Dogs Swimming Underwater Is So Weird

1. Scooter

"Scooter because when they got him, he would drag his [behind] on rugs because he had worms," one user revealed.

2. Cat

"I've never been fond of highly normal-named dogs (David, Katie, Tom, Sarah, etc). But then there are also people like my [derpy] old roommate who, for some special reason, named his dog Cat," another user said.

3. Hashtag

"My sister-in-law named her dog Hashtag. Not even kidding. She thought it was trendy and unique," shared a user.

4. Joachim (Multiple Times)

"My husband's family likes to get the same types of dogs and give that dog the same name as the dog before it. They've had generations of Shih Tzus named Joachim starting in, like, the 1950s, and there was also a series of Portugues water dog duos all named the same thing," one user explained.

5. Kaiser Koenig der Schnitzel Fritz

"I adopted a dachshund from a lady who was getting divorced and was going to submit him. His name was Kaiser Koenig der Schnitzel Fritz... We just called him Fritz," recalled another user.

6. Dave

"A colleague called her dog Dave. When I started at the job, I couldn't figure out who the [heck] she was talking about when she 'took Dave for a walk.' I was too scared to ask who Dave was," detailed a user.

7. Girl & Boy (But In Reverse)

"There was this old lady that would take her two chihuahuas to the dog park. I'd also see them occasionally on walks around the neighborhood. They were both white and looked very similar," one user remembered.

"The male dog was named Girl, and the female dog was named Boy. They were nasty little dogs. Girl peed on my shoes once, too."

8. Chair

"I once heard someone name their dog Chair. The poor pup must have been so confused," added a user.

9. Aye

"My brother named his dog Aye because he wouldn't respond to anything else except 'Aye!' Come to find out, the former owners were Haitian, and the dog understood more Creole than English," a user said.

"They still got the dog. He's 15 years old, and my brother's family has learned some Creole phrases for him. He understands English now, but his name still remains Aye."

10. Joshua

"My dad never had a son to name him Joshua, so he named our dog Joshua," joked a final user.

1. Border Collie

With a history of livestock herding, Border Collies are revered for their remarkable intelligence and high energy levels. They thrive when given a task to focus on, but without a way to express their natural herding instincts, they may act out and try to outsmart their owners.

Plus, they become easily stressed when they're not provided with enough mental stimulation and physical activity.

2. Saint Bernard

Saint Bernards may look like big teddy bears, but they can also be quite stubborn. Yes, these dogs generally have sweet personalities, yet without early socialization and consistent training, these gentle giants may develop some behavioral issues.

Keeping this breed in check is harder due to their huge size. That's why any unwanted habits, like jumping up on counters or people, can spiral out of control.

Not to mention, Saint Bernards are notorious for being messy due to their excessive drooling.

3. Siberian Husky

If you looked up "high-maintenance dog" in the dictionary, you might be greeted with a picture of the Siberian Husky.

This breed is independent, extremely energetic, and requires tons of exercise and mental stimulation to remain happy. Siberian Huskies also have strong-willed personalities that may make them prone to ignoring commands and doing things their way, particularly when it comes to escaping.

These escape artists are notorious for running out the door whenever they're given the chance.

4. Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russells have spirited personalities and seemingly boundless energy, earning them the reputation of being "hyper."

These pups have a strong prey drive as well, meaning they're prone to behaviors such as barking and digging. These tendencies can be especially challenging for first-time dog owners to handle.

Plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and socialization are needed to keep this breed in line.

5. Australian Cattle Dog

Much like the Siberian Husky, Australian Cattle Dogs excel when they're physically and mentally engaged. These herding dogs are often clever enough to outsmart their owners and quickly become bored, leading them to resort to mischief.

Anyone who opts to adopt an Australian Cattle Dog must provide their pup with a lot of training and a job to do, whether it's herding, agility, or another activity.

6. Rottweiler

Rottweilers are known for their protective and territorial instincts, and if they aren't properly trained, this breed may become aggressive.

These dogs are strong-willed, large in size, and may try to assert dominance if they sense a lack of authority. Early socialization, routine training, and assertiveness are crucial for raising a Rottweiler that's well-behaved.

7. Akita

Akitas have a significant prey drive since they were bred to hunt large game, and they can exhibit aggression or behavioral issues if they're not socialized and trained properly.

This breed also tends to be protective and aloof with strangers, so it may not always get along with other canines. These dogs thrive with more experienced owners who can establish clear boundaries and provide firm training.

