Story time: Angel Baby and Priscilla.

These two girls have had a special bond from the very beginning, but their stories started in two completely different ways.

Angel Baby was my miracle puppy.

She was born from Bella and Shadow, and from the moment she came into this world, her story was different. She had to be fought for. She had to be brought back. And at 9:19, she became the puppy I will never forget. That moment changed me.

That is how she became Angel Baby. Not Angel. Angel Baby.

And trust me, she knows the difference. She will not answer to Angel. It has to be her full name, because apparently she came into this world dramatic and has stayed that way ever since.

Angel Baby has her mother and father’s sweetness wrapped into one dog. She is soft, cuddly, loving, and always ready to give kisses. She is the definition of sweet. And if you know Angel Baby, you know she is almost never without a toy in her mouth.

She has always had this innocent, gentle soul about her.

Then there is Priscilla.

Priscilla was independent from birth.

When she was born, I was sitting in the whelping box with Bella, waiting for her to finish having puppies. Priscilla crawled her tiny self right over to my leg and fell asleep on my pant leg like she had already decided where she belonged.

As she got older, that independent little personality only got stronger.

She was the first one to figure out how to escape the puppy pen. Everyone else was still figuring out life, and Priscilla was already working on her exit plan.

Part of me wonders if she just wanted to be with Angel Baby.

Angel Baby was my keeper, so I would take her out of the puppy pen often for one-on-one time. Somewhere along the way, Priscilla decided she belonged with her too.

And those two formed a bond that they still have today.

Priscilla is different from the others. She reminds me so much of a therapy dog. She has this instinct built into her. She is reserved and watchful. She does not need to be all over everyone, and she does not want to be touched unless she decides it is time.

But she sees everything.

She watches the other dogs. She studies the room. And when someone is in trouble, she comes to me and stares me down. Over time, I learned that is her cue.

That stare means, “You need to come see what is going on.”

One summer, we had a pool set up, and I pretended I was drowning. I called for Priscilla to help me.

She jumped in. She really tried to save me.

That is Priscilla. Quiet, serious, smart, loyal, and always paying attention.

Angel Baby is the soft one with the toy in her mouth and kisses ready to give.

Priscilla is the watcher, the thinker, the one who knows something is wrong before anyone else does.

Two very different girls. One beautiful bond.

And both of them are pieces of Bella and Shadow that I am so grateful I kept.

Bingo, my last great rescue

Not because I stopped caring. Not because there weren’t more dogs who needed help. But because sometimes rescue takes so much out of you, your home, and your own dogs that you have to know when to close that chapter.

Bingo came to me as a surrender.

I drove four hours to get him, believing I was picking up a Golden Retriever. When I got there, I learned a few things I had not fully been told beforehand. Bingo was actually a Golden Doodle, and he also had a reported bite incident from a dog park.

That part hit me hard.

Not because I didn’t want to help him, but because I believe in honesty. I believe every dog deserves a chance, but I also believe every person deserves the truth before bringing a dog into their home.

Bingo’s story had already been messy before he ever reached me. His original owners got him when he was only four weeks old, which is far too young for any puppy to leave its mother and littermates. Later, he was rehomed when allergies became an issue. His second owner had him for about a year and a half before reaching out to me.

When I realized there was bite history involved, I reached out to rescues for help because I had never handled that kind of situation before. Most ignored me or turned me away. Finally, one agreed to help. I signed foster paperwork, and they listed Bingo for adoption.

At first, I was excited for him.

Then I read his adoption listing.

None of his history was there. Not the bite incident. Not the rehoming. Not the things a future owner needed to know.

When I questioned it, I was told that if they mentioned the bite, nobody would want him.

That didn’t sit right with me.

I never want to place a dog by hiding the truth. I don’t lie to puppy families, and I wasn’t going to start lying for Bingo. So I backed out of the agreement and decided I would do it my way — openly, honestly, and with his whole story told.

