My Loyal Hound (2026)

Efficient, fun and highly insightful lessons for raising the "Best Hound in Town!"
www.myloyalhound.com
https://linktr.ee/myloyalhound

02/05/2026

Did you see the fox?🦊

If fetch turns into tug of war every single time… try this 👇

Most dogs aren’t being “stubborn”
with the ball.

They just don’t understand how to give it back without losing the game.

So we teach “drop it.”

Here’s the trick:
Have a treat ready in one hand.
When your dog comes back, offer the treat… and the moment they drop the ball, quietly grab the ball with your other hand. 🎾

No grabbing. No chasing. No tugging.

Just a simple trade.

What starts to happen?

Your dog learns:
Dropping the ball doesn’t end the fun…
it actually keeps the game going.

And that’s where fetch becomes cooperative instead of competitive. 🤍

Try this next time you play fetch and
see what happens.
Then come back and tell me….

Did your dog drop the ball faster?
Did you enjoy it more?
Do you think you’ll play more fetch now?

🏷️ Saving this reel will help you remember to try it later!

08/04/2026

If your puppy turns into a tiny gremlin at night… this is for you.

You know the moment.

The biting gets worse. The zoomies get faster. They stop listening. Everything feels chaotic… out of nowhere.

And most people assume:
“They need to burn more energy.”

But often?
It’s the opposite.

Your puppy is overtired, overstimulated, and struggling to regulate.

Puppies don’t always know how to stop when they’re tired. 
They don’t naturally think:
“I should go lie down.”

So they keep going… until everything starts to fall apart.

That’s why crate naps and a predictable routine matter so much.

Not because the crate is “mean.” But because rest helps your puppy:
* feel safe
* recover
* learn
* cope
* and handle life better

A well-used crate becomes: a safe place, a little bedroom, a reset for their nervous system.

And sometimes the kindest thing you can do for your puppy…

is help them slow down.

I included my “go-to” crate/nap schedule you can follow → swipe through to see it.

And if you know a new puppy parent in the thick of it right now… share this with them 🤍

And tell me: What does your puppy do when they’re overtired?

Search terms:
sleeping puppy, puppy problems, nipping puppy, zoomies, puppy barking, bringing a puppy home, puppy go home day, new puppy parents

24/03/2026

If you wait for your puppy to be fully vaccinated before socializing them…

You’ve already missed a critical window.

(I know… That can be hard to hear.)

But socialization doesn’t mean walking your puppy down busy streets.

It doesn’t mean meeting every dog.
It doesn’t mean, putting them in
overwhelming situations.

It means thoughtful exposure.

Today, instead of feeding Angel‘s lunch
in a bowl… We opted for this.

We found a quiet spot outside,
away from the center of activity,
and just sat together.

No walking.
No pressure.
No expectations.

Just watching the world go by.
Observing the sights of a busy city.

Every Sound… paired with food.
Every moment of calm… reinforced.

This is how puppies learn:
The world is safe.
They don’t need to react to everything.
And staying close to you is where the
good stuff happens.

You’ll notice I kept it:
- short
- simple
- rewarding
- focused

And yes… I stepped on the leash.

Not to control him, but to prevent him from practicing panic or escape. And, I didn’t want to jump on anybody if someone walked by.

Confidence isn’t built in chaos
It’s built in small, successful moments like this.

If this area had been busier, I would’ve added a blanket to give him a clearer “place” to settle.

That can be what we work on next!
Overtime, we will build his confidence with practice.

Longer duration.
More distractions.
New environments.

But right now?

Five minutes of city exposure is enough.

How does your dog do with busy streets, dogs walking by or people? Did you practice Calm Observation with your puppy?

09/03/2026

If your puppy growls when you pick them up… it might not be what you think.

This is something I see all the time with new puppies, especially in families with kids.

Most puppies don’t like being picked up at first. And honestly, that makes sense.

Imagine someone twice your size suddenly reaching down, grabbing you, and lifting you off the ground before you even understand what’s happening.

From a puppy’s perspective, that can feel pretty scary.

So if your puppy growls when you pick them up, it doesn’t mean they’re “bad” or “dominant.” It usually just means one thing.

That was too fast.

The growl can feel scary, especially when kids are nearby.
But, from the puppy’s perspective, the whole thing happened before they even understood what was going on.

The good news? This is an easy skill to teach, not only to the puppy, but to the whole family.

Teaching “puppy pick-up etiquette” can prevent the growl from becoming something more serious.

When I pick Angel up, I slow everything way down so he can relax and process that I am about to pick him up.

First, I gently place my hands on his chest between his front legs. Then I pause for a moment so he can process the touch.

Next, I shift a tiny bit of weight into my hands so he can feel that something is about to happen. Only then do I slowly lift him, supporting his back legs so his body feels secure. Sometimes we don’t even pick him up at all.

We just practice the feeling of pressure and release. I barely lift his front paws off the ground and then place them right back down.
That’s how puppies learn to trust being handled.

What people often mistake:
Growling at this stage isn’t bad.
It’s communication.
Your puppy is saying:
“I didn’t like that.”
That’s helpful information.
If we ignore it, the growl can turn into something more serious.

A warning growl tells us we need to slow down, practice more, and give them time to build trust. Because trust isn’t automatic for puppies. It’s something we build slowly.�With patience. With practice.
Honestly, I think dogs of all ages can benefit from this little trust-building exercise.

How does your dog respond when you try to pick them up? Have they ever growled?

06/03/2026

Overcoming car fear takes time.

Some dog owners unintentionally make their dogs hate the car…

usually because the first car ride is a big one.

A long drive.
A vet visit.
A stressful day.

For a tiny puppy who just left their litter, that can feel like a lot.

Since Angel will spend plenty of time driving between Virginia and Vermont, we want the car to feel normal right from the beginning.

So we started early with gentle car exposure.

Last week we simply visited the car for five minutes each day.

Walk to the garage.
Hop in the car.
Lots of treats.
Lots of calm, positive energy.

Then we went back inside like it was no big deal.

No driving.
No pressure.

Just letting the car become part of everyday life and part of our daily routine.

Today we added the next step:

A short drive around the block.
Short enough that it’s over before he really has time to worry.

This week we’ll slowly build from there,
making the drive just a little longer each day.

Right now?

He still doesn’t love the car.

Do you think he’ll survive the long ride to Vermont next week?

As a trainer, I know confidence in puppies grows through small, easy experiences that help the world feel predictable and safe.

But as a dog mom…
I sometimes have to remind myself that this is just a stage.

And that something as simple as
five quiet minutes visiting the car
can make a world of difference.

Tell me…

Did your dog like the car right away?
Or did it take some practice?

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