Fall weather is here, and some days a long walk just isn't happening.
This week, grab a cardboard box and toss in some paper, egg cartons, or toilet paper tubes. Sprinkle a few treats or some kibble in there and let your puppy dig, rip, and sniff to find them.
Stay close while they do it so nobody eats the cardboard. The mess is the point.
Come back and tell us how much destruction happened. 🐾
Pick one thing you've been holding yourself or your puppy to that just isn't realistic right now.
Maybe it's a daily hour-long walk. Maybe it's a spotless house. Maybe it's training every single day.
Let it go for one week. See what happens when there's a little more room to breathe.
Come back and tell us what you let go of. 💙
Young puppies need a lot of sleep, often somewhere around 18 hours a day.
When they don't get enough, they don't wind down. They wind up. More biting, more zoomies, less listening.
If your puppy is falling apart at the same time every day, try building in a nap before that time instead of more play.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for a wild puppy is help them rest. 🐾
It's Monday. Maybe you didn't sleep. Maybe your puppy lost their mind at 3am. Maybe you're just tired in a way that's hard to explain to people who don't have a puppy.
This is your space to let it out.
No advice unless you ask for it. No silver linings required. Just drop what's been hard and know that someone here gets it.
We're listening. 💙
Not the perfect photo. Not the one for Instagram. Just one photo a day of whatever your puppy is doing.
Sleeping in a weird position. Chewing their toy. Sitting next to you for once.
On hard days, it's easy to feel like nothing good is happening. By the end of the week, you'll have seven pieces of evidence that some of it is.
Share your favorite one in the comments if you want. 🐾
It's Monday. Maybe you didn't sleep. Maybe your puppy lost their mind at 3am. Maybe you're just tired in a way that's hard to explain to people who don't have a puppy.
This is your space to let it out.
No advice unless you ask for it. No silver linings required. Just drop what's been hard and know that someone here gets it.
We're listening. 💙
This week, write a short note to yourself from six months in the future.
What do you hope things look like? What do you hope you figured out? What do you want to remember about right now, even the hard parts?
It doesn't have to be long. Even a few sentences count.
Tuck it somewhere you'll find it later. Or share a piece of it here if you want to. 🌱
Hi folks!
Your community is growing! Seriously... I've been monitoring the Community insights and we have been steadily growing in visitors and in members.
This also means that some of the more sensitive posts we see may start getting more attention outside the community and attract folks who just drop in and may not review our rules or participate in a constructive way. For example, recently a post was shared 44 times. It's not a bad thing that posts are shared, but it does demonstrate how spotlights can be placed on us.
I do my best to keep a hands off approach for the most part and try to contribute where I can. But like many of you, I work full time and have my own dogs to care for. Right now I'm caring for my oldest dog who recently had a mass removed. One week to go until the stitches are removed. No worries, it was nothing super serious.
Anyhow why am I writing this... a few reasons.
I am asking our community to report when you see a comment that is unkind, especially if it is inflammatory. I want folks to feel safe to be vulnerable and share how they are feeling free of being shamed for struggling.
I'm considering what types of userflairs we can use. I'd love your input. I was thinking some of you are here because you really want to help others. Some of you are here because you are having a hard time. Some of you came here at a time you were going through puppy blues and you made it to the other side. What types of userflair would you like to see?
Helpers... I want to make sure this community continues to provide peer to peer support. I think we may be slowly approaching the need for additional moderation volunteers. I hope that I have served you all in the best capacity I can. But I also know that my time is limited and if we continue to grow, I'm worried I alone will not be able to manage the community in the way you deserve. So I want to know from you what qualities you want to see in someone who would serve on the moderation team.
😅 okay I think I said enough. Let me know your thoughts!
It's Friday. Time to celebrate.
Did your puppy sleep an extra 20 minutes? Win. Did YOU sleep an extra 20 minutes? Huge win. Did your puppy sit when you asked, or stop biting your ankles for five whole minutes? Absolute victory.
Drop your wins below, no matter how small they feel.
You made it through another week. 🐾
Hi everyone!
I run dog training classes at The Friendly Bark in Lynnwood.
I have some classes starting and sorry I hadn't posted about them here and it is a bit last minute but...