Bingo stayed with me for three months.

When he first arrived, he didn’t want much to do with the other dogs, and that was okay. I gave him space. He had food aggression, so I worked with him on that. He didn’t get along with my males at first and wanted to be dominant, so we took it slow.

But after about a week, I started seeing the real Bingo.

He softened.

He settled.

He started sleeping in the bed with the pack. He started playing. He started trusting. My dogs welcomed him in and loved on him like he had always belonged here.

That made me so proud of them.

For three months, I documented his progress. I posted his story. I shared the good, the hard, and the honest parts. I wasn’t trying to make him look perfect. I was trying to find the right people for the dog he actually was.

Then one day, I got a message.

Someone was interested in Bingo.

I was completely upfront with them. No sugarcoating. No hiding. No pretending he had a perfect past.

And they still wanted to meet him.

When they came, they brought their current dog so everyone could meet properly. I watched carefully, hoping but not forcing anything.

And it was beautiful.

Bingo melted right into them like he had been waiting for them all along.

That was his ending.

A real family. A real chance. A home that chose him with the whole truth in front of them.

That was when I knew Bingo would be my last rescue.

Because rescue is hard. It is hard on your heart. It is hard on your home. It is hard on your own dogs. You never truly know what you are bringing in, what they have been through, or how it will affect everyone.

But Bingo gave me a fairy tale ending.

He reminded me why I started.

And he gave me peace when I finally chose to stop.

The Dog I Never Should Have Let Go

May 21, 2017

The day I brought Bailey home.

We had gone to the local shelter and found two puppies sharing a kennel. They were advertised as retrievers, but they were mixed breeds. It didn't matter. The moment I held Bailey, the hole in my heart felt a little smaller.

When we got home, I picked her up, held her close to my chest, and danced with her in the pool. I was completely in love.

Bailey spent the next five years by my side.

At the time, we were just beginning our rescue journey. Dogs were coming and going. Some stayed forever, some weren't the right fit. Anyone who has adopted from shelters knows you never truly know what you're bringing home, and back then I was still learning how to handle behavior issues and training.

But Bailey wasn't the problem.

The problem was that I let outside voices get into my head.

I kept hearing that we had too many dogs. That we needed to downsize. That we couldn't keep them all.

So when a trainer expressed interest in Bailey, I convinced myself it was the right thing to do. The moment she arrived, Bailey shut down.

She didn't want to go. Deep down, I didn't want her to go either.

I wanted to change my mind. Instead, I picked her up and put her in the car.

A couple of hours later I got the phone call.

Bailey had escaped. For five days we searched.

We walked fields. We knocked on doors. We left blankets, food, toys, anything that smelled like home.

We barely slept. We cried. We hoped.

Every phone call made our hearts race.

On the fifth morning, we were driving through the area again when Jason quietly said, "Oh no."

I knew.

Before the car had even stopped, I was out the door.

There was my girl. She had been hit by a car. Only five years old.

I remember lifting her head into my hands and screaming in the middle of the road. I remember wrapping her in a blanket.

I remember taking her for cremation. I remember the crushing weight in my chest.

My sister had passed away two years earlier. My father had passed away only months before. Then I lost Bailey too.

A piece of my soul went with her that day.

Bailey taught me one of the hardest lessons of my life.

Never make life-changing decisions because of pressure from other people.

The people telling me I had too many dogs didn't have to live with the consequences.

I did. And I still do.

It's been years, and if I could go back and change one thing, I would have opened that car door, picked Bailey back up, and brought her home.

Some regrets never fully leave you.

I miss you, Bailey. Every single day.

The First Puppy I Ever Delivered

People often assume breeders are born knowing how to deliver puppies.

I wasn't.

Before Shelby's first litter, I spent countless hours learning everything I could. I watched videos, read articles, attended classes, and even watched a dog give birth in real time at my mentor's home. I had seen puppies thrive and, unfortunately, I had also seen puppies pass away. I thought I was prepared.

