is worth the stress.

Dad didn't want puppies, mom did, and she's the one who agreed to foster. Mom is also flying a lot, so dad is left to take care of the puppies on his own for long periods of time.

Before all of this, mom invited me to an event so I could meet her friends' adult kids. I know that no one there is going to be masking, or even give a shit about covid.

Called grammy. She's sympathetic about my dog's health issues. She said she'd help. She also said that she doesn't believe in covid.

Dad sent me a promotional email for a job fair. It's in person and I'm sure it's another crowd that doesn't give a shit about masking. I don't even know if I'd be interested in any of the companies there. Maybe some of the remote roles.

I was going to talk about the budget and what's realistic, but dad was tired and sad so I just told him I'd made a little money this week. Someone tipped me $20. It's the most hope I've had in a while. It's also a drop in the bucket. It's a huge deal to me, but I'm going to have to do this about a thousand times over if I want to survive on my own.

I avoided mentioning what it was because I do not want my parents anywhere near my current writing in any way, shape, or form, so I have no idea what he thinks I might be doing. "I get paid per view and people can tip me." What does that sound like? I'm not gonna clarify.

When I see my family I usually stay up even later than usual because I can't deal with it, but I have a vet appointment tomorrow. I can't fuck around this time unless I cancel before 9am, and I don't think I should cancel. I'm stressed about the money.

Dad's stressed about money too. The roof is going to cost about 10k to fix.

I should ask for help finding a therapist. I don't know how to make myself do things. I don't know how to stop feeling sad.

[kin-machine]

Free pet rat/rodent stuff (portland, OR)

If anyone in the Portland area would like some free rat stuff, DM me. My rats have all passed as of February and we need a break from rat ownership so I hope someone else can give some of this stuff a second life.

item descriptions under the cut.

- One unopened, full bag of Oxbow Essentials adult rat food, (expires Feb 21st, 2025) and one opened bag with about ⅓ left over inside, (expires June 3rd, 2025.)

- One bottle of Meloxicam, good for anti-inflammation, very commonly prescribed to rats but do your research about use and dosage before giving it to any of your animals. Hard to say how much is left, only a little less than a 4th of this 32 ml bottle has been used. Expires 3/31/2026. I gave this to my last rat as he had a genetic issue that affected his breathing and was non-contagious, his cage mates never expressed any of symptoms that he did. Something to do with an over-abundance of naturally-occurring bacteria in his ears and throat, it inhibited his breathing a bit but my vet confirmed it was non-contagious.

- Nine assorted syringes, good for measuring medicine and oral administration. All are unused.

- One half-full bottle of Saline solution, 0.9% Sodium Chloride Irrigation, USP. I used this to Nebulize the rat with breathing issues to loosen anything in his airways. About 650 ml is left. Not for injection.

- One yellow fabric Elizabethan Collar for rodents, Mickey Mouse print. Never used.

- Two lightly used, thoroughly cleaned blue corner litter trays. My rats never really got the hang of potty training so I took these out soon after trying and failing, these are practically like new.

- Two medium flat back water bottles. These were used consistently for several years but show very little wear. Washed thoroughly.

- One small water bottle, lightly used, fits perfectly into the hole and loop on the pet carrier for this exact purpose.

- One heavily used purple plastic shallow food dish - used more as a back up bowl for travel. They chewed the lip of the bowl quite a bit, but still does the job.

- Small purple plastic castle hide, lightly used. For its size, better for baby rats.

- A few assorted unused wooden blocks and slices.

- Two large “Space Pod” Igloo hides, lightly used, can stand or be hung from the cage bars.

- One small enrichment toy treasure chest, lightly used. The wooden blocks it came with have since been chewed to bits, but putting obstacles like that with treats inside is good enrichment.

- Two cute tree-themed hammocks, lightly used. One looks like a hollow log and has leaves on it. A couple small chew marks but not much. Quite soft.

- Six assorted animal-print simple square hammocks. Some are lightly used, others are near untouched.

- Two climbing rope squares with carabiners for attaching to cage bars, lightly used.

- One dog tug-of-war rope I took apart and braided for climbing surfaces.

- One multi-sectioned, polkadot hammock with long elastic bands. My rats liked to use this one as an elevator between platforms and was a big favorite. Obviously used but in good shape with no chew marks.

- One small soft-sided pet carrier, lightly used. Can zip to just open one side or completely open to lay flat. Includes a small, plastic grommet hole in the door flap with an elastic loop to hold a small water bottle that sits on the outside and nozzle pokes through to be drank from inside, the smaller water bottle included fits perfectly. Sides are rigid enough to not be chewed through in my experience, but I wouldn’t put that to the test with total no-supervision, definitely a good option for vet trips. Inside has a fabric insert that attaches with velcro and the sides and bottom of the carrier can be wiped down with a damp cloth to clean. It has a really cute punk print on it that says stuff like, “Rebel,” “Hello, my name is Trouble,” “Play Time,” “Talk to the Paw,” “Keep Exploring,” “Rad,” “I <3 Treats,” etc.

