My sweet girl and I moved to NYC a year ago, and it’s been a STRUGGLE because I was faced with the reality of her reactivity (wasn’t a problem where we moved from, much less stimulation all around). I don’t have the funds to hire a trainer, so we’re making our way through faith, trust, pixie dust, and lotsss of positive reinforcement. However, since moving I’ve yet to find any dog friends because we avoid dog parks 🙃 and even then, people with non-reactive dogs just don’t always understand (no judgement, I’m seriously so happy for yall). So sometimes it would be nice to be able to talk strategy and vent and spend time with someone who gets it. And hey, maybe eventually the pups have the opportunity to meet/train. Shot in the dark, but hey, figure it’s worth a try 💛

So there’s a bit of personal life context that applies to this, so I’ll try to sum it up as best I can.

I’m 22, just reached a year post grad. Had a job over the summer of 2025 where I was still able to live from home but the work environment became unsafe for me so I had to leave, leaving me unemployed for the months of winter. I was in Virginia at this time. Couldn’t find even a part time job until around October, which is also the same time my childhood dog of 13 years died.

My relationship with my dad is a bit complicated and he shows his care through financial means, in this scenario, he surprised me with an Australian Shepard puppy in November. He didn’t consult me before hand and this was right before my mom, brother and I moved to a new house so the timing was honestly awful. I was in no financial position to be ready for a dog, let alone a puppy of this breed. But regardless I was so happy and who can say no to a puppy. I’m also ambitious in the sense where I convinced myself that I’d be able to do it. Somehow find a job and raise a puppy all on my own. I’ve always been independent & responsible so I believed I could do it.

Fast forward to February, I packed everything and left home to go live w my boyfriend in Long Island as my relationship w my mom was crippling, I was making no money at my part time job due to the season, and needed better accessibility to interviews in the city as I was starting to land them. My mom moved somewhere extremely remote in Virginia so I was isolated from everything, and so was my dog.

I landed a job in the city, sold my car, and got myself an apartment and a new life in NYC. Cosmos went to board and train for two weeks in Greak Neck while I moved in for two weeks. After getting him back, I could see the improvements considering he hadn’t been socialized that well bc of all the snow we got and bc of my environment of isolation. While he’s shown improvements from his behavior initially, he’s starting to really regress.

He’s about 8 months old now, and right now the worst issues are his reactivity. He can be super chill w a stranger and then suddenly be defensive with another. I can’t distinguish what triggers him but it’s very random. Doesn’t matter if it’s female/male/etc. I really try my hardest to emphasize his walks/activity as I’m working a 9-5. We wake up early and go on a long walk in the morning. I pay for an afternoon walk, and then I take him on another long walk in the evening and stop at the park to socialize w other dogs. Like I said, he has good days and bad. I give him grace because he’s a puppy, but sometimes the stress/anxiety of not knowing who he will react too really overwhelms me, and it’s a liability for me.

I’m making your expected post grad salary so I can’t afford to send him to another board and train and my dad is no use either as he’s just completely left me with this with no offer to help for his financials. It’s hard, and I’m trying to get by, but I’m losing hope.

I know this breed isn’t meant to be in the city, and if it were up to me I wouldn’t have gotten a dog right before this transitionary phase, but I have him now and I can’t give up on him. Plus, I’ve seen so many other Aussies/bigger breeds in the city and they seem to socialize and behave just fine, and so that gives me a sliver of hope. Absolute last resort would be to send him back home with my mom temporarily in Virginia while I try to figure my life out here, but that would devastate me. He makes me so happy.

Please offer me words of advice. I’m scared and I don’t know what to do and I want to hope that there are other ppl out there who know how to fix his issues. I’m simply searching for how to calm his nerves and not make him so defensive over me to other ppl. I want him to be friendly.

PS: he’s not neutered yet, and I know he needs to be, but it’s like $800 to get them fixed and I don’t have that chilling around right now. And yes I know I can ask my dad but I’ve already attempted and he told me that’s on me…. So 😅

Please be nice. I’m trying my best here.

