I feel like you guys should have a podcast by now. I would love to listen to you guys telling us about everything dog related.

It is so so so helpful to hear/read from other dog owners about feelings of regret in getting their dog/even having a child. While I never regretted getting our rescue, there were times where the weight of the responsibility made me anxious beyond belief, and then ashamed at feeling that way. This is a great way to break those taboo discussions, so thank you!

I just want to say that I think Bree brings so much value to your videos, I feel like she brings in the perspective of the average person trying to train their dog versus the dog trainer perspective. I can just identify with her a bit more and her way of explaining things and acknowledging the struggles people are going through just sort of clicks with me. Anyway, I love your real life training series, sort of helps me gain some perspective and motivation to train with my dog, so please keep that up :)

I see a lot of comments about overwhelm and want to share my two cents that I learned. My puppy is DRIVEY she’s a rescue with all the kinds of high drive dogs. There were times I would cry bc I really thought I knew a lot. But something that always stuck with me that my mom said in the context of raising a baby/toddler is get yourself into a right headspace. If you need to put the baby in the crib or somewhere safe for a few minutes so you can get back to a space of patience or clarity for not only yourself but for the baby - then give the space to do that. the same goes for a puppy. Put them in their crate, let them cry, and remove yourself from the situation for a little bit until you can think clearly again. We don’t have to keep pushing on if we need a minute. Give yourself the time to recoup if you are overwhelmed and come back with clarity. I can’t tell you how many times I put a Kong of PB in the crate so mine could hang out when I would feel overwhelmed. The progress is the big focus - not the end goal. Dogs are life long learners like us humans. Times of needing some space won’t hinder a dog’s progress! It doesn’t mean you’re giving up it means you care enough to make the puppy your priority by getting some space for a bit of time!

Nice diplomatic answer about dog parks! It's interesting the amount of people who think a busy dog park is the solution to exercise or socialisation, regardless of their dog's behaviour/personality. I love the q&a style and Bree adds so much value 😊

Our rescue dog was 13 months when we got her, and had already been surrendered twice. I've never regretted getting her, but I relate to the sentiment behind that question. There were definitely moments of feeling HUGELY overwhelmed at the beginning where I felt like "what the heck did we get ourselves into?!" and we still acknowledge we have lost some of the independence and spontaneity our lives had before. But not for a second did I regret getting her, and she is an integral part of our family. I've never loved a dog this much and I can't imagine not having her. I don't have kids, but I've heard this from many parents too: they don't regret having children, but they acknowledge their lives have changed and there's a sense of loss for the life they had before.

All the feels in this one! For a long time I felt horrible for feeling the "puppy blues" because much like new mothers going through post-partum depression, it's seen as taboo to not love your baby right away and not want anything to do with them. I've wanted a dog my whole life and finally after college, I made it happen with my Australian Shephard. I found myself stressed out for that first year because of her reactivity, at times feeling helpless and feeling like I was failing her and it was my fault she is the way she is... She's two and a half now and her progress has astounded me and it's all because I didn't give up on her, or another way to put it... I didn't give up on me. Hang in there pup parents! Stay consistent and a breakthrough will happen.

High maintenance dog owner over here! 🙋‍♀️Dog parks didn’t work for us either and that’s ok!!! My GSD was kind of annoying to other dogs, and also picked on smaller dogs! So, we stopped going. He does MUCH better with me on a long lead in a field for exercise! One of my favorite tips is “a tired puppy is a good puppy”. He also stays on a leash when inside with me. Always. That’s how I manage him for success. And he is very exhausting for me. Once or twice a month, he goes to doggie day camp because I need a break from him. He LOVES it there and wears himself out running up and down their huge kennels. It’s a way for him to SAFELY interact with dogs!! Try it!!! It’s life saver!!!!

I took in a senior pekingese in 2015 and the state he was in and the behaviors he had really made us clash the first few months. He stressed me out and he couldn't trust me for a good while so that rough patch I had days I just hated facing his issues but I knew how to fix them and that moving to a new home and life takes time to adjust so I hung in there and we became such buddies. The following year he went blind and I helped him navigate things so despite the tough start I became the person he trusted the most. He didn't have many years left but the years I had him were happy ones. 💜 Grouch to love bug. ^^

Hi! I’m a first-time dog owner and I have regretted getting my dog almost every day for 5 months since we got him. The regret moments do get further between as more time passes and we both learn. Having a big dog with a big voice was a drastic change from having cats all my life. I had to adjust to the neediness, noise, and activity, learn a new communication style, build a relationship with him, figure out a food allergy, treat him for a parasite, panic about a tick he had when we got him, and deal with a host of behavioral needs (live with cats, reactivity, and resource guarding). It was very hard, very demanding, and often leaves me feeling like a bad guardian. But the more time goes by and the more Zak George perspective I get, the easier it gets with us. Deep breaths and hang in there for a wild ride.