[agapemastiffs]

From Tiny Titans to Gentle Giants: Raising a Bullmastiff Puppy

The arrival of a Bullmastiff puppy is a cause for celebration.  These adorable bundles of fur, with their oversized paws and soulful eyes, quickly steal our hearts. However, beneath the cuteness lies a powerful breed with specific needs.  So, before you succumb to the puppy dog eyes and bring home your very own miniature tank,  let's delve into the world of Bullmastiff puppies, equipping you with the knowledge to raise a happy, well-adjusted canine companion.

A Crash Course in Cuteness: Bullmastiff Puppy Development

Bullmastiff puppies develop at a rapid pace, going from tiny explorers to sizable companions in a seemingly blink of an eye. Here's a breakdown of their developmental stages:

The Neonatal Stage (0-2 Weeks):  Newborn Bullmastiff puppies are entirely dependent on their mother.  They are blind and deaf, relying on their sense of smell and touch to locate their mother's warmth and milk.  During this stage, minimal handling is recommended, allowing the mother to care for her pups without stress.

The Transitional Stage (2-4 Weeks):  Their senses begin to develop, with puppies opening their eyes and ears around 2 weeks old.  They start wobbling on their legs and explore their immediate surroundings.  This stage is crucial for early socialization with littermates and gentle interaction with humans.

The Socialization Stage (4-12 Weeks):  This is a critical period for Bullmastiff puppies.  They are eager to learn and explore, making it the ideal time for consistent socialization with people, places, and other animals.  Positive experiences during this stage will lay the foundation for a confident and well-adjusted adult dog.

The Juvenile Stage (3-6 Months):  Growth continues at a rapid pace, and puppies become increasingly playful and curious.  This is prime time for obedience training, focusing on basic commands like sit, stay, and come.  Teething also starts around this time, so provide plenty of chew toys to redirect their chewing instincts.

The Adolescent Stage (6 Months-18 Months):  Bullmastiff puppies enter their teenage phase, testing boundaries and potentially exhibiting stubbornness.  Consistent training and supervision are crucial during this period.  Their size can also increase dramatically, requiring adjustments to their exercise routine and environment to avoid joint strain.

Puppy Prep:  Creating a Safe and Loving Haven

Before your Bullmastiff puppy arrives, prepare a comfortable and safe space for them to explore and grow. Here's what you'll need:

A Cozy Bed:  Provide a soft, comfortable bed where your puppy can rest and feel secure.  Choose a size that will accommodate their growth throughout their puppyhood.

Food and Water Bowls:  Select stainless steel bowls that are easy to clean and the right size for your growing puppy.  Elevating their bowls can improve posture and digestion.

Leash and Collar:  Invest in a well-fitting collar and leash appropriate for their initial size.  As they grow, you can upgrade to a sturdier option.

Puppy Pads:  While potty training is the ultimate goal, puppy pads can be lifesavers during the early stages.  Confine them to a designated area to prevent accidents throughout your home.

Safe Haven:  Create a designated space, like a crate or playpen, where your puppy can feel secure and relaxed.  This can be a helpful tool for crate training and preventing destructive behavior when left unattended.

Toys Galore:  Stock up on a variety of chew toys, interactive puzzles, and plush toys to keep your puppy entertained and redirect their chewing instincts. Rotate toys regularly to maintain their interest.

Welcome Home, Little Titan!

The day your Bullmastiff puppy arrives is a joyous occasion. Here are some tips for a smooth transition:

A Gentle Introduction:  Allow your puppy to explore their new environment at their own pace.  Let them sniff around and greet family members one at a time.  Provide plenty of praise and positive reinforcement to create a sense of security.

Potty Training Patience:  Accidents are inevitable during potty training.  Be patient, consistent, and reward successes with treats and praise. Confine your puppy to a designated area or use puppy pads until they become more reliable with elimination outdoors.

Establishing a Routine:  Create a consistent routine for meals, walks, playtime, and sleep.  This predictability helps your puppy adjust to their new home and learn good habits.

Socialization is Key:  Expose your Bullmastiff puppy to different people, places, and other animals during their socialization window.  Enroll them in puppy kindergarten classes or arrange playdates with well-socialized dogs. Positive experiences during this crucial stage will help your puppy develop into a confident and well-adjusted adult.

The Power of Positive Reinforcement

Bullmastiffs respond best to positive reinforcement training methods. Shouting or harsh corrections will only make them withdrawn or stubborn. Here are some tips for successful training:

Reward Good Behavior:  Always praise and reward your puppy with treats, toys, or affection when they exhibit good behavior or respond correctly to commands.  This positive reinforcement will encourage them to repeat the desired behavior.

Keep it Short and Sweet:  Training sessions for Bullmastiff puppies should be short and engaging.  Aim for 5-10 minute sessions several times a day rather than overwhelming them with long training periods.

Patience is a Virtue:  Remember, puppies are still learning. Be patient, consistent, and positive in your approach.  Repetition and positive reinforcement are key to achieving successful training outcomes.

The Importance of Playtime

Playtime is not just for fun; it's an essential part of your Bullmastiff puppy's development.  Here's how playtime benefits your furry friend:

Physical Exercise:  Playtime helps puppies burn off their seemingly endless energy, promoting healthy growth and development. Engage them in games of fetch, tug-of-war (be prepared for some serious pulling power!), or chase in a safe, enclosed area.