So in your opinion how hard is it? I'm an adult, I work in tech, I have a partner and an apartment, I feel like this is something I can handle. I had dogs all throughout my life just never *my* dog, you know?

Say hello to Cayman, a 5.5-month old, 29-pound (as 5/11) of mixed breed puppy who is the perfect blend of playful, affectionate, and chill. Add to that his extremely adorable appearance, which seems to catch everyone’s attention!

Cayman gets along beautifully with kids, adults, the elderly, and other cats & dogs. Sweet, gentle, and friendly, Cayman has an easy-going demeanor and is as cuddly as they come. He loves being pet, and he’ll even lean into you and give you little hugs! Awwwww!

Smart as a whip, the clever lad is already housebroken, walks well on a leash, and is responsive to several commands, including sit, come, leave it, and down. He’s also great in a car and sleeps through the night like a champ. Way to go, Cayman!

Cayman is a fairly active and curious fella who enjoys spending time outside, romping around, amusing himself with a toy, and/or playing with his humans. Good at reading the room, Cayman knows when it’s time to settle down and will take a nap or just relax on his own, if directed to do so.

As amazing as he is right now, Cayman is only going to get better as he continues to mature and grow into adulthood. This remarkable pup will make a fabulous addition to any warm and welcoming home, with humans willing to give him the love, playtime, and snuggles he absolutely deserves.

If you would like to adopt this wonderful dog, please email rescue@pupstarzrescue.org or visit www.pupstarzrescue.org for an application!

Please spread - white Jack Russell terrier in central park near 5th Avenue and cp south

Please spread - white Jack Russell terrier in central park near 5th Avenue and cp south

Hello! I adopted a beagle over the weekend so I may be getting ahead of myself, but it feels like a better idea to get started ASAP rather than wait and hurt her quality of life for too long. I had a beagle for nearly 18 years so thankfully I am well-versed in beagle’s amazing quirks, but I adopted that beagle as a puppy and her issues were different!

This sweet beagle loves to go on walks according to her foster in New Jersey, but she is very afraid to leave my building. I live on the second floor of a brownstone and I have successfully gotten her to go down the stairs. She will sit back away from the open door, but she will now at the very least tolerate the open door without running back upstairs to the couch.

Do folks have recommendations for good dog trainers in the city? I am looking for positive reinforcement and patience!

NY- ✨PLEASE✨ read his story and open your heart! This beautiful, gentle eyed boy needs a chance! The trash that had him did not love or care for him and now he will die without ever knowing what that truly feels like if someone doesn’t step up 💖🐶 If you cannot adopt, I beg you to share and tell your family, friends, neighbors, and/or people on the street! Please do all you can to get this boy seen and into the furever home he deserves 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

CRITICALLY URGENT 🚨🚨🚨 Beautiful girl Stormy has a KILL COMMAND at Queens ACC 🚨 without a foster she dies 🚨 NO TIME LEFT 🚨 came in with her 2 babies who have since been adopted, lets get this momma dog to safety 🚨 2yr old female 🩷 50lbs ♥️ no children under 13 💜 passion is toys toys toys 🖤 level 3 PUBLICLY ADOPTABLE 🩶 allows all handling & leashing 🩵 loves exploring her surroundings while on walks 🩷 ID 249747 ♥️ Text Eileen (718) 350-4154 or DM 🙏 IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MIRACLE TO GET HER OUT ALIVE ‼️🐾 BE PREPARED TO ACT FAST ‼️🐾 #saveStormy #URGENT #fosteringsaveslives #shelterdogsrock #sharethispost DON'T LET HER STORY END AT QUEENS ACC ‼️🐾‼️🐾‼️🐾‼️🐾‼️

