Hello Reader, I was thinking about how easy it is to slowly change little things around your puppy or dog without really noticing it. Maybe you start taking a different route on walks. Maybe you wait until fewer people are outside. Maybe you put your puppy behind a gate when someone comes over because it just feels easier. Maybe there is somewhere you used to take your dog that you have quietly stopped going. None of that means you are doing anything wrong. Sometimes those workarounds are...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, On Wednesday I talked about how easy it is to buy more stuff for your puppy or dog when every store seems to be running a sale. And sometimes the right thing really does help. A better leash. A harness that fits well. A toy your puppy actually likes. Something that makes part of the day a little easier. But there is another side to it. You can buy the right thing and still feel like you are not getting anywhere. The leash is fine, but walks are still frustrating. You have toys...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I don’t know about you, but it feels like every time I open my email or turn on the TV right now, somebody is trying to sell me something. Amazon Prime Day ends today. Target has deals. Walmart has deals. You name it. And if you have a puppy or dog, it can be really easy to start thinking you need another leash, harness, toy, chew, bed… or whatever else keeps popping up in front of you. Some of those things can be really useful. Some of them? You probably do not need. Before you...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Have you ever noticed your puppy or dog doing something a little different and thought, "Well, that was random"? Maybe it only happened once, so you didn't think much of it. Then it happens again. Now you're wondering if it is just a phase, something they will grow out of, or something you should be paying more attention to. It is easy to brush off those little things, especially when everything else seems to be going fine. Sometimes you can work through these things on your...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I have been thinking about the emails I send you and something I want to do a little differently going into October. I share a lot about puppies, teenage dogs, training, and the things that come up when you are trying to figure life out with your dog. I’m going to keep doing that. But I also realized I have not always been very good about telling you how I can actually help when you need more than an email. And that is going to change. Sometimes you just need a tip you can try...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, One thing I don’t think people expect when they bring home a puppy or dog is how much time they’ll spend thinking about the dog. Am I doing enough? Should they be sleeping more? Can I take them with me? Should I leave them home? Is this normal for their age? Am I making this harder without realizing it? And with a teenage dog, you may be wondering why something that seemed fine a few months ago suddenly feels different. It can be a lot of decisions for something you thought...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Have things felt a little off with your puppy or dog lately? Maybe they’re jumping more, pulling more, barking more, or just not listening like they were a few weeks ago. Before you start thinking, “What am I doing wrong?” take a look at what has changed around them. Work got busier. Schedules shifted. Walks changed. Training got a little less consistent. They’re sleeping at different times. Sometimes it’s not that your puppy or dog suddenly forgot everything. Sometimes their...
24 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, When someone tells me, “My dog listens to me, but not anyone else,” part of me wants to say, “Congratulations—and also, that sounds exhausting.” Because being your puppy or dog’s favorite person is wonderful. Being the only person who can walk them, guide them, calm them down, or get them to cooperate is something else entirely. Usually, it happens because you are the one handling the walks, meals, training, appointments, and most of the daily care. Your puppy or dog gets very...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, One of the things I notice when I am working with puppies and dogs is how much learning happens when nobody is really thinking about “training.” Your puppy may be learning that jumping gets attention. Your teenage dog may be getting really good at pulling toward the things they want. Your new dog may be figuring out the routines in your home and what happens next. And sometimes they are practicing things when we are not even there. That does not mean you need to watch your puppy...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read