I’m trying to better understand my shepherd’s behavior in our multi-dog household and would appreciate insight. Recently she went after my male Yorkie (not the first time) while all the dogs were gathered around my daughter eating on the couch. I’ve also noticed that during toy play, she will chase my golden retriever puppy and pressure him until he drops the toy, and now he avoids retrieving. She’s also become much more reactive over time (barking at birds, movement outside, etc.). Does this sound more like resource guarding, over-arousal, controlling behavior, or something else? What management changes would you immediately make in a house with multiple dogs and a large size difference? I’m especially looking for early warning signs/body language, what behaviors I may be unintentionally reinforcing, and how to safely manage interactions moving forward. Thank you!!

First glimpse of puppy!

Three days. That’s it. No long term training. No deep history. Just 72 hours of observation, structure, and living together. And yet… I’ve already learned a lot. Now I want to hear from YOU: What do you think I’ve learned about my puppy in just 3 days? Take your best guess 👇 • Personality? • Confidence levels? • Boundaries? • Energy? • Problem behaviors? • Something unexpected? There’s no wrong answer here 😌 Let’s see who really understands how quickly dogs start telling us who they are. Drop your thoughts below 🐶💭

After a very long day we just got home, and honestly this feels like the perfect reminder for new puppy owners. When you first bring your puppy home, do not feel like you need to do everything at once. If your breeder is using puppy pads, a puppy pen, or a specific setup, it is completely okay to follow that in the beginning. The first day is not about being perfect. It is about bonding, observing, and making sure you brought home a healthy, comfortable puppy. Focus on the basics: Eating Drinking Playing Exploring Doing normal puppy things Do not push the puppy. Those first couple of days are a decompression period. Your puppy just left everything they’ve ever known. New home, new smells, new people, new sounds. That is a lot. They do not need trips everywhere. They do not need adventures. They do not need stimulation overload. Be boring. Be calm. Be safe. Yes, structure and training should start early, but the first night does not need to feel like boot camp. Follow what your breeder recommends and ease your puppy into the schedule you ultimately want. You do not have to enforce every single house rule immediately. Take time to bond. Build trust. Let them settle. A confident, secure puppy starts with a calm, thoughtful transition 💛🐶

Today is puppy pick up day 🐾 While I’m off on my little adventure bringing home the new baby, I want to hear from you… What are you most excited to learn about right now? Puppy training Behavior issues Confidence building Obedience Something else? Drop it in the comments. I’m planning future posts and lessons around what YOU actually want help with 👇