Then the day finally came.

Shelby was ready. She was shaking. I was shaking.

We were sitting together in her whelping area when suddenly I felt a gush of fluid. My heart nearly stopped. Shelby was about to deliver her very first puppy.

That puppy would later become Green Collar Beau, the biggest puppy in the litter.

When he arrived, Shelby started crying. She had no idea what was happening, and if I'm being honest, neither did I.

I immediately grabbed him, opened the sac, and started drying him off. Then I called my mentor on video chat.

She calmly talked me through every step.

"Rub harder. You need to stimulate the puppy."

"Pinch the cord a little more. It's still bleeding."

I will never forget how grateful I was to have someone there guiding me through those first terrifying moments.

As the morning went on, my mentor came to my house to help with the remaining deliveries. By that point I was running on pure adrenaline. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and honestly so nervous I thought I might pass out. I remember having to sit down because my legs felt weak.

When it was finally over, Shelby had delivered nine beautiful puppies. Nine.

After my mentor went home and everything settled down, I crawled into bed beside the whelping box, completely exhausted.

That's when Shelby did something I'll never forget.

One by one, she picked up her puppies and carried them over to me. Every single one.

Then she laid down beside me with all of them tucked safely between us.

It was one of the sweetest moments I've ever experienced.

It felt like she was saying, "These are our babies."

Those puppies grew, thrived, and went on to wonderful homes.

Well... almost all of them. Of course we kept one. Maggie.

To this day she is a stunning clone of her mother and a constant reminder of the litter that started it all.

Looking back now, I realize something important.

No amount of books, videos, or classes can completely prepare you for your first litter.

You can study for months. You can learn every stage of labor. You can memorize every possible complication.

But when that first puppy arrives, your heart still races.

And that's okay.

Because caring enough to be scared means you understand the responsibility that comes with bringing new life into the world.

Shelby made me a breeder that day.

And I'll never forget it.

Lucy's Rainbow

There are some stories that stay with you forever.

This is one of mine.

A year ago, I agreed to foster a pregnant stray for the county shelter. Her name was Lucy.

She had been found hiding under a car. Nobody knew where she came from. Nobody knew how old she was. Nobody knew who had bred her.

All we knew was that she was pregnant.

I picked her up with the highest hopes.

At the time, I was coming off the best litter experience I had ever had. Everything had gone right. Healthy puppies. Healthy mom. Happy endings all around.

I truly believed I was prepared for anything.

Lucy was scared when she arrived, which was understandable. She was a stray in a strange place with strangers. Over time she settled in. She was clean, safe, well fed, and loved.

As the weeks passed, I became more and more hopeful.

Then labor started.

Jason and I sat with her through it. She absolutely adored him and insisted on being right beside him. He actually climbed into the whelping box with her while she delivered her puppies.

One by one they arrived.

Ten puppies.

They were beautiful.

But something wasn't right.

I've delivered a lot of puppies. Healthy puppies usually know exactly what to do. They search for mom. They nurse. They fight for a spot at the milk bar. These puppies didn't.

Not one of them.

I called my mentor immediately.

"I don't understand," I told her. "They're not nursing. They aren't even trying."

She asked me a question I hadn't even considered.

"Check their mouths. Do any have cleft palates?"

My heart sank.

Two of them did.

Another puppy had a severely deformed foot that was completely backwards. Several puppies were stillborn.

I went from feeling hopeful to feeling completely panicked in a matter of minutes.

Then things got worse. Four hours later Lucy was still pushing.

The shelter arranged an emergency veterinary appointment. X-rays confirmed what we feared. There was another puppy stuck.

The plan was to schedule a C-section.

We loaded Lucy into the car and started driving away from the clinic.

And then, right there in the car, she delivered puppy number eleven. A little boy.

I cleaned him up as best I could and placed him with the rest of the puppies on my lap.