Mental Stimulation:  Interactive toys and games challenge your puppy's mind and keep them entertained.  This helps prevent boredom-induced destructive behavior.

Bonding Time:  Playtime is a fantastic way to bond with your puppy. It creates positive associations with you and strengthens the foundation of your relationship.

Puppyproofing Your Home: A Preventative Measure

Bullmastiff puppies are curious explorers with a penchant for chewing. Puppy-proofing your home is crucial to prevent accidents and protect your belongings. Here's how:

Block Off Hazardous Areas:  Block access to electrical cords, wires, cleaning supplies, and anything else a curious puppy might chew on or ingest.  Use baby gates to restrict access to off-limits areas like kitchens or bedrooms.

Put Away Valuables:  Remove any breakable items or valuables from puppy height.  Expect some furniture to be gnawed on, so provide plenty of chew toys to redirect their chewing instincts.

Secure the Trash:  A garbage can overflowing with goodies is an irresistible temptation for puppies.  Keep trash cans secured with lids or place them in a location inaccessible to curious paws.

The Chewing Challenge:  Keeping Your Belongings Safe

Chewing is a natural behavior for puppies as they explore the world with their mouths.  Here's how to manage your Bullmastiff puppy's chewing habit:

Provide Chew Toys:  Offer a variety of chew toys made from safe materials like rubber or nylon.  Rotate the toys regularly to maintain their interest.  Frozen Kong toys stuffed with treats can provide long-lasting chewing satisfaction.

Redirect Chewing:  When you catch your puppy chewing on something inappropriate, firmly but gently say "no" and offer them an appropriate chew toy instead.  Reward them for focusing their chewing on the designated toy.

Bitter Apple Spray:  A light spritz of bitter apple spray on furniture legs or other off-limit items can deter chewing (ensure it's safe for pets).  However, this should be used as a last resort and paired with positive reinforcement for appropriate chewing behavior.

The Joys and Challenges of Raising a Bullmastiff Puppy

Raising a Bullmastiff puppy is a rewarding experience filled with laughter, unconditional love, and adorable moments.  However, their size and strength can also present challenges.  Here's a realistic look at what to expect:

The Unending Energy:  Bullmastiff puppies have a seemingly endless supply of energy.  Be prepared for frequent walks, playtime sessions, and plenty of opportunities for them to burn off their steam.

The Rapid Growth:  These puppies grow at an astonishing pace.  Be prepared to update their food portions, collar size, and bed as they transform from tiny explorers to sizable companions.

The Power of Play Biting:  Puppies explore the world with their mouths, and play biting can be a common issue.  Teach them bite inhibition early on, using redirects and positive reinforcement to discourage nipping and mouthing.

The Stubborn Streak:  Bullmastiffs can have a stubborn streak, especially during adolescence.  Consistent, patient training and positive reinforcement are key to overcoming any challenges and ensuring good behavior.

Living Large:  Caring for Your Bullmastiff Puppy

Owning a Bullmastiff puppy comes with a responsibility to provide them with the care they need to thrive.  Here are some essential aspects of Bullmastiff puppy care:

Nutrition for Growth:  Bullmastiff puppies require a high-quality puppy food formulated for large breeds.  Consult your veterinarian to determine the right amount and type of food to support their healthy development.

The Importance of Exercise:  While not overly energetic, Bullmastiff puppies still need regular exercise to develop strong muscles and bones.  Short, controlled walks and playtime sessions are ideal, focusing on obedience training during these outings.  Avoid strenuous exercise until their growth plates close to prevent joint strain.

Grooming Essentials:  Bullmastiffs have a short, double coat that requires minimal grooming.  Regular brushing with a soft bristle brush will remove dead hair and keep their coat shiny.  Bathing is only necessary a few times a year or when they get particularly dirty.

Veterinary Care:  Regular vet checkups are essential for your Bullmastiff puppy's health.  These visits allow your vet to monitor their growth, administer vaccinations, and address any potential health concerns early on.  Discuss preventative measures like deworming and parasite control with your veterinarian.

Building a Bond of Trust:  Communication with Your Puppy

Communication is key to building a strong and lasting bond with your Bullmastiff puppy.  Here are some tips for effective communication:

Understanding Body Language:  Learn to read your puppy's body language.  Tail wags and relaxed posture indicate happiness, while flattened ears and a tucked tail signal fear or anxiety.  Understanding their body language allows you to respond appropriately and build trust.

Consistent Commands:  Use clear, consistent commands when training and interacting with your puppy.  Avoid using confusing nicknames or inconsistent phrases, which can lead to confusion.

Positive Reinforcement:  Always reward desired behaviors with praise, treats, or affection.  This positive reinforcement strengthens your bond and encourages good behavior.

From Puppyhood to Adulthood:  A Journey of Love and Learning

Raising a Bullmastiff puppy is a journey filled with heartwarming moments, playful antics, and the challenges that come with raising any large breed.  By providing them with love, consistent training, proper care, and a safe environment to explore, you'll be rewarded with a loyal, loving companion for years to come. 

