So You Got a New Puppy… Now What?
(Austin Puppy Parents, This One’s For You)
You brought home a puppy because you wanted joy.
You pictured patio hangs, Barton Springs days, Red Bud Isle adventures, coffee shop chill time, walks along the Greenbelt, and a loyal buddy who fits perfectly into your Austin lifestyle.
Instead… right now you’re cleaning up pee.
Your hands have bite marks.
Your house feels like a tornado blew through it.
You’re exhausted.
You’re Googling things at 2am you swore you wouldn’t need to Google.
Let me be clear:
You are not failing.
You did not get a “bad” puppy.
You did not mess this up.
You’re just raising a baby animal in a busy, stimulating, people-and-dog-filled city.
And that is a LOT… for both of you.
Take a breath. We can slow this down.
Austin Has High Expectations for Dogs — And That’s a Lot of Pressure
Let’s be honest: Austin isn’t just “dog friendly.”
Austin expects dogs to:
• hang out at breweries
• chill on patios
• walk through crowded streets
• handle loud events, festivals, kids, music, traffic
• exist calmly around tons of dogs and people
That’s not “easy dog mode.”
That’s advanced life.
And if you’re feeling behind already because your puppy isn’t calm or confident enough for Austin living yet… that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Your dog is behaving EXACTLY how they are pre-programed to!
It just means your puppy needs support learning how to be that dog — the dog who fits into Austin life safely, happily, and confidently.
Right Now Isn’t About Perfection — It’s About Building the Right Foundation AND Relationship!
Most puppy owners in Austin either:
• panic and try to train everything immediately
or
• hope their puppy “grows out of it”
(Spoiler Alert…Puppies don’t ‘grow out of’ behaviors…they grow INTO them.)
Neither approach works well.
What your puppy actually needs right now is:
• predictable routines
• emotional safety
• structure instead of chaos
• rest and decompression
• thoughtful, controlled exposure
• a relationship with you that feels safe, not stressful
Stuffing them into overwhelming situations “so they get used to it” doesn’t build confidence here. it teaches them not to trust YOU!
Austin has too much stimulation for that approach to work.
Confidence comes from:
• emotionally supportive socialization
• life skills
• calmness
• resilience
• guidance
That’s what builds a dog who can live here — not just survive here.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
Most Austin dog owners quietly struggle because this city makes “good dog ownership” feel like a performance.
Everyone else looks like they’re doing it better.
Nobody talks about the meltdowns at home.
Nobody mentions the tears in the car ride back from the brewery when things went badly.
Or the frustration you feel…with both yourself and your puppy!
If you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, embarrassed, or scared you’re doing this wrong…
You’re not alone.
And you don’t have to keep powering through.
Getting help early:
• prevents problems from becoming big behavior issues later
• protects your relationship
• keeps everyone safer
• gives you your peace back
And yes — it lets you enjoy your puppy again.
You deserve that.
Your puppy deserves that.
Your future life together deserves that.
This Is Where My Programs Step In — Built for Real Austin Dogs
I don’t train fantasy dogs.
I train Austin dogs.
Dogs who need to live, not just “behave.”
🐾 For Puppies Under 8 Months:
Puppy Power
Austin puppies have big feelings and big energy.
Puppy Power Program is designed for them.
This program helps your puppy develop:
• calmness in stimulating environments
• confidence instead of fear
• emotional regulation
• life skills beyond “sit” and “shake”
• appropriate social skills
• the ability to think instead of panic
We build the type of dog who can handle Austin life:
patio dog
trail dog
family dog
hang-out-anywhere dog
Not just “obedience class dog.”
🐾 For Older Puppies, Adolescents & New Rescue Dogs:
Solid Pack Foundations
Maybe your dog is past the baby stage.
Maybe you adopted here in Austin and your new dog is overwhelmed.
Maybe adolescence hit like a freight train.
Foundations is your reset button.
This program is built for dogs struggling with:
• overstimulation
• leash pulling
• reactivity
• settling
• impulse control
• emotional overwhelm
This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about creating a dog you can actually live with…
One who can:
• walk South Congress without panic
• sit calmly at a brewery
• handle visitors
• navigate real life with confidence and stability
A dog that feels safe — and helps YOU feel confident again.
If You’re Reading This and Feeling Seen… It’s Time
If your stomach just dropped because this sounds like your life…
that’s your sign.
You don’t have to “hope it gets better.”
You don’t have to out-stubborn chaos.
You don’t have to feel guilty for needing help.
Support changes everything — for you and for your dog.
Austin is an incredible place to raise a dog…
if you give yourself the support to do it right.
You didn’t get a puppy just to survive the experience.
You got a puppy to build a life together.
Let’s make that happen — intentionally, thoughtfully, and with support.