We drove to the shelter carrying news I desperately didn't want to hear.

Given the severity of the defects and the condition of the litter, the puppies were not considered viable.

I broke down.

I cried the entire time.

These weren't even my puppies. But that didn't matter.

I loved them anyway. I wanted so badly to save them.

The shelter staff tried bottle feeding.

The result was the same.

No latch.

No nursing.

No interest.

Lucy herself seemed disconnected from the litter. The puppies would scatter away from her and I kept placing them back beside her, hoping for some sign that things would change.

But they didn't. I left the shelter that day without them.

Later I got confirmation that they had all crossed over.

I didn't sleep that night. I felt defeated.

Completely defeated. For the first time in my life I seriously questioned whether I wanted to continue breeding at all.

I never wanted to experience that kind of loss again.

The next morning I woke up exhausted and heartbroken.

I let the dogs outside for their usual morning potty break.

And there, stretching across the sky, was the brightest rainbow I had ever seen.

Maybe some people would call it coincidence.

Maybe they would be right.

But in that moment, standing there with tears running down my face, it felt like a message.

A message that those puppies were okay.

A message that they were safe.

A message that it wasn't my fault.

Lucy taught me something that day that no successful litter ever could.

Sometimes you can do everything right and still lose.

Sometimes love isn't enough to change the outcome.

Sometimes the ending you prayed for never comes.

But that doesn't mean the effort didn't matter.

Those puppies were warm. They were cared for. They were loved.

And for the short time they were here, they knew kindness.

That's what I hold onto.

And every time I see a rainbow, I still think of Lucy and her eleven little puppies.