Remember, patience, positive reinforcement, and a commitment to their well-being are the cornerstones of raising a happy, well-adjusted Bullmastiff.  So, are you ready to embark on this incredible adventure?  With dedication and a whole lot of love, you can create a bond with your Bullmastiff that will last a lifetime.

Bonus Tip:  Consider enrolling your Bullmastiff puppy in puppy kindergarten classes.  These classes provide an excellent opportunity for socialization, basic obedience training, and exposure to new experiences in a controlled and positive environment.

A Watchful Protector: For The Progression Of The Ages

Mastiffs, gentle giants with ancient roots, come in various breeds. Loyal guardians with calm temperaments, they require ample space, training, and experienced owners due to their size and strength. Though some breeds have wrinkles, all Mastiffs offer a lifetime of devotion.

Bullmastiff Puppies For Sale

[hazard-and-friends]

Week 1

Socialization

Watching people and dogs politely when they pass (so so atm, a little wary of people and then warms up VERY fast, and over excited of dogs)

Exposure to different surfaces/regular outdoor objects (grass, mud, bark, weird trees, parking lots, storm drains, etc)

Car/truck watching (wary here as well)

Vet visit! Car ride, everything about being at the vet (strangers touching her, being manipulated, doing her new skills in a new location, smells, sounds, things in her mouth ears and ass, being taken back for shots & nasal spray...) etc etc etc

Household noises (garbage disposal, children/adults outdoors, dish washer, oven, microwave, electric kettle, white noise machine, every possible noise from computers, shower fan, etc). Have NOT done the vacuum yet.

Outside of the vet have met a couple people, a nice young man who lives across the hallway, and a woman + two of her kids (aged about 1 and 4) and STROLLER. Big victory all around for K'seil who thought this was all delightful once she thought about it.

Went to the park today and was exposed to LOTS of screamy children, a few strange dogs, adults chatting, playground equipment (visual only), etc etc etc.

In-home skills

Play with Hazard in the morning/afternoon can be largely uninterrupted, he's doing much better at handicapping himself. Evenings are still a struggle. She's not afraid of him at all anymore.

She does need to be supervised when she goes to interact with Penny. She's trying VERY hard to get her to play (play-bows and everything) and Penny is Not Interested.

Potty training is...coming along. We've yet to have a day without accidents. They're no longer entirely my fault (I mean, they are, but not because I'm delaying taking her out). The last couple days they've been more because she was busy and got distracted and peed. She's perfectly happy to pee/poop outside, anywhere as long as it's grass (sure), on leash, etc.

I now have a bucket inside her pen fastened so it's HARDER to tip over, and a "splash proof" bowl outside her pen. This has dramatically reduced the amount of digging behavior in water. I live in hope we'll be able to go back to the regular bowls by the time she's a teen.

She's good about going in/being put in her crate or pen--thus far I haven't put them on cue or gotten a voluntary entry, I'm mostly putting food in and releasing her to go in. Once in, she might fuss a bit (especially in the crate at night) but then passes out. Overnight she only fusses if she has to pee.

Reinforcement skills

Did not come with the ability to find food on the ground (lmao bless, I love babies), now knows how to do that and is getting better at finding treat scatters

Treat scatter will be on "find it" but that's a WIP

Knows both the clicker and "yes", and today was able to distinguish between two clickers (box vs button) and remember which one was 'hers'. Both refer to treat delivery from hand (or if you're FRAGILE and TENDER, on the ground).

Can work a snuffle mat and snoop, will introduce other treat dispensing puzzles next week

Worked out like, half of the kong with canned dog food. I'll try again with kibbles mixed in.

Tug is eh, she'll tug a bit but won't bring it back at all

Fetch is nonexistent 🤣

Can usually follow a tossed treat

Cues

Sit: Hand signal and verbal sometimes. Came preinstalled with sit as a mand behavior

Touch: Sometimes.

K'seil as a focus: MUCH better than it should be for the amount of work we've done tbh!

recall is currently pup-pup-pup-puppy!!! which she's very good at

[girlhorse]

not shaming anyone whos had puppy blues bc this is a bit different and puppy blues are not shameful or wrong.. .but what tf is up with people who bring home like, an 8-10 week old puppy and within days get frustrated when the puppy does super normal puppy behaviors (crying a little; needing to pee often; teething). it seems to be more of a thing with people who have never had a dog or puppy before and somehow just thought puppies were like. images on google. idk its just weird to me, if you dont like crying puppies or arent prepared to potty train a dog then get an adult dog..

[puppyexpressions]

10 First-Time Dog Owner Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

The love between a dog and their owner is extraordinary; there’s nothing else like it. Having the opportunity to experience this unconditional love is one of the many reasons why getting a dog for the first time is so exciting.

However, between the cuddles, kisses, and games of fetch, owning a dog is a huge responsibility. Whether you’re bringing a new puppy or an adult dog into your family, it’s up to you to make sure your canine companion is happy, healthy, and safe.

So if you’re a first-time dog owner – or just want to brush up on your knowledge – you’ve come to the right place. Here are 10 common first-time dog owner mistakes and tips for avoiding them.

