It’s been a great day. Your puppy has been an angel.

And then out of nowhere, your puppy flips a switch.

The biting gets more intense. They stop responding to anything you say. They’re lunging, they’re frantic, and for a second, you actually wonder if something is wrong with them. Or with you.

This is puppy witching hour. And it is so much more common than you think.

It usually hits in the evening, right when you’re tired, and your patience is running low.

And if your puppy had a full, active day, that might actually be exactly why it’s happening.

This is not a sign that your puppy is aggressive, out of control, or that you’re doing something wrong. This is a normal developmental phase, and once you understand what’s driving it, you’ll know exactly what to do and what to skip.

• What puppy witching hour actually looks like and why it’s so disorienting
• Why overstimulation and exhaustion trigger this kind of frantic behavior
• The toddler tantrum connection and what it tells us about puppy emotional development
• Why this is NOT the moment to discipline, redirect, or try and teach your puppy anything
• What your puppy actually needs in these moments (hint: it’s not more exercise)
• How the habits you’re building outside of these episodes will make them less frequent over time

Enjoying this podcast? Please rate and review it wherever you listen. This helps other puppy parents find it.

Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #046: Puppy Biting and Why You Might Still be Struggling

Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #078: Games to Play With a Nipping Puppy

Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #060: Kids and Puppies

YOUR Perfect Puppy: If you’re looking for ongoing guidance with situations like this, this episode is also a great example of the kind of real-life problem-solving we do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy, where I help you turn everyday chaos into manageable routines that work for your household.

Dinner should be a chance to relax, not a nightly negotiation with your dog.

In this episode of Your New Puppies Podcast, I’m breaking down one of the most common struggles I see with puppies and adult dogs: dogs begging, barking, or demanding attention while their humans are trying to eat.

It does make sense that this happens. Besides the obvious food, everyone is gathered together, and there tends to be a lot of movement and chaos. Your dog just wants in.

The good news is you don’t need to teach new cues, run training drills, or micromanage every meal to fix this. This is a perfect example of how we can train without training by using consistency, structure, and a predictable routine.

• Why dinner time is such a challenging moment for dogs
• Why attention (even negative attention) keeps the behavior going
• How to give your dog something better to do before begging starts
• When and how to remove access to the table altogether
• How to build a predictable dinner routine

These are things you can start doing today. It may not be perfect immediately, but with consistency, most families see improvement within a week.

Enjoying this podcast? Please rate and review it wherever you listen. This helps other puppy parents find it.

Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #018: Ditch the Bowl and Make Mealtime an Event

Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #025: Is Human Food Good for Dogs?

Your New Puppy’s Podcast: YNP #084: My Favorite DIY Puzzle Feeders

YOUR Perfect Puppy: If you’re looking for ongoing guidance with situations like this, this episode is also a great example of the kind of real-life problem-solving we do inside YOUR Perfect Puppy, where I help you turn everyday chaos into manageable routines that work for your household.

Potty training was going so well… until it suddenly wasn’t.

Let’s discuss why potty training regression is completely normal, what it actually means, and how to get back on track without feeling like you’ve failed your puppy.

You have a stretch of good days, you start to feel confident, and then all of a sudden, the accidents are back. It feels like you’re back at square one, you start asking what you did wrong, and you might even wonder what’s wrong with your puppy.

Here is the truth.Regression is normal. It doesn’t mean you failed. It doesn’t mean your puppy forgot everything. It means you are in the middle of the process.

If this episode really resonates, I also recommend Episode 79: “Are You Still Struggling With Potty Training?” where I walk through the three key points I always cover with clients who are stuck.

• What potty training actually looks like (progress in NOT a straight line)
• The most common reason for potty training regression.
• Why regression seems to happen right at the end.
• How a small change in routine can have a big impact on your progress.
• The difference between a random accident and true regression.

Enjoying this podcast? Please rate and review it wherever you listen. This helps other puppy parents find it.

Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy: A free download that walks you through my complete process

YNP #065:

YOUR New Puppy: My signature new puppy course that has helped hundreds of new puppy parents raise their puppies into well-mannered, happy dogs. Includes live support from me so you don’t have to do this alone!

Additional Potty Training Episodes:

• YNP #009: Why Indoor Pads Should Not Be Used When House Training Your Puppy
• YNP #010: Complete Guide to Potty Training Your Puppy
• YNP #039: Common Potty Accidents
• YNP #041: Raising a Puppy in an Apartment
• YNP #056: Potty Training for a Working Household
• YNP #072: Should You Use a Potty Bell?
• YNP #079: Are You Still Struggling With Potty Training?
• YNP #085: How to Handle Potty Training Overnight
• YNP #090: When Your Dog Hates the Rain
• YNP #092: Why Not to Punish Puppy Potty Accidents