Posts
![](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Lila-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Building a Bond
Dear Crystal,
I adopted a 6-week-old puppy 4 years ago: My intention for her was to train her myself to be my service dog at best or therapy dog at the very least. The idea became very sticky and all tangled up when I became ill and was…
![](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_5116-Edit-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Mouthy Puppy
Dear Crystal,
We have a nine-week-old corgi puppy. She is biting constantly. We are trying to stay calm and positive but she is drawing blood. We try to distract her with bones or go outside. We have had her for 2.5 weeks and she is…
![](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/BRHS-A-12124-32-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Nail Trimming Issues
Dear Crystal,
My Rotty will not let me cut his nails. It is affecting his walking ..so he doesn’t want to walk. He's struggling to walk...I'm disabled and don't have the money to get his rabies shot and…
![A white dog with brown patch](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/143948206_4168480746537503_5596957736618316181_n-1-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Dealing with Anxiety
Dear Crystal,
We rescued a pit mix 3 years ago. She will occasionally potty in the house. She has very bad separation anxiety on top of sheer terror at the sound of fireworks and/or gunfire. She will run through the house opening doors…
![close up view of a sad looking puppy laying on a couch](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/dog-g2b6c2b657_1280-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Managing Separation Anxiety
Dear Crystal,
My puppy is now 15 weeks old. She is ok in the crate if she can see me. I had to leave her in the crate alone and returned an hour later to find her soaking wet. Literally dripping wet but it wasn’t urine. It was saliva.…
![](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/litter-box-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Cat Litter Box Troubleshooting
Dear Crystal,
We have a feral cat that has become an indoor cat. She seems to be adjusting well to indoors except she doesn't like the litter box much. We have two in the same area and she will use one to pee in but poos on the floor…
![a small light brown puppy lays in a crate with the door open](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Dog-Crate-2-495x400.png)
Ask Crystal: Whining Puppy Woes
Dear Crystal,
So, I put my new puppy in the crate to nap and he whines for a while and then falls asleep. He will wake up to whining and all I think about is letting him out and go potty. Should I wait again until he stops crying to…
![View of a dogs feet with torn pieces of paper spread around](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Dog-chewing-495x400.png)
Ask Crystal: To Chew or Not to Chew
Dear Crystal,
We have an almost 5-year-old female German Shepherd who has never been destructive other than with some of her chew toys. Today she destroyed my husband’s workshop. We keep her and her almost 10-year-old brother in…
![medium sized light brown dog leaps up towards an outheld human hand](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/outdoors-g6b0d736a0_1280-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Grounding a Jumping Dog
Dear Crystal,
I have an Australian Shepherd who is 15 months. My vet wants me to take him to dog parks but he still jumps up and head buts people. We aren’t supposed to have him on leash in the park so I am unsure how to properly…
![a puppy with it's face towards the camera is held by a women facing away from the camera](https://www.blueridgehumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Harriett-puppy-and-Robin-495x400.jpg)
Ask Crystal: Puppy Training 101
Dear Crystal,
I have a 9-week-old puppy and I've had him for a grand total of three days. Although he sometimes fusses in his crate, I do wait a bit or let him out when he is walking around but not fussing after a nap. My only problem…