Dear Overwhelmed, Tired, Frustrated, and Committed Dog Owner,

It gets better but only because you make it better. 

This letter is intended to inspire you to stay committed by revealing the hard truths about dog ownership that not many people will tell you. 

Puppyhood is nothing short of a long marathon in the sticky summer heat without water or rest breaks. It's grueling, it's painful, it's maddening...but it's also funny, goofy, and exhilarating! At the time I was raising puppy Koda, I lost sight of the funny, goofy and exhilarating side of that time we shared and loaded myself with the weight of all the negative things I had to deal with as a result of getting a puppy.

It felt like I was always saying this phrase to myself: If I could just get him to stop ______ I'd be able to make it through this.

That blank changed more frequently than I realized. 

If I could get him to stop bitting me I'd be able to make it through this.

If I could get him to stop peeing inside I'd be able to make it through this.

If I could get him to stop jumping on me I'd be able to make it through this.

If I could get him to stop whining I'd be able to make it through this.

It felt like whenever I got one thing taken care of, a new bad behavior would take its place. It felt like a maddening circle of constant issues I had no idea how to overcome.

I found myself ticking off the months as I counted up to the 1 yr mark, then the 1.5 yr mark. With age I thought Koda would get better and become more manageable. This is true, your dog will begin to calm down and settle into a routine, but not in the way you might be imagining.

Your dog will not magically become a calm dog once it's 2 years old. Your dog will become a calm dog because you've trained it to be calm. Time is on your side, but it's not the answer to your problems. Age will not wipe away all of the bad behaviors your dog does that drive you mad. Only through training, will you get the dog you've always imagined owning. 

Oh and did I mention it's so worth it?

Here's the truth about getting a new dog and training it: The first year is HARD. Harder than you think it will be. Your dog will test you, ask things of you you weren’t prepared to give, but all the while it will love you more than anything else in its world.

If you can commit and I know you can, otherwise you wouldn't be reading this now, for just one year of grueling, belly-laughing training, you will make it my friend. You will have created a bond between you and an animal that is like nothing you've ever experienced before.

The level of trust, love and dedication you will have to each other is what makes it all worth it. A companion for life is what you're creating. Sometimes you will lose site of that along the way, overcome with the burden of training and teaching. It's okay, but never lose hope in yourself or your dog.

Remind yourself that just like every other day, you've made it and you'll continue to make it because as time passes, your dog learns more from you and bad behaviors start to disappear .

It's worth the work. Your dog is so worth it. Be its hero.

Always cheering you on,

K9 Coach Dana

GET THE From Never Heard of it, to Perfect Obedience Training Plan NOW

You will get all the knowledge you need to train your dog to do anything, all that will be left for you to do is commit to starting and finishing this journey with your dog.