I cried so much when I got my puppy, I couldn’t see my way out of the “mistake” , I thought about returning him but I was embarrassed cause everyone loved him so much, and then I started comparing him to all the perfect floppy, cuddly, sleepy dogs people (and social media) kept telling me about and I got into the mindset that I was doing everything wrong, I shouldn’t have gotten a heeler cause he deserves a better life (someone with kettle and fields) and every opportunity was a training opportunity, we were both so tired and I missed out on a lot of the puppy phase But 1.5 years later and we much better, he is so loving and smart and loud and goofy, I still get overwhelmed sometimes when I think I’m not doing enough but I don’t know what life would look like without him anymore

“The valley of despair’ can be the magic moment you find something worth studying deeply and enjoyably. It’s when your eyes are opened

I feel famous since my question was addressed in your video! 😂 For anyone who heard my question about being totally overwhelmed with a new puppy, I just want to say that my pup is about to turn 2 years old in December and he is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Zak and Bree are so right about the puppy stage and not necessarily getting the dog you expect. My dog and I managed to power through with a lot of help from Zak’s videos and things are great now. I’m really glad I brought up this topic because it seems to have resonated with so many of you and that was my hope: that anyone struggling with this would feel less alone. 💜

I 100% regretted getting my dog for the first few weeks/months. Before we got her, I researched breeds watched videos on training, read books so I thought I was prepared, but I wasn't. Gradually, it got easier and I adore her now, but the puppy blues are a real thing.

I love my puppy more than anything in the whole world. I struggled a little emotionally when I first adopted him. It was mostly from physical exhaustion and mental exhaustion from constantly troubleshooting as we built our communication and learned how to live together. I had fostered puppies before, so I was expecting and prepared to feel some "puppy blues" and I just saw it as part of the process. Emotions don't have to be labeled as "good" or "bad". Feeling sad about a new puppy or a new baby or any big life change is perfectly normal, and there is no need to label it as good or bad. It's just something that happens. For me, the puppy blues passed pretty quickly because I allowed myself to feel and process them. My puppy is 7 months now and he truly is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

WOW! Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting out this video! I put myself on Mount Stupid when it comes to dog training and I try to learn and have had dogs my whole 52 years on this planet! It breaks my heart how many dogs I unintentionally abused because I thought I knew all there was to know. I grew up with the aversives, I had trainers even tell me that if I wasn't lifting my dogs' front feet off the floor with my corrections I was doing it wrong. I found you guys and you changed my world and you always humble me in very good ways to recognize that I still don't know all there is to know but I am getting better. My dogs like working with me now! Who knew that could even be a thing? They may not be as highly trained as Inertia, but they will listen to me when I need them to and I never have to use force. Love you guys. Can't speak highly enough about you.

I'm so sorry for having followed to the top of Mt. Stupid with other "Professional Celebrity Dog Trainers" in the past - only to the detriment of my previous dog. Now, I'm so grateful to have fallen into the Valley of Despair thanks to Zak, and Bree, and other like-minded dog training professionals that I'm now marching steadily on the Road to Enlightenment!! Thank you Zak & Bree for all your dedication.

I just got my first puppy I’m raising myself a few months ago and I definitely feel down a lot more. Currently a 5 month old Golden Retriever male. Getting a puppy was NOT what I expected it would be. But I started binging your videos after we got him and it’s been much better! Just dreading the adolescent stage. Thank you for the great content! Focusing on love and respect is the best way to do it!

Have a 22 month old German shepherd and have had some very dark moments where I feel he's getting worse instead of better and I feel 'what have I committed to?' I love him so much but he is so intense, so demanding and so high strung. Hearing that this feeling is normal has been so reassuring. I will keep going..

I don't usually comment, but when I got my puppy, there were certain times where i regretted getting Simba. I love him and he's awesome now, but throughout the early months, it was difficult. What helped me was talking to other owners and knowing they went through the same thing and it gets better.

We got a dog. He was pretty crazy, and yes, we did regret getting him for a while and considered giving him back. But we also didn't wanna give up too fast so we let it take some time. The first two months were the worst, but now we're having a great time with him. :) Our feet don't hurt anymore, he's not crazy barking at every dog within a mile, he's listening to us when we call his name now, etc etc. It takes a little time to get used to it, and for the dog to get used to and get to know you.

Your videos always make me feel better. I have adopted a two-year-old high maintenance breed (jack russell/ blue heeler) with all the intentions of working through it all. I was getting down on myself just the other day for being frustrated and tired. It's good to know I'm not alone in that feeling and a good reminder to get rest. I also have to remind myself that when my really skittish dog is afraid of something it's not me nor his confidence in me. His fears have to do with both his breed and his upbringing before I took him in. I just have to train him through all the bad experiences and make them a good, shared experience. Over the holiday we had some smaller children stay with us and thank goodness for the training that we already had because he really needed the support while dealing with the noise and attention that he was receiving. We were far from perfect, but I really think that he handled himself really well. I like to think that some of this victory is because I work with him so much and I really credit this channel with adjusting my expectations, so I am not hard on him. Simply knowing that a dog acts out on the leash because he's getting to know his environment is HUGE! It changes the focus and the level of agitation coming from me. Honestly, you two could be human therapists and not just dog trainers- THANK YOU!