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 🐾 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨 + 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 I decided to start a little series for my puppy families and future puppy families, because I know how it feels to bring a puppy home and think: “This is amazing” and “what did I just do” at the same time. 😅 So this is for you. Real talk, simple tips, no perfect Pinterest life. Just honest guidance from someone who has lived in the puppy trenches many times. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟳𝟮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 The first three days with a new puppy are usually a blur of “oh my gosh you are cute” and “what have I done.” Here is your permission slip: this is normal. Your puppy has just left everything familiar. Littermates, mama, smell, routine. You are new. Your house is new. Your rules are new. It is a big deal. A few simple goals for those first 72 hours: ▪️keep things calm, not chaotic ▪️stick to a simple potty, eat, sleep rhythm ▪️use the crate or safe space often so they do not get overtired ▪️keep visitors to a minimum while you both adjust You are not training a perfect dog in three days. You are building safety and trust. Lower the bar and focus on this: ▪️did they eat ▪️did they potty ▪️did they sleep ▪️did you connect a little That is a win. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟐 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝) 😴 Puppies need a lot more sleep than people think. Most of the time that “land shark” chaos is just an overtired baby in a fur coat. If your puppy is wild, biting harder, zooming, or crying at everything, there is a good chance they need a nap, not more excitement. A simple rhythm that helps: short play 🐾 potty break 🚽 a little love or tiny bit of training then crate or pen for a nap 🛏️ You are not “mean” for crating a puppy who is spun out. You are protecting their nervous system and your own sanity. At night: expect some whining at first keep potty trips boring and quiet no big party at 2 am back to the crate, lights off, everyone back to sleep You are not doing it wrong just because you are tired. You are a normal puppy parent walking through a tiring phase. It really does get easier once the routine settles in. 💛Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝗣𝘂𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 #𝟯 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 🚽🐶 Potty training is not about a “good” or “bad” puppy. It is about timing, supervision, and patience. A few simple rules to save your floors: take puppy out after waking, eating, drinking, and playing praise and treat right after they go outside 🎉 limit free roaming in the house at first if they are loose, you are watching If an accident happens: clean it move on no yelling, no rubbing noses, no shaming They are not being spiteful. They simply did not understand yet or were not taken out in time. In the beginning, think of your puppy like a baby with a tiny bladder and no calendar. You are teaching a habit, not investigating a crime scene. Consistency over perfection. That is how you win this one. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟒 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 = 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐢𝐥 🐶🛏️ If you grew up thinking crates were “mean,” this one is for you. Used right, a crate is not a punishment. It is a bedroom. A den. A “this is my spot, nobody bothers me here” place. Puppies who learn to love their crate usually: settle faster sleep better travel easier and handle vet/boarding situations with less stress So how do we make it feel safe instead of scary? 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠: cozy bedding or a mat a special chew or stuffed Kong they only get in there calm praise when they go in on their own cover part of it if that helps them feel tucked in You can toss a treat in and say a simple word like “kennel” or “bed.” No drama, no big performance. Just “this is where good things happen.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: slamming them in there when you are angry using it only when you are frustrated and done yanking them out when they are finally calm We want the crate to be the place their little body and brain go, “Ahh. I can relax here.” Short sessions at first. Nap breaks during the day. Night sleep in the same safe spot. It is not cruel to give your puppy structure. It is kind. It helps them feel secure in a big, confusing world. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟓 𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐤” 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 🦈🐶 If your sweet Golden puppy has suddenly turned into a snapping piranha, take a breath. This is normal. Puppy teeth are tiny needles and they all go through a mouthy, bitey stage. They are not being “mean.” They are: teething exploring the world getting overstimulated and testing what gets a reaction 𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩: 👉 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 Soft chews, rubber toys, frozen washcloths (wet and freeze) for teething. 👉 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 If they bite your hands, calmly say “ouch” or “uh-uh,” pause contact, then offer a toy instead. Hands are not chew toys. Toys are chew toys. 👉 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 A lot of biting spikes when they are overtired. If the biting is getting worse by the minute, it might be nap time, not more play. 👉 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 Short play sessions. If they amp up too far, game over. You are allowed to end play and give them a break. 🧘‍♀️ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: yelling in their face grabbing their muzzle hitting or “alpha” nonsense playing rough and then getting mad when they play rough back That just confuses them and can make the biting worse. This phase does not last forever. You are not raising a monster. You are raising a baby with razor blades in their mouth who needs guidance and structure. Stay consistent. Protect your skin. Laugh when you can. 😂 It really does get better. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟔 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 Puppies and kids can be an amazing combo, but they are not automatic best friends. You have: a baby dog with sharp teeth and no impulse control a human child who is still learning boundaries and body language Neither one is “the bad guy.” They both just need guidance. 𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭: 👀 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞 If a young child is interacting with a puppy, an adult should have eyes on them. If you cannot watch, puppy goes in a crate/pen or child gets redirected. ✋ 𝐍𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 Most dogs hate being hugged, squeezed, or laid on. Teach kids: gentle pets on the side, not grabbing neck, ears, or tail. 🍗 𝐍𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 If puppy is eating, chewing, or sleeping, that is a “leave them alone” zone. 🗣️ 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 “𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲” If puppy is too wild or mouthy, teach kids to stand up and walk away, not to scream or hit. You are not failing if you separate kids and puppies sometimes. You are preventing a bite and protecting both. One day they will have that sweet, movie-moment bond. Right now, structure is what gets you there. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟕 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝” 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 🤪🐾 You know that time of day when your puppy suddenly tears around the house like a cartoon character, slams into furniture, bites everything, then crashes? That is zoomies plus overtired. Totally normal. Totally fixable. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧: puppy is overstimulated puppy is overtired puppy has built up energy from the day So their brain says: “Full send, no brakes.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬: ⏱️ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 A little play, potty, then crate/pen for a nap. 🚫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐝 Rough play in that state usually makes things worse, not better. 🧘 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 If possible, calmly move them to a smaller space, give a safe chew, and let their body reset. 🌙 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐳𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 A lot of puppies lose their minds in the evening. You are not crazy, this is a pattern. Try an early-evening nap and a calm potty break before bed instead of hyping them up. Zoomies are not your puppy being “bad.” It is just their little brain and body trying to release energy. Give them a safe way to do it and a plan to come down again. You will both sleep better. 😅💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Gold