I have some open spaces!
Puppy socialization: 9am starts Sat 19th, 6 week class. I have two pups enrolled who would love more pups to join. Great for pups ages 8 weeks to 16 weeks.
Level 1 foundations: 10am starts Saturday 19th, 8 week class for dogs 4mos to 9 mos. A few seats open.
Level 2 Life Skills: 11am starts Saturday 19th, 8 week class. Good for dogs 1year+ only a few spots left.
I also have an October Tricks and Clicks class coming up. 4 week class, learn 11 tricks and we have a photoshoot with a professional photographer, Holly Cook. You can learn more about the class at www.readypupgo.biz/tricks
Happy to answer questions feel free to reach out here or you can call 425.749.3645
It's Monday. Maybe you didn't sleep. Maybe your puppy lost their mind at 3am. Maybe you're just tired in a way that's hard to explain to people who don't have a puppy.
This is your space to let it out.
No advice unless you ask for it. No silver linings required. Just drop what's been hard and know that someone here gets it.
We're listening. 💙
This week, do one thing purely because it's fun. Not productive. Not useful. Not puppy related.
Watch something ridiculous. Eat something you love. Play a game. Sit outside and do absolutely nothing.
You have been so responsible. You have been managing, planning, and problem-solving around the clock.
You are allowed to just exist for a minute.
Come back and tell us what you did. 💙
So I've been thinking about the different ways that contribute to feeling stressed and overwhelmed. And I know for myself one of the most stressful times for me was dealing with giardia. It's endemic where I live. But the sanitizing to prevent reinfection and her endless loose stool was exhausting. Plus I am sure she didn't feel well.
I also see from time to time some pups have much more challenging situations...
Health issues bring on stress... you're worried about your pup and it can be a financial strain as well.
Of this was you, what helped you survive it? If you're going through this, what are you doing to keep calm?
One of you wanted the puppy more. One of you is doing more of the work. One of you is handling it better, or at least seems to be. One of you snapped last night and said something you regret.
This is incredibly common, and it doesn't mean your relationship is broken.
A new puppy is a genuine stressor. It disrupts routines, sleep, and the household's balance of effort. It can surface tensions that were already there and create new ones you weren't expecting.
What helps most is naming it out loud instead of letting it build. You're on the same team even when it doesn't feel that way.
Has the puppy put any strain on your relationships? You can talk about it here. 💙
It's Monday. Maybe you didn't sleep. Maybe your puppy lost their mind at 3am. Maybe you're just tired in a way that's hard to explain to people who don't have a puppy.
This is your space to let it out.
No advice unless you ask for it. No silver linings required. Just drop what's been hard and know that someone here gets it.
We're listening. 💙
It's Friday. Time to celebrate.
Did your puppy sleep an extra 20 minutes? Win. Did YOU sleep an extra 20 minutes? Huge win. Did your puppy sit when you asked, or stop biting your ankles for five whole minutes? Absolute victory.
Drop your wins below, no matter how small they feel.
You made it through another week. 🐾
Not right now. Not this week. Someday.
The hike you want to take together. The moment they finally just settle next to you on the couch. The day the biting stops and you can just enjoy them.
What are you holding onto? 🌱
It's Monday. Maybe you didn't sleep. Maybe your puppy lost their mind at 3am. Maybe you're just tired in a way that's hard to explain to people who don't have a puppy.
This is your space to let it out.
No advice unless you ask for it. No silver linings required. Just drop what's been hard and know that someone here gets it.
We're listening. 💙
This week, set up a simple enrichment station for your puppy, then step away for 20 minutes.
It could be a stuffed Kong in the crate. A lick mat with some peanut butter. Kibble scattered in a snuffle mat. Whatever you have.
The goal is twofold: give your puppy something to do, and give yourself a genuine break at the same time.
Come back and tell us what you set up and how you used your 20 minutes. That part matters too. 🐾
It's Friday. Time to celebrate.
Did your puppy sleep an extra 20 minutes? Win. Did YOU sleep an extra 20 minutes? Huge win. Did your puppy sit when you asked, or stop biting your ankles for five whole minutes? Absolute victory.
Drop your wins below, no matter how small they feel.
You made it through another week. 🐾