The feeling of being overwhelmed with a puppy and sometimes an adopted adult dog is so common and hardly talked about. Similar to feelings many of us have with a new baby and I'm not even talking about diagnosed Post Natal Depression. My feelings of regret, personally, actually always came very early on, like a day or two in, before things got really hard and it didn't last. I get the same thing with new jobs, the "what have I done, I don't know what I'm doing!". So for me, I think I get it in a very minor way, initially, before I remember that I'm capable of learning anything. Not that I don't get overwhelmed after that, I do, but the feeling of regret and lack of confidence come very early on for me. I know that it can be quite different for other people and it can actually lead to depression. I think in serious cases, it's not only imperitive that you consult with a trainer, even if just to help with your focus, but also to have someone to talk to about your feelings, in a space away from your dog.

I LOVE that you point out the difference between "being" and "behaving". Words are so important! Someone - human or dog - who behaves (!) aggressiv, stupid or whatever in one situation, can behave totally different in a other situation. But someone who is (!) aggressiv, stupid or whatever is labeled with this characteristic in total. And thats just not realistic and not fair. Thanks for your Video, cheers from Germany! ❤

Regarding the question of dog regret: no, I never regretted getting her into my life. I love the process of keeping building our relationship. The only quick fix to dog training is endless patience and compassion. Your videos keeps reminding the viewers and reinforcing this mindset. Which is why I enjoy them so much and keep coming back! My valley of dispair moment: my particular dog (an american spaniel) was not a snuggle bunny. I wondered what I was doing wrong: "I like to snuggle with her so much, why doesn't she like me?" In my dispair I had this "what's the point" phase where I just stopped engaging in any snuggling behaviour. After some time, I noticed that she DOES what to snuggle but she has her own place, time and way to do it. And then I "realized" that she always tried communicating this to me, I was simply not yet aware of how to listen to that. Now she will actually use snuggling as a way to reward and enforce the types of behaviour she finds desirable in me - usually long, long, loooooong walks or play / training sessions. Like... what a mind ***. She "figured out" what it is that I find rewarding and then used that to train me. Sometimes I wonder who's the actual "trainer" in this relationship??! :D :D

I have fallen into the valley of despair! Lol. I thought I knew everything about dog training because I raised good dogs growing up. Now I have a difficult dog and have found so many different training methods during my search for knowledge on the subject. I have found that I like your training style the best. I have learned so much from you and others, and I'm still learning. Your advice has helped me to get good results out of our training opportunities.

I got a spaniel puppy expecting an easy baby girl - and in some ways I did, in others I truly had to ask myself "have I caused an irreversible mistake? I can't do this." I persevered and she is a wonderful, well adjusted dog. But it's certainly often very, very hard.

😂 That toddler question cracked me up. I have 3 kids, 11, 7, & 4 years old. I swear training the rescue 10 month old GSD that my husband recently brought home (asa surprise!) is VERY similar to teaching my 2 younger sons. I started watching your videos to learn how to train the German Shepard and I swear now sometimes I use some of those tactics with my kids 😂 and IT WORKS. I say “leave it” to my dogs and kids with the same veracity now. And building their confidence helps a lot with behavior. And while the 10 month old GSD looks like a giant full grown dog, I have to remember she has the brain of a 10 month old so she’s going to act like a puppy. I’m actually shocked though at how far she’s come in 2 months since we got her when she knew absolutely NOTHING. (She’d been abandoned and didn’t even know basic commands and was VERY excitable and had zero self control.) She obviously has a long way to go, but your channel has really helped. Especially the Moira series 😊 Got a lot of tips from that one.

I so appreciate this video. I've been discouraged by how much I don't know even though I watch a lot of videos. I've been feeling like I'm in over my head with my puppy. But then we have a day where I see his progress and my progress and It feels fantastic. Thanks for validating the highs and the lows. It reenergizes me to keep learning.

Nov 2022 I lost my 2nd senior dog to cancer,I allowed myself to grieve and take time for myself to find peace. I made my home a zen sanctuary with plants, some fish tanks, and redid my bathroom. Things were calm and relaxing. Then 8 months later, there’s Mylo 🤪 A dog I adopted from Petfinder The foster claimed he was “great with people, dogs and never barks!” 😂 She must’ve sent me the wrong dog! A week in I was feeling buyers remorse 😬 He was the loudest barkiest dog I’ve ever had, lunged at guests and went so ballistic at my neighbors dog he scratched his eyelid on the fence! My peace was gone! 😫 What did I do? How do I get my happy life back?? I was suddenly depressed and overwhelmed. I’m not a newbie! My dogs have been CGC certified and some agility! Yet I couldn’t get a handle on this “maniac!” A good friend said “please don’t give up on him!” So I didn’t. 5 months later he is 60% better behaved and that percent is increasing daily! 😁 It’s a constant work in progress. I’ve started him on agility, training classes, home trainers, and KZfaq video binging! This “perfect dog” (or so they said) is on his way to becoming pretty darn good but I don’t think perfection is the goal! Thanks for all the help! I’ll keep you posted 😅

My terrier mix used to be very dog reactive especially towards large dogs (lunging/barking etc) it has taken us at least 6years of really hard work to get him to where he is now, which is (most of the time) ignoring when dogs lunge or bark at him and he even recently curled up to sleep with my boyfriends dogs which are labradoodles and a greyhound. The effort has been so so worth it!