1. Getting a dog before you’re ready

If you’re thinking about getting a dog, it can be easy to act too quickly – and run down to the nearest animal shelter or start researching reputable breeders. Dog ownership is a big responsibility and a long-term commitment. There are a variety of things to consider before deciding whether you’re ready to get a dog, especially if you’re a first-time owner, such as:

Time: Do you have enough time in your schedule to spend training, walking, and caring for a dog?

Lifestyle: Is your lifestyle suitable for a canine addition? Are you willing to change your schedule for a new puppy or dog?

Living space: Will a dog fit in with your living space? Do you have other family members or pets who may be affected by adding a dog to your household?

Cost: Can you afford to get a dog? Think about the costs of dog food, treats, toys, vaccinations, vet checkups, grooming, and other possible expenses.

Type of dog: Do you know which kind of dog is right for you? Are you looking for a purebred or a mixed breed dog? Do you know what kind of dog may work best with your lifestyle, activity level, and personality?

Considering questions like these can help prevent you from making an early mistake – getting a dog before you’re ready – and prepare you for the full scope of dog ownership.

2. Not creating a plan for house training

If you get an older dog, you may not have to worry as much about house training, but new puppy owners and those who adopt younger dogs will need a plan for potty training.

If you neglect this crucial training early in your dog’s life, the more likely your pup is to have accidents in the house, and the more difficult it will be for you to leave, even for short periods of time. It can be helpful to create a potty training plan even before you bring your new dog home and get all family members on board.

When you do bring your new puppy or dog home, you’ll want to make sure they have an established place to go to the bathroom, you take them out for regular potty breaks, and use positive reinforcement for good behavior.

If you decide to crate train your puppy, the crate can be a useful tool for house training. Crates or kennels take advantage of the “denning instinct,” meaning dogs are more likely to use the bathroom away from where they eat and sleep. Crate training also gives your canine companion a safe space to call their own.

3. Not properly socializing your dog

Early socialization for a puppy or a new dog is important to creating a healthy and well-behaved companion. If your dog is well-socialized early in life, the less likely they are to become anxious or scared in unfamiliar situations or develop aggressive behaviors as adults.

As a new dog owner, you’ll want to socialize your pup with different sights, sounds, places, people, and experiences. If you have a new puppy, socialization is particularly critical, especially within the first three months. During this time, you’ll want to introduce them to as many new positive experiences as you can – and keep reinforcing those experiences as your pup grows.

You can try activities like walking down the street, visiting a pet store, playing with new dog toys, arranging a puppy playdate, going to the dog park, and more. Of course, before you interact with other dogs, you’ll want to make sure your puppy or dog has received all of their required vaccinations to keep everyone safe.

4. Skipping basic obedience training

As a first-time dog owner, it may be easy to get overwhelmed by all the fun and excitement of having a new doggy best friend and skip out when it comes to laying down the rules. All canines, however, can benefit from basic dog training. And while some dogs may need more training than others, it’s important that you work through the basics with your new pup.

Basic dog training, like socialization exercises and leash training, will help you create a routine and reward good behavior. Teaching your dog basic commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” can help your dog become a well-mannered companion in all types of environments, as well as keep them safe in unfamiliar situations.

So, whether you decide to teach your dog at home, get private lessons from a dog trainer, or find dog training classes near you, you’ll want to make sure you invest in the basics – at a minimum. If your pooch has an apt for training, you might take things to the next level and get involved in tricks or dog sports.

5. Overfeeding

As a new pet parent or even as an experienced one, it is possible to think that giving your furry friend a few table scraps or extra treats won't hurt them. However, pet obesity is a prevalent issue that should not be overlooked. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Therefore, it is essential to be mindful of your pet's diet to ensure that they maintain a healthy weight.

And even just a little extra weight can cause a variety of health problems for dogs. Excess weight can lower a dog’s life expectancy and make it more difficult to manage common health issues, such as joint pain, injuries, and arthritis, as they age.

Conversely, keeping your dog at a healthy weight can help lower their risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory disease, kidney disease, and some forms of cancer.

The best thing you can do for your dog’s long-term well-being, therefore, is to feed them a balanced diet with high-quality ingredients. You’ll want to avoid any excess treats or table scraps and make sure they’re getting enough exercise. If your dog already has a weight problem, you can consult your veterinarian for advice on the safest and most effective way to shed the pounds.

6. Forgetting regular vet visits

You’ve remembered the key visits to the veterinarian as a new pet owner – your dog has all their core vaccinations and they’ve been in for spaying or neutering. So, once that annual checkup reminder arrives, it may be all too easy to forget the appointment.

Although your dog might prefer to skip the appointment too, taking your pup for regular vet appointments is one of the most important parts of their preventative care. When you take your dog for an annual checkup, your vet performs a physical exam – checking their vitals, weight, teeth, lungs, heart – and running any tests they think might be necessary. If something is cause for concern, your vet can address it and suggest options for treatment.

During these visits, your vet will also give your dog any vaccine boosters (which your pup might need more frequently for doggy daycare or boarding), as well as discuss prevention for things like heartworm, fleas, ticks, and other parasites. If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s health, you can talk to your veterinarian about them at these visits.