8. Bloodhound

Bloodhounds are renowned for their remarkable sense of smell, making them stellar hunting dogs and helpers for law enforcement officers trying to track down missing persons and fugitives.

However, this breed can be self-reliant and stubborn, which makes training more challenging. Bloodhounds can become easily distracted by scents, so traditional training techniques tend to be less effective.

9. Dachshund

Dachshunds may look tiny and harmless, but these comically long dogs also have an independent spirit (and can sometimes be stubborn).

They have a knack for being mischievous and surprising digging abilities, meaning they'll tunnel under fences or anything else that stands in their way. Consistent training is key to curbing their more curious and disruptive tendencies.

10. Dalmatian

Last but certainly not least are Dalmatians. These dogs have loads of energy, a strong-willed nature, and crave companionship, so they need both attention and exercise to remain happy.

Otherwise, this breed can be quite chaotic. Dalmatians are well-suited for more active owners who can keep up with their lively personalities.

What does "doom scrolling" mean?

"Doom scrolling" is exactly what it sounds like — an incessant amount of staring at social media feeds. From Dr. Lee's perspective, it's "when we continuously and compulsively scroll through negative news or distressing content on social media or news sites." The worst part is that she says "we often continue to do so even when it makes us feel progressively worse over time!" It's almost like we're in a toxic relationship with it 👀.

Also, the news is much more accessible than it used to be. I vividly remember my grandmother being glued to the morning and evening reports growing up, but now we don't have to look far for a breakdown of what's going on. Because of this, Dr. Lee believes "breaking ourselves out of this cycle is especially difficult because much of the news today is presented in a way that keeps us 'hooked.'" How?

Why are more people talking about it?

Based on her observations, Dr. Lee feels "social media algorithms often prioritize content that is engaging and gets reactions (often fear-based)." If you've ever used the word "rage-bait" in a conversation then you're already familiar with what she means. As a result, this "makes it easy to get stuck in a loop of distressing information," according to her. "In fact, with world issues such as climate concerns and political polarization, there seems to be an endless stream of negative news," she adds.

As much as I haven't wanted to talk about them, it's hard to escape concerns and opinions related to topics such as politics, reproductive health, or celebrity PR disasters. They have a way of showing up in conversations because almost everyone I know has access to a smart phone, where news is readily available at our fingertips.

What are negative side effects of being on social media or news sites 24/7?

If you've been feeling on edge or skittish lately, Dr. Lee wants you to know there's a connection between them and doom scrolling. "There are plenty of negative consequences of doom-scrolling. It can increase our feelings of stress and anxiety, lead to feelings of depression and hopelessness, disturb our sleep (if doom-scrolling late at night), and eat up our time during the day when we’re trying to be productive and engage in positive life activities," she says.

However, some good has come out of an increased awareness about doom scrolling. According to Dr. Lee, "we are becoming more aware of the effects of screen time, especially doom scrolling, our our mental health." I didn't know it at the time, but going into my phone settings to create boundaries for myself was the right thing to do!

How can I curb this habit?

If you're ready to stop being so attached to your phone, Dr. Lee has a few tips to help you make this necessary change.

1. Create screen limits: "Set time limits on how much news you consume. I like to keep it around 30 minutes a day of news exposure."
2. Review your notifications: "Remove news notifications from your phone to remove the constant barrage of 'breaking news' so that YOU can decide when to check in."
   
3. Try listening to a podcast: "Subscribe to a news podcast such as The Daily or NPR News Now. Podcasts automatically have a time limit and often discuss the most pressing news of the day. PLUS, you can listen while doing something stress-relieving, such as working out."

How can I tell if I'm doom scrolling or casually looking at social media?

It can be confusing when you're not sure if you're casually scrolling on social media, or succumbing to doom and gloom. But Dr. Lee doesn't want you to stress yourself out even further! Here's how she says you can tell which one you're doing:

1. Stay curious: "Pay attention to your mood during and after scrolling. Are you feeling anxious, drained, or exhausted? Do you keep scrolling bad news and struggle to stop even though it makes you feel progressively worse? These are signs that you are doom-scrolling."
2. Pay attention to content you're consuming: "On the other hand, if you are engaging with a variety of content (not just bad news) that makes you feel informed, entertained, or inspired, you are likely just casually scrolling. Casually scrolling often feels easier to stop than doom-scrolling."