I honestly feel like watching your videos have made me and my family at ease with a new puppy. We’ve noticed that just sticking with training (both potty and obedience) works, even if our puppy is regressing. Your videos have made it clear that these changes aren’t going to happy overnight, so that gives my family at lot of hope as we continue to work with our puppy.

Thank you for being honest about dog parks. I tried explaining this to people. && Thank you for explaining it's okay to feel overwhelmed. I got my new dog right after my last dog passed... like literally 3 or 4 days... I didn't like being alone. MY POOR EMOTIONAL DECISION LOL. But my last dog, while not being perfect I knew her and knew what she wanted from me. And my new dog was difficult. I was struggling that first month. I almost took her back. If it weren't for my husband and my daughter I'd have done it. But they love her and I grew to love her. We're in month 3 now and we're still going and we're trying. You guys made me feel better. I found you guys because my vet recommended you and we're learning how to communicate.

Regarding the question about regretting the decision to get a dog: yes, I did experience something akin to it when I got my current dog 4 and a half years ago. We adopted him at 3 months, and it had been 10 years since I'd last had a dog. It was an adjustment period, dealing with puppy house training; while he was a quick learner for some things, he often tested my patience when working through others (the biting phase in particular). I often questioned if I was equipped to deal with the challenges, at least for the first couple of weeks. By the time the adoption was finalized (it was foster-to-adopt for those first 2 weeks), I had grown fiercely protective of him. By the time we had him for 2 months, I couldn't imagine our lives without him. So yeah, I think it's a totally normal feeling to have, and one that is akin to first-time parenthood. It's easy at the start to be overwhelmed, but as long as you have a good support network, have patience, and are dedicated to doing your best, it should be fleeting in the grand scheme of things. I'm also glad you guys addressed the different training methods from friends, and how it can drive you crazy when they use aversive methods because "that's how it's always been done" and when you try to educate them (as you've been educated), they don't listen/think theirs is the right way.

The part about inertia barking at everything was the same with my dog when we first adopted her (4 years old) and because she is smart and has really great senses (sight and smell hound) she just noticed everything and barked. We literally just gave her treats every time she did not react to something. And sometimes that meant just staring at her and seeing if her ears were moving to a sound or she was staring out the window. It took two months of consistently doing that and now she barks maybe two times a day. Where as before she barked every 5 minutes. It takes a short amount of time but the consistency pays off!

This was so helpful. Slightly discouraging to realize I've been on mount stupid in dog training and so many other aspects of life, but I'd much rather be discouraged than ignorant, so thank you both for sharing this! I recently (less than willingly) acquired a very cute Gordon-doodle puppy named Lola after a significant amount of pressure from my wife and two small children. Discovering this channel and especially this video has been a life-saver! It has been very hard attempting to train Lola with a 5 and 8 year old wanting so badly to "help", and a spouse who believes training is unnecessary and boundary setting is abusive. The odds are against me, but your videos and your Pupford training program give me so much hope. I really do want this to work out well for my whole family (two AND four-legged members).

My husband and I got a puppy a month ago and even though we’d been preparing for months and doing research it was still rough. The first week we had him I got so overwhelmed that I stopped eating for 5 days. I thought I had a stomach bug but it turns out I was having a severe anxiety attack. Being overwhelmed with a new puppy is real even if you’ve done all your research. You shouldn’t feel bad for having doubts with a new dog because it’s natural. Just know that it gets better!

OK! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!! DON'T YOU DARE STOP MAKING VIDEOS! LOL!! My husband and I recently rescued a 5 mo old Aussipoo mix... and the day before she came home, I BINGED your KZfaq channel... since then, our "Eden" (now 6 mo) is a bonafide dog-genius!!! Well, not really a genius... but using your techniques... REGULARLY and FREQUENTLY.. she is making great progress!! We are sooooo in love with Eden and the awesome progress that we are making together... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! ❤

I am going to be a new dog owner soon, but it is under the circumstances that my mother in law is sick and can no longer take care of her Australian Shepherd. My partner and I are committed to caring for this dog to the best of our ability. I have owned dogs before, but they were considerably more chill than a dog like an australian shepherd. I am super overwhelmed, but this channel has been helping a lot and I also just recently bought your book.

I have regretted getting my last two puppies at some point during their training and starting to feel overwhelmed. The feeling has passed both times with more training and reminding myself that they are puppies. Now one is 1 1/2 and the other is 5 months and of course I love them and am happy that we got through those difficult times.

I love my dog, but damn yeah definitely feels hard at times - especially when the dog training feels like it's going backwards. But then it feels great when the dog finally clicks and the jumping or trouble you've been having finally seems a little better.