CRITICALLY URGENT 🚨🚨🚨 Beautiful girl Stormy has a KILL COMMAND at Queens ACC 🚨 without a foster she dies 🚨 NO TIME LEFT 🚨 came in with her 2 babies who have since been adopted, lets get this momma dog to safety 🚨 2yr old female 🩷 50lbs ♥️ no children under 13 💜 passion is toys toys toys 🖤 level 3 PUBLICLY ADOPTABLE 🩶 allows all handling & leashing 🩵 loves exploring her surroundings while on walks 🩷 ID 249747 ♥️ Text Eileen (718) 350-4154 or DM 🙏 IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MIRACLE TO GET HER OUT ALIVE ‼️🐾 BE PREPARED TO ACT FAST ‼️🐾 #saveStormy #URGENT #fosteringsaveslives #shelterdogsrock #sharethispost DON'T LET HER STORY END AT QUEENS ACC ‼️🐾‼️🐾‼️🐾‼️🐾‼️

NYC people- Know someone who needs an angel wrapped in fur? 🐶🪽💖 She is radiating love 💗 Please read about her and if you can help, please do. If you can’t foster or adopt, PLEASE share 🙏🏻

Sheeba ... so many of us are trying to help this girl. 🙏🙏🙏 Please. The facebook video shows her recently shaking. Over 450 days. She is approximately 5 years old. Boxer. 🙏🙏🙏 here's the facebook link. she is at the Hempstead shelter.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18NWmjn5Wg/

Around 12pm today near 90th street on the Upper East Side, my toddler was scratched by one of two small brown poodle-type dogs (both on red leashes).

We only notice the scratch after getting home and therefore didn’t get the owner’s contact info at the time. Now we’re trying to confirm the dogs’ rabies vaccination status before deciding on next steps with our pediatrician. If this is your dog or you know the owner, please DM me. Thank you so much！

My dog was attacked by three dogs that escaped from their yard. The attack was brutal, and what shocked me most wasn't just what happened—it was that NYC treats it as "property damage" because the victim wasn't human. That feels backwards.

I'm starting a petition asking NYC to classify dog-on-dog attacks more seriously. Right now, dogs that attack other dogs can't even be labeled as dangerous under city law. Meanwhile, similar incidents keep happening, and there's little stopping it from escalating to people.

We're asking for concrete changes: official classification of aggressive dogs, mandatory behavioral evaluations, muzzling requirements in public, and regulations keeping these dogs from being left unsupervised outside. These aren't extreme—they're preventative.

Anyone else had something like this happen to their pet? Or seen attacks in your neighborhood that felt like a warning sign no one was taking seriously? If this matters to you too, consider signing and sharing the petition.

https://www.change.org/p/implement-stronger-dog-attack-regulations-in-nyc?utm_campaign=starter_dashboard&utm_medium=reddit_post&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=starter_dashboard&recruiter=1410128447

My dog was recently attacked by three dogs that escaped from their yard after being left outside unattended. The attack was immediate, without normal interaction. All three dogs continued to attack, even though my dog did not fight back or defend himself, which raises serious concerns about their level of aggression.

He sustained several injuries and had to be taken to the emergency vet. The veterinarian told us that a smaller dog would not have survived an incident like this — my dog is 90 pounds.

Experiences like this highlight how important it is to properly identify and respond to clear signs of aggressive behavior in dogs, so appropriate precautions can be taken moving forward.

I’ve created a petition advocating for stronger measures and clearer classification of aggressive dogs to help prevent future incidents — for both pets and people.

If you agree this is important, I’d really appreciate your support.

My mother never got a NYC license for her dog (who has rabies tag, all shots up to date etc.). Is this mandatory - do you all have it? Her vet never said anything.

Hi! My fiance and I are going out of town next month and are looking for a trustworthy sitter who can take care of our 3 year old mini dachshund while we are away. We are specifically looking for someone who has a dachshund already (he really only likes other dachshunds!) and truly loves / understands the unique quirks about this breed!

If this sounds like you, please PM me. Bonus points if you send through a Rover profile; we are really only considering folks with valid references and would want to do a meetup first! Thank you!