As your canine companion gets older, these visits will become even more important, especially if they develop any health issues. Your dog may not love the trip, but these regular vet checkups will help them stay healthy – ultimately, allowing them to spend more time with you.

7. Not getting enough exercise

Dogs have different energy levels and activity needs, but each pup will need some form of regular exercise. If your dog doesn’t get regular exercise – both physically and mentally – the more likely they are to develop both weight and behavioral issues.

As you might expect, a dog that isn’t getting enough exercise is more likely to gain weight, but they also may take out their extra energy in other ways, such as chewing, barking, or other destructive behaviors.

In general, your dog should get a minimum of 30 minutes of vigorous exercise every day, which might include activities like walking, running, swimming, or playing fetch. Some dog breeds, of course, have higher energy levels and activity needs, whereas others are more low-maintenance.

It’s helpful to understand the exercise requirements of your kind of dog to make sure they’re getting the time they need. Labrador Retrievers, for example, are high-energy and playful dogs that are easily trainable. These dogs are also prone to obesity, however, making exercise even more important.

And don’t forget about mental exercise too – playtime and training practice can help dogs work their minds and release some energy as well.

8. Overlooking behavioral issues

As pet parents, we all want to see the best in our pups – and sometimes, love can make us a little blind. But after a neighbor complains again and again about your dog’s barking, it becomes harder to tell yourself, “Oh, my dog wouldn’t do that.”

There are a variety of reasons as to why your dog may develop or display certain behavior issues. Your dog may be trying to communicate that they’re anxious or upset. They might have an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed by your veterinarian. Your pup may have experienced a change in their environment or routine that is causing them to act out.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to recognize what’s going on and work to get it resolved. Common behavior issues, such as separation anxiety, barking, or chewing, can often be addressed with specific training strategies. Some other issues, like growling, biting, or other aggressive behavior might require working with a professional dog trainer.

In any case, if you’re not sure what’s causing your dog’s change in behavior or you’re having trouble dealing with a particular problem, it can be helpful to consult with your veterinarian or a professional trainer for advice.

9. Not getting your dog comfortable with grooming

They may seem like easy enough tasks – giving a dog a bath, brushing their coat, trimming their nails, brushing their teeth – these are all things that help our pups look and feel their best. Grooming is also an essential part of pet care.

If your dog’s nails grow too long and aren’t trimmed, they can cause health and mobility issues. Similarly, if your dog’s teeth aren’t regularly brushed, they’re more likely to develop dental disease. And of course, depending on the type of coat your dog has, regular brushing helps remove dead hair and prevents matting.

Getting your dog to cooperate with all of these grooming processes, however, is not always as simple as you might think – especially if they’re already anxious in unfamiliar situations or environments. This is why getting your dog comfortable with grooming early in life, whether with you at home or with a professional groomer, is so important.

How do you go about this process? Just like introducing your dog to other unfamiliar situations, it’s best to start slowly and with lots of positive reinforcement.

10. Not preparing for emergencies

No pet owner likes to think about the unexpected, but sometimes, emergencies happen. The best thing anyone can do – especially if you’re a first-time dog owner – is to be prepared.

One way to prepare for emergencies is to get your dog microchipped. With a microchip, you have a way to find your dog using radio waves in the device if your pup ever gets lost. Even if you don’t plan on letting your dog go off-leash, or you have a fenced-in yard, this simple and safe procedure can help you find your dog if they get lost.

Another thing you can do is to prepare an emergency kit. In your emergency kit, you should include anything that you would need for your dog in case you needed to evacuate or leave your home immediately. The kit might include dog food, a dog bed, a water bowl, some toys, a blanket or towel, an extra leash, dog bags, any medications, and information about local emergency response centers.

[catsofcalifornia]

Catuna from Glad To Be Saved Rescue in Murrieta, California

Click here for more information about adoption and other ways to help!

Click here for a link to Glad To Be Saved Rescue’s main website.

Tuna was rescue from a home that rescued cats but never really treated them. when she came into the rescue she has a horrible cold, infections in her ears. we did blood work and started treating her for the cold and her ear infection which also got tested for mites and she came clean on that. Tuna is about 11 months old she is the smallest girl ever. She is the sweetest girl ever. she sleeps in her cat bed and tree but loves to sleep with her human. she is potty trained in litter box but will need reinforcement at a new home. she doesn't fight for food or water. she loves children and other adults. she is amazing with other cats and dog all sizes. she likes to run and clime on the cat trees. she does meow when she wants your attention and when she wants food. she greats you when you get home. she loves baby talk. she loves to cuddle. she is great when you hug her and she loves it. you can rocker like a baby and she stay's still. she is amazing.

[someoneinjersey]

I meant to ask about the pets too FAWK GO FIND THE PET QUESTION AND ANSWER IT GODDAMNIT

LOL i was like ALL I HAVE DONE IS TRAUMA DUMPED

15: Have any pets? YES I DO I HAVE FOUR NOW JESUUUUUUU CRISTO.