I feel like this is such a HUGE topic among owners that needs to be addressed ❤ I feel it's a lot like postpartum depression, something people are thankfully talking about more openly now, "Post-pet" depression is something so many people feel too. I bet so many pets get sent to shelters because of it. I felt that way when adopting both my pets but our puppy was significantly more draining. We adopted her during the hardest time in our lives and made the same mistake most probably do that "a puppy would help" us de-stress 😅🤦‍♀️ (yes.. I know..) We weren't looking, she just kinda came into our life and we said "sure". We see now she found us, but the road hasn't been easy 😅💕 For a long time I felt I regretted our decision. Much like you said Zac, I didn't regret HER- we loved her so deeply, it was that I regretted bringing her into a difficult environment and for the strain it put on us when we were already so drained. I felt so ashamed and guilty to her, ourselves, and to everyone who had to "deal with her" when we just couldn't. She deserved better, and it tore me apart knowing we were failing her and she was pushing us past our limits. I knew I wanted to train her properly and thankfully did so much research before and during her puppyhood (I still do). But that didn't mean I was prepared. I'm not a trainer, and the amount of indecisiveness, confusion and lack of confidence that comes with "not knowing if you're doing it right" can be an added stress that makes everything harder. Every puppy is different, so while some results are copy paste, others are just a bit skewed so you ask yourself again "am I doing okay?" Please address this more as I feel it's therapeutic to know it's okay and you're not alone ❤ it also gives you more confidence knowing YOU'RE not perfect, and neither is your puppy. ❤🐶🫂❤

Been watching your channel for years and this discussion is by far the most grounded and realistic. Thanks for helping us remember and align with the right expectations for our pups.

Yes! I have gone through phases of regret. I still do when I know my dog is not having the best time living with me.

At 12:50, put up a small fence to save your veggies, our dog loved to dig our carrots & other veggies, loved to tear the greens, for him it was a fun activity.

Time is definitely the most important. Time and patience. We had to work with our shepherd mix to stay home alone without destroying his bed for a YEAR. But sticking with it, moving with the ups and downs (this was no linear process...) and being patient with him, understanding what upsets him and helping him to work through this in very small steps has paid off. He is now able to stay alone for 5 hours and just chill out. Turned out it was not staying alone that was a problem, but seeing us leave. And playing fetch two times a day to get his endless energy out to help him settle was a major help!

this was great, especially the question about being overwhelmed. We just got a new puppy, and being overwhelmed by caring and training and feeling like I am just not keeping up with it all has been a big thing for me.

so, you touched on being exhausted, stressed, full of regret, burned out, etc with a new dog/puppy. Next time you do a Q/A can you talk about What to do when you feel that way? How do you (or better yet Bree who's more fresh to the feeling) do when you feel this way? I think many of us feel like a bad pet parent if we feel this way, but even worse if we say "take a break" from our dog, or from training.

During the pandemic, we lost our two 15yo Silkie Terriers who were our little soulmates. Since then we've adopted two 8 week old puppies from our shelter ( they are a year apart in age). We are both older and had forgotten how physically and emotionally exhausting it is. We definitely questioned our decision at times. It helped so much to have people like Zak and Bree to turn to for help. You are both amazing and so realistic about puppies. Our new fur babies are now 1yo and 2yo and have learned so much thanks to your videos. Wouldn't have been able to do it if not for your help😊😊

You don't know, until you know! I thought I was a fairly good dog trainer until I got my newest dog, who has really challenged everything I thought I knew. Then I found your channel and got your book and I feel like we're finally understanding each other!! I can't thank you enough.

I name is Margaret. I live in Australia and I'm 81 years old. Recently I got myself a pomeranian puppy. I follow all your videos and find them really good. My little Missey is 3months old and an absolutely full on pom. I am following your training methods, but oh boy, I run out of steam before she does. Keep up the good work.

Still waiting for the day you guys go and try to help a dog that goes to bite you if you interact with it and how you would go about handling it

Writing in to say I've definitely experienced regretting my dog, I guess I'm even still regretting her. We've had her for 8 months (she was 6 months old when we got her) and she's an extremely reactive dog. The rescue we got her from was less than honest about her challenges, and said that she was fine with other dogs, just a little shy with people. Turns out she's extremely reactive with other dogs, and also reactive with people. She has severe anxiety and is on the highest dose of prozac she can be on, and our vet behaviorist is adding in clonodine to try and treat her anxiety further. She's already bit a person and our insurance company has found a way to weasel out of paying for her behavioral condition, so now I'm stuck paying for all of her training, vet behaviorist, meds, etc out of pocket. We've done in home trainings and group trainings with a behavioral trainer and it's really not helped her at all. I feel like this dog needs to live in a home in the country where she never sees other people or dogs, but unfortunately we live in a condo where many other dogs live, and there's another reactive dog in my building and my dog absolutely loses it every time she hears the other dog bark in the building, which is at least 10-15 times per day. I don't think rehoming her is a good option, this dog was feral for the first 2-3 months of her life and would not handle the move to another family well at all and frankly I think almost any family would return her and not go to the lengths for her that we have, and my vet behaviorist agrees with me. My partner loves her to pieces so we're trying as fast as we can to get together money to buy a house further away from people and other dogs, but it's really hard and there are financial constraints. Definitely feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place with my dog, and wasn't prepared for this at all. My last dog was so unbelievably easy compared to my new dog, and I will never be able to do the things with my new dog that I did with my old dog, such as taking her to outdoor arts festivals and into dog-friendly stores with me, or doing off-leash hikes (or hiking at all). It's definitely a grieving process, and a tremendous amount of work to try and make my dog's world so small. I'd love to see you do a video or a training series with a really difficult dog like mine. My trainer can't even get my dog to stop barking at her after months of working with her.

