10/07/2026
My husband and I have raised six puppies together over our eleven years together, and I raised two before we got together. So over the last 16 years, I’ve raised eight puppies into adulthood.
At this point, we have a really good system in place.
We micromanage our puppies quite a bit😅, but we do it in a way that sets everyone up for success.
We prevent bad habits where we can, reinforce the things we like, and try to help mold our puppies into dogs we genuinely enjoy living with.
Rookie is a really good, easy puppy(so far).
He came to us with a lot of qualities we really value, and the foundation his breeder gave him has made a noticeable difference.
We’re also putting a lot of intention into how we raise him now, so we’re trying to build on those strengths and help him become the best dog he can be.
Potty training has gone incredibly well. He leaves things alone when we tell him to, although we’re still staying on top of him so he continues making good choices. He LOVES training. He checks in constantly no matter where we go. Crate training and being in his pen have both been incredibly easy.
He’s just a puppy we genuinely enjoy having and raising.
But unfortunately, not every puppy can be Rookie.
Some puppies really struggle with potty training. Some are incredibly mouthy. Some are extreme chewers who seem dedicated to putting absolutely everything in their mouths. Some are independent and have zero interest in cuddling. Some struggle to settle. Some are impulsive, intense, sensitive, fearful, or just plain difficult.
And sometimes I think the best thing you can do is throw out the picture you had in your head when you brought your puppy home and start looking at the puppy you actually have in front of you.
That doesn’t mean you stop training them or working toward your goals.
It means you adjust your expectations, management, and training to the individual puppy you have.
Sometimes you get an easy puppy and get to enjoy almost every stage.
Sometimes you get a puppy where you genuinely just have to survive adolescence😅.
You keep putting in the work, stay consistent, and eventually come out the other side with a dog you absolutely adore.
And sometimes, despite everyone’s best efforts, a puppy and a family simply aren’t the right fit for each other. And that’s okay, too.
Puppies can be difficult. They can be exhausting and frustrating and make you question why you ever thought getting one was a good idea😅.
But they’re also babies trying to figure out how to exist in our very human world.
Manage them. Teach them. Advocate for them. Give them appropriate outlets. Prevent the things you don’t want them practicing and reinforce the things you want to see more of.
And most importantly, raise the puppy you have in front of you, not the puppy you imagined you were going to have💜
And if you're struggling, please reach out!