Deano. My boy my first born my little bastard. My full sized yorkie with floppy ears and he stinks and he chews on his feet and has chronic ear problems and is my rotton soldier and is currently wearing Christmas pajamas and almost snoozing near me on the couch/ottoman/blanket. He is also keeping a wary eye on the kitten, who loves him, and who he wants nothing to do with. He turned 8 in October and he's shaggy and needs a haircut and another bath and he has to eat prescription food to prevent developing more bladder stones because THAT was a thing goddamn. He loves adult humans but anyone and anything else is his enemy and he must protect from them. He is so spoiled and so cute and so whiny and honestly he deserves better than I can give him and I hold him and cryyyyyyy every time I watch a sad animal video.

Wimby, Kate's cat, mine by proxy. He's the old man, we call him Peepaw Wimby since we got the kitten because he's 10. Currently curled up at the top of his living room cat tree, nose tucked in his paws. He mostly doesn't like strangers but he liked me right away, and by "liked me" I mean he let me pet him and gave me bumps with his head and screamed at me a lot. He still does this. He screm. He takes smelly shits and acts like a moody teenager; whenever something happens that he doesn't like he runs upstairs and will loudly complain for like 10 minutes. Now that there are 2 other cats in the house he's gotten more brazen with bad food manners and will just stick a nose or a paw in Kate's food and he debates a LONG time about jumping up on the kitchen counters before I can convince him to be a good boy and not do that. The kitten harasses him constantly, fearlessly, and he hates it, but then we find him being nice to her when no one's around. That's when moody teenager comes out because he gets embarrassed. He is enjoying eating the kitten's food.

Larry. A stray cat that wandered around near our house that just like ... decided she lived here now. She has a quiet raspy meow unless she's really distressed so Kate named her Larry, short for Laryngitis ... then we figured out she was a girl. She's a tortie and we can't litter train her, she'll piss anywhere but a litter box, so we just let her go potty outside like a dog because she always comes home. She's gotten REAL fat because she eats cat food here in the house and then hunts when she's outside so now she's a chonker. The kitten makes her angry and she was mad at me for like a month but finally she's back to wanting my affection and snuggles. She's actually really snuggly and very friendly. I don't know where she is at the moment, she's out of eyesight so probably in the spare bedroom on the bed or upstairs on the couch under the window. I really want to get her to wear a collar so we can put an air tag or a tile on her or something so we know where she goes when she's outside since litter training her seems out of the question. I really wish we could just keep her inside 24/7 because I don't want her getting hit or attacked by a coyote or local dog.

Bizzy (government name=Important Business). Our newest pack member. She is a terror and a menace and she is so snuggly and sweet and maddening and only 5 months old. She is missing an eye and sneezes all the time because we adopted her right as she was getting over a respiratory infection and every time I find or wipe up a cat booger I wanna barf. She was kind of an impulse adoption, because she just happened to be in the local dog bakery downtown when we went in to visit for the first time. Two days later she was home. She came litter box trained but she keeps stepping in her poop in the box and I'm like PLEASE I'M TIRED OF WIPING POOP OFF YOUR FEET but her poops are touchy because of all the meds she was on. She's curled up between Deano and me on the ottoman right now, snoozing a little because she had a big day what with us vacuuming and Kate's aunt and uncle coming over. She is FEARLESS, even when the other three animals are clearly telling her to fuck right the hell off. She likes to climb into the fridge and sleep around your neck like a scarf. She has a little black patch on her chin like a goatee. We love her.

AND THOSE ARE OUR PETS. Leaving out the chicken Nancy that adopted us before she passed away and my fish that I had a decade ago that I loved like a child lmao.

ILU KRISSSSS

[the1975attheirverybest]

Hey!

I really want to get a puppy because i love dogs and always wanted one.But i have depression too and some days, i dont want to get out of bed. As someone who has mental health struggles and a pet, how do you manage to take care of both?

Any advice would be appreciated

Hey, friend 🥰

THAT IS SO EXCITING OMG!!!

okay, I have a lot to say about this, so sorry in advance about the length of this response. putting in a "read more" so it doesn't annoy people.

Firstly, would this be your first dog or do you have experience with dogs and dog training? if this is your first dog, I strongly recommend that you not get a puppy. Instead, look into dogs that are a year old or older.

puppies are A LOTTTT more work than adult dogs because they have a lot of growing, puppy energy which means that they require a lot of exercise, feeding a lot more frequently, are completely new to the world and will depend on you to "socialize" them. Socialization won't just be about teaching them to interact with other people or other dogs, but with literally the entire world. Like, puppies dog know how to climb stairs, they don't understand that cars could run them over, they don't know that some things are edible and some things aren't. They're also still teething, and will lose their baby teeth to get their big doggy teeth, they're not potty trained, etc. That's SO SO MUCH WORK and needs a pretty structured and rigid schedule.

They also cost a fair bit cuz you'll have to change their diet, get their vaccines, buy different toys, etc as they go through developmental stages.

improper socialization can lead to behavioral issues, aggression, anxiety, etc as the dog grows up. So, if you don't think you have the experience to handle all that, I strongly encourage you together a dog who is at least a year old.

Idk about you, but as a severely depressed person who also had ADHD and a lot of other shit, that is just not possible for me to pull off.

Now, lets say you decide to get a dog who is a year old, or more.