I have adopted sevral dogs with high needs and they brought me to tears many times but the work i put in paid off.

I really liked you guys answering questions from the average person out there cuz sometimes people ask questions that those of us that are trainers had never thought of

Hi Zak & Bree... my husband and I rescued a 5 mo. aussidoodle a month ago and use your KZfaq lessons 100% of the time... you're amazing! I stumbled on an Inertia leash training video and you were using "Wait" at the door.. I added "Wait" to our list of skills to learn/practice. Am wondering if you could do a video teaching "wait" vs "stay"? Thank you for all your wonderful work!

I definitely have regretted getting my dog in moments!! It’s super normal to feel that way bc a dog changes so much about your life, especially if you didn’t have one before hand! I love my dog so so much, but he has behavioral issues (separation) I wasnt anticipating. We’re working through them, and i see progress every day, but it’s slow going and Ive had to really allow myself to feel that frustration and work through it on my own so that i can approach training with a clear head and get back to focusing on the small (and amazing!!) daily progress we make as a team, as well as appreciating his other WONDERFUL qualities that make my life so much better.

I wanted a medium dog. I was told the pup I chose would be about a 20-25lb dog. Here we are at 40lbs , and I have been overwhelmed many times and thought I made a big mistake getting her. I have had her in obedience classes and watch videos galore. It’s helping slowly. I’m glad to see I’m not alone based on these comments!

Please do more videos like this 🎉 it’s humbling to hear the questions being asked - I feel less alone for knowing so little. Been reading your books in preparation for a new puppy coming soon. 😊

We just got our first 10 week old puppy - I never had pets in my home growing up (other family members have) and to respond to your comment on regret - i definitely have feelings of regret, emotional, defeated and overall overwhelmed. It definitely is so much information 😂 taking bits in and working hard to implement and remember tips and tricks 😂. I feel like all the emotions of grief are coming out. It’s an emotional rollercoaster! Grateful my husband grew up with puppies and dogs so he has been so encouraging and helpful 😅 Definitely has helped my husband and I become a true team 🥰 Thank you so much for your videos ❤️ they’ve given hope and encouragement in this new challenging season of our life 😅

We definitely have had some tough moments, and I had to reframe my mindset and expectations to get through it. He was not what I had expected, and yet I love him so much, more than anything. He is over two years old now, and things are slowly improving, but i changed expectations (he doesn't love meeting new dogs and new people, so no dog off leash areas, no outdoor seating areas, highly managed public outings at all times). He is allowed to have his own personality, even if that's not what I was expecting when I got him, and I'll continue to work with him to make both of our lives easier and less stressful over time. Accepting him for who he is has been a huge part of reducing the amount of sadness and regret I had been feeling, as well as recognizing all of the great things about him!

I'd be surprised if a dog owner had never felt that overwhelmed feeling tbh. Ive had 5 dogs in my life and my current one is waaaay more hardheaded and independent, even moreso than our 1st basset hound. Sometimes to get over this feeling, you just need to take a step back, breathe and see how to tackle the problem in a different angle. That feeling of frustration will pass but you should never feel like giving up. The pup will always love you and you just need to see the picture differently and you may find the answer to resolve it better

My 9 month old heeler has been through to 2 positive training. She did everything she was supposed to do and graduated from both. Now at home unless I carry around a bag of treats she won’t do crap. She will sit, but if I ask for anything... she flips her head in the air in defiance.

Thank you for always helping me bring my expectations to the right level. I have a 6 month old puppy who has learned a lot. She is still very reactive to seeing other dogs on leash. She used to bark very quickly at people and dogs but has improved a lot on that. She still gets very pumped and lunges. Trying to work on it but it is hard! This is where I need to keep my expectations in check!

Great video. Thanks. Yes I have had days of regret while working with our rescue pup. She was very fearful and reactive but also smart and teachable. She is now 1 1/2 years old and has come a long way. One day a week at doggy day care (on advice from our vet) helped her learn to be with other dogs. She used to be afraid but now plays and thinks all dogs are potential friends. A wonderful change! It also tires her out and that helps, too.

