Welcome to The Yappy Hour, powered by Yappily!
Bringing a puppy home is one of life’s most joyful moments, but as this episode makes clear, it’s rarely the smooth, cuddly experience social media promises.
Host Nathan Dunleavy sits down with Carrie of Carrie’s Canines and Friends, a dog trainer with a decade of experience and firsthand knowledge of raising reactive dogs, to unpack the realities of the first year with a puppy. From sleepless nights and land-shark biting to the very real phenomenon of “puppy blues,” Carrie brings warmth, humour, and hard-won wisdom to a conversation every dog guardian will recognise themselves in. Settle in with a cup of tea (and maybe a chew toy for your own pup) for this one.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ Why “puppy blues” are completely normal and why even experienced trainers feel them
✅ The real reason your puppy is nipping, jumping, or biting (hint: it’s rarely about defiance)
✅ How much sleep puppies actually need, and why overtiredness fuels bad behaviour
✅ Why your puppy isn’t a “blank slate” and how genetics and breeding shape who they become
✅ How to build the relationship and bond that makes recall, lead work, and everything else easier
✅ What socialisation really means (it’s not meeting every dog and every person)
✅ Why asking before letting your puppy be petted by strangers matters
✅ How to set your puppy up for the life you actually want to live with them – pub trips, cottages, and all
Key Takeaways:
- Puppy blues are a normal part of the adjustment and it’s okay to find it hard, even when you love your puppy
- Don’t take water away before bed to manage toilet training; work through the overnight stage humanely instead
- Hold off on expensive toys and beds early on they’re likely to be chewed before your puppy grows into them
- Prioritise relationship and bond above obedience – the rest follows more easily once that’s in place
- Socialisation is about calm, positive exposure to the world in short bursts, not overwhelming your puppy with every dog and person you meet
- Training doesn’t end after a six-week puppy course, it continues for life
Thanks for tuning in! Let’s celebrate the joy and challenges of dog parenting together, because we’re all here for the dogs.
Connect with Carrie Stuthridge
Carrie’s Canines & Friends Facebook page
Connect with Nathan and Yappily
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