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There's one more thing I noticed about dogs in Europe that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.

It wasn't actually something the dogs were doing.

It was something the people weren't doing.

They weren't constantly stopping to pet them.

Dogs were walking through busy cities, sitting at cafés, riding public transportation and going about their day...

And people mostly left them alone.

One of the things that really struck me while traveling through Europe was how much the dogs seemed to be part of their families' lives.

I talked last week about seeing dogs everywhere—walking through cities, riding public transportation, sitting at cafés and simply going places with their people.

But there was another part of this that stuck with me after I came home.

The dog at one of the homes where we stayed didn't seem to be something they had to fit into their schedule.

I recently spent two weeks traveling through Germany, France and the Netherlands.

And because I'm a dog trainer, you can probably guess what I noticed everywhere we went.

The dogs.

There were dogs on city streets, at restaurants and cafés, on public transportation, in busy shopping areas and just generally going about life with their people.

But it wasn't simply that Europe felt more dog-friendly that caught my attention.

Maybe you started the year saying:

“This is the year I'm finally going to work on this.”

The pulling.

The jumping.

The barking.

The puppy who still doesn't come when called.

The dog who loses their mind when someone comes to the door.

The backpacks are coming back out.

Bedtimes are getting earlier.

Sports and activities are starting again.

And before we know it, everyone will be rushing out the door in the morning.

For those of us with kids, back-to-school season means a pretty big change in routine.

But there is someone else in the house who may be about to experience an even bigger change:

This is a question I get asked all the time:

“How do I get my dog to socialize with other dogs?”

And before I answer, I usually ask another question:

Why do you want your dog to socialize with other dogs?

That question can feel a little unexpected, but it matters.

That question can feel a little unexpected, but it matters.

Sometimes the answer is:

• “I want them to go to daycare so I don’t feel guilty leaving them home.”

You drop your puppy off in the morning.

Then what?

Are they playing all day?

Are they practicing sit for hours?

Will they come home exhausted?

Are they actually learning—or is Puppy Dog School simply daycare with a little training added?

These are important questions.

When you are trusting someone with your puppy,

You cannot open the front door without chaos.

Your puppy launches at every person who walks in.

They bark at the window.

Bark at the neighbor.

Bark at dogs on walks.

Bark when they want something.

Bark because someone moved a trash can three houses away.

Then, when you try to redirect them, they jump on you.

They jump on your guests.

You wanted a puppy.

You imagined cuddles on the couch, family walks, puppy breath, and a new best friend following you around the house.

Instead, your puppy follows you around biting your ankles.

They chew on your hands.

Grab your clothing.

Attack your pant legs.

Jump on your back when you sit down.

And somehow, they seem sweet to everyone else.

You feed them.

Take them outside.

You type “best dog trainer near me” into Google.

Within seconds, you have more choices than answers.

One trainer promises fast results.

Another offers private lessons.

Someone else runs group classes, day training, board-and-train programs, or online coaching.

They all have photos of happy dogs.

They all say they love animals.

Bringing home a puppy is exciting.

It can also feel a little like inviting a tiny, adorable tornado into your house.

One minute, your puppy is sleeping peacefully in your lap.

The next minute, they are biting your sleeves, peeing on the floor, stealing a shoe, chasing the kids, and refusing to sleep even though they are clearly exhausted.

You know training would help—but what kind of puppy training do you actually need?

It is one of the most common questions I hear:

“How can an online program really help with my dog?”

I completely understand the hesitation.

You may be able to imagine learning a new recipe, taking an exercise class, or attending a business workshop online. But dog training feels different.

Your dog is barking at the window.

Pulling toward another dog.

Jumping on your guests.