Onto my 3rd dog but first puppy (our other two are adoptions). Puppies are like small children and I use pack walking with another trainer twice a week and dog daycare once a week to get a break. My tip is not to feel guilty for taking time out as long as your pup is happy, safe and well cared for. There is a cost to these services but the proper dog socialization for pup and break for me is worth it

I recently rescued a puppy I found on the street and initially she was malnourished and scared so she was very calm but as she got better and become more comfortable with me and my older dog her true destructive puppy self came out and sometimes I do get overwhelmed, mostly because my old dog is 4 now, so we are in a point where he is just free to roam because I trust him completely but he has been showing an attitude with the new puppy probably gets sick of her and going back to day 1 in training with a puppy is something I didn't really wanted to do at this time, but I love her now so I am keeping her and she is super smart so I am sure we will make progress fast, I guess it is normal to be like: what did I get myself into?!! and get frustrated from time to time, specially if we are trying to be good owners and attend the dogs needs and training. Thank you for all your videos, really helped me with my older dog and rewatching to refresh the process for the new puppy.

Love this kind of video mixed in with your training. Might be cool to do one per training seasons.

So nice to hear the TV show mentioned. I was a fan of the show, loved seeing the children working with their dogs, being such great teams and learning new skills together. You were great in Who Let The Dogs Out, and voice-over Rik Mayall, who sadly passed away in 2014, added his own flair to the show. Trick training is so underrated, when it can be so benificial to the bond you can have with your dog, and giving them the mental and physical exercise they need.

I am a dog trainer, and I completely agree! The more I learn, the more I realize how much more there is to learn.

Love these! Find them so inspiring. Makes you feel less alone as a dog parent. I have definitely felt so overwhelmed that I’m like did I make the right choice bringing a dog home? But, then you look at them and you realize it was well worth it.

I liked the casual vibe of this video. It's similar to the vibe I have working with our Petco trainer where I get to chit chat with them a bit more instead of just overloading them with questions.

I grew up learning to discipline dogs and become the alpha in the home and instill fear. It has been a crazy ride owning my own dogs and learning to break the habits I was taught as a child vs what I learned before bringing my Great Dane home. Sometimes I fall into thinking I regret getting him, but in reality I regret not becoming more Knowledgeable sooner on how to train him so he can have the best life. I still fail and still have to go back to basics for some behaviors but he is so smart and easy to train. It just takes time and I’m so glad I found the time to be involved with him more. This video is great and definitely made me think of my journey.

I’ve definitely had regrets and moments of anxiety around my dog, she’s the best and really sweet, but there are moments where I do get overwhelmed and that’s okay!

I am new to following your channel and absolutely love everything you and Bree have done so far. I have been binging the videos and find your Q & A’s so delightful. I have a 10 month Goldendoodle who I am training and I love your training method of positive reinforcement…I raise my kids the same way. Lol keep the videos coming please!!!

I have a 3 months Samoyed and often I feel overwhelmed by her. I love her so much but I had hard time accepting my home to be so messy and dirty. I’m a neat freak and I’m constantly cleaning. She is a storm, a sweet stubborn lovely creature but time and dedication is beyond my expectations. Raising a puppy alone is super challenging, no matter of the size of the dog. My life changed because of her, it’s like I have a child, I’m happy only if she’s happy. That’s all that matter now to me.

Reply to your comment about “dog remorse”.. I’m going through it right now!! I have a 4.5 month old puppy and feeling VERY overwhelmed!! He is really a good dog for a puppy. Like Bre said, Im totally exhausted working full time and essentially feeling like a full time new mom. Im trying to train him and learn at the same time and feel like Im not getting it, therefore not teaching him well enough. I have often thought of putting him up for adoption but then feel like I need to push through and try. I LOVE watching your videos and do feel like I’m learning a lot.

I liked this video. Both the answers and the comments have been reassuring for a new dog owner like myself.

We’ve had our puppy since late November. I don’t regret adopting him at all, but I often feel like I’m frustrating him and its overwhelming. He has yet to curb his puppy biting, which means we’re doing something wrong or insufficient. I forgot how physically tiring puppies are. We’re struggling with house training and still taking him out at 4:30 AM. I hope the information given on this channel will help us build a lasting, positive bond with our little guy.

Hello! I am a first time dog owner, I watched tons of your videos before getting my lurcher. I got her during COVID but was determined to socialise her really well. She developed serious leash reactivity toward dogs and children around 6 months and I felt like I must have made some mistakes when she was a puppy that caused this. Seeing you work on Inertia's reactivity really helped me understand that it's not my fault and that even professional trainers have reactive dogs. My dog has made so much progress and having these long-term things to work on made me even more bonded with her and proud of her.

I rescued a challenging high energy dog who had been returned to humane society. I had rescue remorse at times. It’s passing with training, puppy classes, KZfaq with Zack. Our relationship is blooming.

The dog I have now is my first dog that wasn’t a family dog and I’ve had him 6 years now but I spent the first few weeks with him just exhausted crying because he came with anxiety/separation issues and it was so draining but after a few weeks, the bond was there and I knew the struggle was worth it❤

right! ignorance should not be an excuse!

When we first got out puppy (a whippet) I said to the kids that I think we made a mistake. I was overwhelmed. It was such a shock. It's taken SIX MONTHS to get used to the new regime of 3 x walks per day *in all weathers*, the need to chew (on pretty much everything) the need to re-direct, provide alternatives, the expensive of it, and to have her with me most of the time. A new puppy is really time consuming. They need a lot of attention. It's a lot of work. I was afraid we'd made a mistake. But we kept at it and didn't give up on her. She is now nearly 9 months and we adore her. The kids love her. I love her. She's is a delightful addition to our family but she is STILL hard work. Its a massive commitment, but for us, worth it.