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟖 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 🌍🐶 “Socialize your puppy” does not mean “take them everywhere and hand them to everyone.” Good socialization is about: safe experiences positive associations building confidence slowly Not flooding them with chaos. 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞: 👂 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 Play household noises, traffic, kids, storms at a low volume and pair with treats and calm. 👥 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 Let your puppy see different types of people, but they do not have to be touched by every single person. Watching from a distance is still socialization. 🐕 𝐃𝐨𝐠𝐬 Choose calm, vaccinated, friendly dogs you trust. Dog parks are usually too much for young puppies. 🏠 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Different floors, rooms, steps, surfaces, car rides, vet waiting room visits, pet friendly stores once they are safe to go. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: forcing them into situations they are clearly scared of letting people grab, crowd, or corner your puppy “they have to learn somehow” thinking If your puppy is hiding, shaking, or climbing you, that is a sign to back up, create space, and go slower next time. Socialization is not about proving your puppy is fearless. It is about helping them learn the world is mostly safe and that you will protect them. Slow, steady, and thoughtful wins here. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟗 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 🩺🐶 Your puppy’s first vet visit can make you more nervous than them. Totally normal. A little prep goes a long way in keeping it calm and positive. 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨: 📋 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 vaccine and deworming records from the breeder any questions you have written down what food/treats you are using 🍖 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 Bring small, soft treats so the vet visit = “good things happen here.” 🕰️ 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 Avoid times when your puppy is usually wild or exhausted. Middle-of-the-day visits are often easier than first thing in the morning or late at night. 𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜: Your vet will usually: check weight listen to heart and lungs look at eyes, ears, teeth, skin feel belly and joints talk vaccines, deworming, and flea/heartworm prevention This is also your chance to ask about: potty training concerns mild tummy issues schedule for future vaccines spay/neuter timing any weird behavior you are seeing There are no “dumb” questions here. Ask them. 📝 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: keep your voice calm and upbeat praise often, treat often do not make a huge dramatic “oh no, poor baby” fuss let the staff do their job while you stay steady and reassuring Your puppy takes their cue from you. A good vet team becomes part of your support system. The first visit is just the start of that relationship. You are not supposed to know everything walking in the door. You just need to care, ask, and keep learning. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟏𝟎 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐫𝐨 𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐠 🚪🐶 Goldens are naturally velcro. They love their people and want to be glued to you. That is sweet. It can also turn into panic if they never learn “I’m okay when you leave.” We do not want that. Alone time is a skill you teach on purpose, not something you wait to deal with when it becomes a problem. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞: put puppy in crate or pen with a safe chew walk to another room for a minute or two come back in like it’s no big deal, not a reunion party repeat a few times a day You are teaching: “Sometimes you are with me, sometimes you are not, and both are safe.” 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐮𝐩: Once they are comfortable with you leaving the room: step outside the door for a minute take the trash out walk to the mailbox come back in calm, not hyped If they scream the whole time, shorten the duration and build back up. 𝐀 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭𝐬: ✅ 𝐃𝐨 give them something to do (chew, lick mat, stuffed toy) ❌ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 sneak around. Be normal about coming and going. ✅ 𝐃𝐨 keep goodbyes and hellos boring and quick ❌ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 turn leaving into a dramatic event If you already have a clingy pup, you are not doomed. You just need to start where they are and build slowly. Teaching independence is not unkind. It is one of the kindest things you can do for a sensitive, people focused breed. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟏𝟏 **When your sweet puppy turns into a “teenager” 🙃🐕 One day you look at your Golden and think: “Who are you and what did you do with my perfect puppy?” Welcome to the teenage phase. Somewhere between about 6–18 months, puppies hit a stage where: they act like they forgot every cue you ever taught they test boundaries their energy is higher their focus is lower and their “selective hearing” is Olympic level This is normal. Annoying, but normal. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: their brain and body are still developing hormones are shifting confidence is growing, impulse control is not fully there yet Think of it like a furry middle schooler. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭: 🔁 𝐆𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐬 Short refresh sessions on sit, down, come, leash manners. Reward like you did when they were tiny. 📏 𝐓𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 If they are blowing you off outside, use a long line. If they are being wild inside, limit free roam. 🧠 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬 Training games, sniffy walks, puzzle feeders. Tired brain = calmer dog. 😤 𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 They are not plotting against you. They are just in a messy growth phase. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: giving up and letting bad habits become the new normal yelling, yanking, or completely checking out deciding “my dog is stubborn” and stopping training This stage does pass. The work you put in here is what turns a chaotic teenager into the rock solid adult Golden everyone thinks “just came that way.” You are not failing. You are just in the hard part. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟏𝟐 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 🧠🐶 Nobody brings a puppy home knowing exactly what to do. You learn as you go. Here are a few super common mistakes and simple fixes. ❌ Mistake 1: Too much freedom too soon Puppy has full run of the house on day one. ✅ Fix Use gates, pens, and crates. Earned freedom comes later, after potty habits and manners are better. ❌ Mistake 2: Letting cute behavior slide that you do not want in a 70 pound dog Jumping, nipping, climbing on people. ✅ Fix Decide now what is cute and what is actually not allowed long term. Reward four paws on the floor. Ignore or calmly remove attention from jumpy, grabby behavior. ❌ Mistake 3: No routine Every day looks different, meals and potty happen at random. ✅ Fix Pick a basic rhythm for food, potty, play, and sleep. Puppies relax faster when life is a little predictable. ❌ Mistake 4: Waiting too long to ask for help Struggling for months and hoping things magically change. ✅ Fix If you are overwhelmed, reach out. Breeder, trainer, vet. You are not weak for asking. You are smart. You are not a bad owner if you have done some of these. You just make a few tweaks and move forward. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟏𝟑 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 🐾💛 Not every puppy charges into the world like a fearless tornado. Some are softer, more sensitive, or unsure in new situations. That is not broken. It is a temperament. Your job is to show them the world is mostly safe and that you have their back. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: 🐢 Go at their pace If they freeze, lean back, or tuck their tail, do not drag them forward. Give them space. Let them watch from a distance. 🍗 Pair new things with good stuff New sounds, places, or people? Treats, praise, calm voice. “You hear that? Here is a snack. You are safe.” 👀 Watch their body language Lip licking, yawning when not tired, turning away, hiding behind you. That is your sign to slow down. 💪 Let them succeed at small challenges Easy obstacles in the yard, stepping on new surfaces, learning simple cues. Every little win tells their brain, “I can do this.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝: forcing strangers to pet them pushing them into busy environments before they are ready laughing at or dismissing their fear You are their safe place. When they learn that you listen to their feelings, they trust you more. A confident dog is not one who has never been scared. It is one who learned, with you, that they can handle the world. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens

𝐏𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 #𝟏𝟒 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭. 🤍 Let me end this series with the thing I wish every puppy parent could feel in their bones. You are not the only one who has: cried in the bathroom because the puppy will not stop whining questioned if you made a mistake felt guilty for being frustrated googled “is this normal” ten times in one day Puppy life is not just sweet photos. It is mess, noise, doubt, learning, and starting over. Here is what matters most: you care you keep trying you ask questions you show up again tomorrow That is what builds a great dog. Not perfection. Not never messing up. Just steady love plus structure over time. If you are in the thick of it right now, hear this from me: You are not alone. Your puppy is not ruined. You are learning together. One day you will look at your grown Golden, calm and settled, and barely remember how hard this part felt. Until then, breathe, reset, and keep going. You have got this. 💛 Corinne Sun & Sand Goldens