The good news is, the amount of work that you have to put in decreases over time! overall, the nonnegotiables are 3: potty schedule, food, exercise.

So, depending on where you get the dog from, most dogs of 1 year old are leash trained or at least have good leash manners and know how to walk while on one. Most adult dogs (if cared for properly) are potty trained, so you don't have to worry about that either.

potty accidents happen, of course, and some dogs get confused when they're moved into a new home. cuz at the shelter/ rescue/foster home, they have a specific area to go potty in, they know the specific people and time (dogs can tell the time of day based on their sense of smell), etc. when they're in an entirely new space, they don't know when they're gonna be taken out or if their new person is going to take them out at all, so you may have to reinforce training a bit for the first few days.

For the depressed pet owners, or if you live in a part of the world where it snows heavily, strongly recommend this thing if you have a place to put it. Mine's on the balcony.

I would say you should expect to feed your pup at the same times every day, but ngl, as a mentally ill person, I'm not always consistent with it. For me, it's more like within the same time frame. so I feed him between 8:30-9 am, he has a snack around midday, and then dinner between 4 pm and 5 pm. I wish I could say it's like 8:30 am on the dot every single day or whatever, but some days i just literally can't get out of bed, so it is what it is.

obviously, a dog isn't going to die if you're late on meal time every once in a while. but don't skip meals, or they'll start to think "oh i dont know when ill eat again" and develop issues around food.

what's made it easier for me is I feed him and myself at the same time. this has the added benefit of forcing me to find something to eat, even if its just one bite, on bad depression days. also minimizes the amount of work i have to do cuz ill get his bowl and fill it while in the kitchen.

Exercise will depend on your individual dog, his health, age, breed, etc. but most dogs thrive on daily walks, and AT MINIMUM need to walk 3 times a week.

there are breeds that require less exercise cuz they're bred to be lap dogs or whatever. Great Danes are lazy despite their giant ass size. they're total couch potatoes. Greyhounds too. some breeds will straight up become destructive if you don't exercise them regularly. Especially working breeds. You know, dogs that were meant to herd sheep, or hunt, or dig. They're genetically wired to WANT and thrive on activity. If they don't get that out healthily, they'll do it in unhealthy ways that cost you money.

My baby has destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of textbooks in his day. Back when we were on zoom and people would schedule one meeting after the other? if he we went too long without stimulation, forget about it. say bye to all those expensive school books.So, look into the breed that you want before getting it.

are we going on long walks every damn day? honestly, no. Sometimes, all I have the energy for is a few laps around the building after he pees. thats okay. but i do make up for it on days when i am able to do stuff.

also enrichment toys are your best friends on bad days. For most dogs, it keeps them busy and offsets the need for vigorous exercise on rainy days, days when you're just not getting out of bed, etc.

Now for the most important stuff:

IT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE SOOOO MUCH BETTERRRR.

I promise. all the cliches you've heard about dog ownership are VERY TRUE. YOU'LL NEVER BE ALONE AGAIN.

My dog loves me more than any human being, including my parents, has ever loved me. I went through some reallllyy dark shit this past year. This good boy was NOT LEAVING MY SIDE AT ALL. he would somewhat disgustingly lick my tears with all his might whenever he'd see me crying, he'd bring me his toys and start doing a "play bow" its that silly little butt wiggle dogs do when they're inviting you to play with them, and roll on his back because he knows that shit cracks me up.

On days when I'm having a hard time getting off the couch or out of bed, he climbs up and hangs out next to me. he doesn't care that he's not out there living the big life, he just cares that he's with me.

on days when I'm struggling, sometimes knowing that I need to go let him out to potty, or to take him for a walk or something is the literal only reason i get up.

when I was suicidal, he kept me around cuz the thought of him having to be taken to the shelter after someone finds my body killed me.

I cry whenever i have to be away from him. like if im going out of town and need to leave him somewhere. or if I drop him off at daycare and know I won't see him until 7 pm that night? I AM MISERABLEEE i need him just as much as he needs me.

with depression, im sure you know that your brin has a tendency to hate you and berate you and make you feel worthless and like nothing matters anymore. well, if my only point in life is to exist as his feeder and caretaker, thats enough sometimes. even if my life as a human ends up amounting to NOTHING AT ALL, at least I'm his personal assistant.

Do I feel guilty sometimes? yes, ngl. I wish I were the type to take him on long car rides or to those bars and restaurants that allow dogs, or set up playdates with different doggy friends every day....i just cannot. thats not possible for me because sometimes leaving the house at all is impossible. and sometimes i think maybe his life would be better if he had a stable, extroverted, normal ass mom who takes care of him better than I do. but then I look at him and think about how I WOULD LITERALLY KILLLLLLL for this baby. with my bare fuckin hands, i would snatch someone's heart right out of their fuckin chest. and nothing else matters.

the bond that a mentally ill girlie has with her fur baby is the most powerful shit in the world. just watching him eat and make cute cronch, cronch, cronch sounds with his lil dog teefers, or squeeze his squeaky toys or run around in circles when he gets the zoomies is sometimes the highlight of my very very shitty days. 10000000/10. would recommend.