09/14/2026
Meet Gatsby! 🐾
Gatsby is a 9-week-old Leonberger puppy who is here for potty training and his initial foundation training.
He is already a BIG puppy, and he is going to grow into a truly giant dog. Leonbergers were bred as companion dogs, and Gatsby is exactly what you would hope for from the breed — incredibly sweet, intelligent, affectionate, and naturally social.
One of the biggest challenges for him right now is learning how to be comfortable without his family. Being away from the people he knows is a completely new experience for a 9-week-old puppy.
He does get appropriate interaction with a few of the dogs here on the property, but I’m also intentionally giving him opportunities to learn something that is extremely important for his future: how to settle himself.
As trainers, we sometimes have to resist our natural instinct to immediately comfort a puppy every time he becomes unhappy. It feels compassionate to constantly reassure them, pick them up, distract them, or make sure they never experience frustration.
At the same time, teaching independence does not mean ignoring a puppy who is genuinely distressed or leaving him to cope beyond his ability. Healthy independence is built gradually, with short, manageable periods of separation and plenty of support. We watch his body language and behavior closely, adjust the difficulty when needed, and make sure he has appropriate opportunities for rest, comfort, and connection.
The goal is for Gatsby to learn that being alone for a little while is safe and temporary — not that his communication will be ignored. If he is mildly frustrated, we can give him a moment to try settling. If he is becoming overwhelmed, we step in and make the exercise easier. That distinction is essential.
Puppies need to learn that being alone for a little while is safe, nothing bad is happening, and they are capable of regulating themselves. They also need to learn that their people will respond appropriately when they truly need help.
That’s especially important with a breed like a Leonberger. This is going to be a very large, very powerful dog who will want to be close to his people. Teaching independence while he’s tiny is much easier than trying to teach it later when you have a 150-pound dog who has learned that he cannot cope without you.
So we’re working on the basics: potty training, structure, appropriate boundaries, settling, and gradually increasing his ability to be comfortable on his own. We’re building resilience through small, successful experiences — not by forcing him to endure fear or prolonged distress.
The goal isn’t to ignore a puppy’s needs or expect him to handle more than he can. It’s about finding the balance between providing security and teaching resilience: giving him a safe foundation while helping him discover that he can relax, recover, and feel okay even when his family is not right beside him.
Gatsby is a sweet little guy, and we’re taking these lessons one baby step at a time. ❤️🐶