Yes , i think about regretting my puppy at times. So more high maintenance than I thought... and it takes effort to continue to be patient and train

I really enjoyed this! It was so much like the lives you used to do on Instagram and I really miss those, so this was nice! ❤️

I like that you make this 'talking about things' videos in between the others. I wish you would make one on the topic of ADOLESCENCE. How to think/approach typical situations.

Please we need more videos like this one in order to see the valley.

I currently have 6 dogs, some of them I got as puppies from breeders and some as adults from shelters or difficult situations. I can assure you I regretted getting EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM for the first 1-2 months. It's a life changing event and you grief the life you had before that particular dog. Obviously now I can't imagine ever not having one of them, they're all essential to my happiness

I think all dog owners, at some point, question themselves as to whether or not getting their dog was a mistake. I did with our two, and I can't imagine life without them. I did, years ago, have a dog that was just not the right fit. I tried with him for over a year and during that time I never stopped thinking this was a mistake. I ended up finding a new home for him that was better equipped for his needs as clearly we were not a match. He ended up being a therapy dog and went with his new mum to work every day, something I couldn't do

Yet so many dog trainers say they wouldn't let you touch their dog and I kinda see why. I rarely see dogs in your videos that's aren't all over the place, even the trained ones. You give basics, that's it

My dog has been socializing for about an hour a day for the past 4 days. Not always people around but there are cars and other sounds she has never been around before. She is learning to play as well. She is 8 months old and I’ve had her for about two weeks. She is learning a lot about being a dog still.

I really appreciate these videos. They feel like professional development pep talks between watching your instructional training videos haha. I like discussion about things like this because things like this _need_ discussion

After I got my Maya, I went through an intense time with many contradictory and quite overwhelming emotions. On the one hand, it was a dream come true because I had yearned for a dog my whole life. On the other hand, I suddenly had the feeling that the responsibility was more than I could handle, and I would have to quit living a life of my own in order to keep Maya safe and healthy. In that situation I talked to a friend who had been owning dogs for forever, and she said that she has this feeling regularly with a new dog. She compared it to having a period of worry after giving birth, maybe even something like postpartum depression (which, by the way, can effect both sexes), and said that for some people, this is just a natural part of the process of adjusting to the new situation. Since I never had a child, I do not know if this comparison makes sense. But just as she predicted, the uneasy feelings became less and less and vanished within a few weeks. The overwhelming emotions quelled. And the more my dog and I grew together, the less I worried about not being able to tend to her needs and live my life at the same time. Instead I came to love my life with her as it is. My Maya is my biggest treasure, and I would do anything for her to feel well. Whatever the cost, I would not worry a bit on paying it, as long as we can keep on spending happy times together.

Have a 4 yr old Staffy, who I adopted when she was 2. Started with a trainer but dropped out when the prong collar came out - Gracie is a big, muscular girl who is dog reactive. I started following you and started basic training, but then her allergies exploded and her feet were raw and wrapped in bandages. She ate one of the bandages and then had emergency surgery. As she recovered we worked to get her allergies under control, but then she blew out her meniscus and we’re in week 6 of the 12-16 week recovery period. She’s backsliding, as am I, and we’re both frustrated because through all of this her reactivity had never ebbed through all the vet appointments and run-ins with other dogs. Between the stress of her health issues and reactivity, I’ve thought more than once she’s more than I can handle but I’ll never give up on her. We’re going to slowly begin working again and I hope we’ll both be trained to live our best lives. 😉

I am the owner of a reactive standard poodle. Thank you so much for this video! I always feel alone in this journey and logically that is completely false. I am so glad you are letting all dog owners know that dogs are individuals! I now do research to understands my dog and not try and mold him into the “perfect dog “I had imagined. I still compare myself to other owners with their silent dogs walking gently to the side of them, as they stare in horror at me being pulled to the ground my barking, lunging dog😅but I’m working on it. At the end of the day he is the best boy and worth it! Thank you!!

Yes! Could you guys start a podcast? I’d listen everyday!

I really regretted my puppy for first 8 months at least but she was very needy and still sleeps across me every night but I can’t live without her now. She’s my baby ❤

Zac… your dog park thoughts are right on. I tell my clients that dog parks are like person going to a party. Sometimes I just don’t like all the people at that party and that’s OK 🐾🐾

I just adopted a 6 month old puppy a week ago...I have had moments of frustration that "edge" toward regret, then I remind myself, that this is what a well behaved dog starts out as, and it is up to me to get him there. I enjoy and love having a puppy 95% of the time, but when I'm tired and stressed and he is in need of exercise and training I do have those moments. (though with me it is more a regret that we adopted a puppy 2 days before my wife went out of town for a week and a half and I am alone with the puppy, so I am solely responsible for keeping an eye on him.)