The GSD Hub with Jenny Gould

05/09/2026

The part of breeding I find hard…

There are lots of difficult parts to breeding puppies. The worry, the sleepless nights, the responsibility of bringing little lives into the world and doing everything you possibly can to give them the very best start.

But there is another part that I don’t think we talk about very often.

Losing touch.

When I breed a litter, those puppies are part of my life long before they are ever placed into somebody else’s arms.

Their story begins before conception. There are plans, hopes, decisions and dreams. Then there is the pregnancy, the birth, those precious first weeks and all the tiny milestones along the way.

And during that time, I welcome their future owners into my world too.

I share the journey. The photographs. The excitement. The worries. The development. The personalities beginning to emerge. Eventually, I open my home and hand over a puppy that I have known from its very first breath.

And then sometimes, slowly, contact disappears.

Nobody has done anything wrong. Lives are busy. Puppies grow into adult dogs, the novelty of sending updates naturally fades, and years can pass incredibly quickly.

But I don’t stop wondering about them.

In fact, it was receiving photographs and videos today of one of my 10-year-olds that got me thinking about this. She and her family have emigrated, she is miles and miles away, living and enjoying a completely different life now, and yet her owner still thinks to include me in it.

A photograph. A little video. A message to show me what she’s doing and how she’s enjoying her life.

And it means more than they probably realise.

I have another of my puppies who is now 13 years old. She moved to Cornwall when she left me and I have never actually seen her in person since that day.

But I have watched her life from afar.

Her owner has always kept in touch. Photographs, videos and little updates have arrived throughout those 13 years. I may never have physically seen that little puppy again, but I haven’t lost her story.

And perhaps that’s the bit that matters to me.

I don’t need to be part of their everyday lives. They aren’t my dogs anymore. They belong completely to the families I chose for them, and that is exactly how it should be.

But I still care about what happens to them.

I love hearing about the big changes. A house move. A new human joining the family. Another dog arriving. Emigrating to another country. A new adventure or a completely new chapter.

And actually, I love the completely ordinary updates too. A walk on the beach. A funny habit. A favourite sleeping position. A grey face appearing where I still remember a tiny puppy face.

Because to me they were never simply puppies that I bred and sold.

Perhaps because I breed so infrequently, each litter consumes an enormous part of my life. I know those puppies before they are born. I am there for their first breath, their first meals, their first adventures and all those tiny pieces of development that eventually create the dog somebody takes home.

And then I hand them over and trust somebody else with the rest of their story.

Sometimes I get to continue watching that story unfold.

Sometimes I don’t.

There is no blame in that and no expectation that anybody should report back to me. Life moves on, families change and years disappear frighteningly quickly.

It is simply one of the things I find difficult about being a breeder.

And to those owners who have kept me in their dogs’ lives, thank you.

To those who still send the photographs, the videos, the little messages and the occasional update, whether your dog is two years old, ten years old or well into their teens, please know that I never take those messages for granted.

Thank you for remembering that somewhere there is still a breeder who remembers exactly where your dog came into the world, who they were as a tiny puppy and what it felt like to place them into your arms.

Thank you for allowing me to watch from the sidelines as that tiny puppy became your dog.

It means more to me than you probably know. ❤️

And if you have a dog from a breeder you haven’t spoken to for a long time, perhaps send them a photograph today.

It doesn’t have to be a big achievement or an important milestone. It can simply be, “Look at them now.”

Because for you, it might be a quick photograph or a 30-second message.

For the person who remembers that dog before they even opened their eyes, it can mean an enormous amount.

They may have left our homes many years ago, but some of us never really stop wondering how our babies are doing. ❤️

04/09/2026

GOING ON HOLIDAY WHEN YOU HAVE DOGS… ❤️

Does anyone else find leaving their dogs one of the hardest parts of going away?

We are off to Seville for a few days, and I am really looking forward to it. The dogs are staying at home, being looked after by a friend they know and love, and more importantly, someone I completely trust.

I couldn’t ask for anything better.

And yet… I’m still not comfortable leaving them. 😂

I think when you have dogs at either end of the age spectrum, it becomes even harder. Young dogs can change so quickly, get themselves into mischief and sometimes need that little bit more management. And then there are the oldies.

At the moment I have a 12-year-old at home, and that definitely affects the decisions I make about holidays. I won’t fly more than a few hours away because, in my head, I need to know that if something happened and I needed to get home quickly, I could.

Is that slightly irrational? Possibly. 😂 But it makes me feel better.

As our dogs get older, I think we become increasingly aware that things can change quickly. A dog who is absolutely fine when you leave could potentially be very different a few days later. Nobody wants to think about it, but it’s part of loving an older dog.

And I also think there’s a difference between knowing someone is perfectly capable of looking after your dogs and knowing that they aren’t you.

They don’t know every tiny look. Every little change in behaviour. Who normally eats first. Who sometimes needs persuading. Who makes that particular noise when something isn’t quite right. All those insignificant little details that aren’t insignificant to us at all.

So yes, I will go. I will have a lovely few days in Seville. I will eat, drink, explore and enjoy myself.

And I will probably check my phone approximately 742 times a day. 😂

Because apparently leaving your dogs with someone you completely trust doesn’t actually stop you worrying about them!

How are you when you go away?

Can you switch off and enjoy your holiday, or are you another member of the “They’re absolutely fine, but send me another photo please” club? 😂❤️

03/09/2026

💚 SPIRULINA, AND THE GREEN BEARD EFFECT! 💚

Spirulina is something I like to offer my dogs, particularly at this time of year when seasonal allergies, itchy skin and environmental sensitivities can start making themselves known.

It is naturally nutrient rich and contains antioxidants and other compounds that can help support normal immune function. There is also some interesting evidence around its potential role in supporting dogs with allergic responses, although I see it very much as nutritional support rather than a treatment.

The way I use it is perhaps slightly different.

I offer spirulina on a self-selection basis, meaning the dogs can choose whether they want it and how much or how little they take. Some will have virtually none, others will happily help themselves.

One very important piece of advice though…

Offer it somewhere you REALLY don’t mind it getting everywhere. 😂

Spirulina and tidy dogs are not necessarily compatible. Be prepared for green faces, green beards, green legs and occasionally a dog who looks as though they have been rolling around in a pot of green paint! 💚😂

For me, it is another simple addition I like having available, especially through the times of year when skin and immune systems can be under a little more environmental pressure.

Does anyone else offer spirulina to their dogs? And more importantly, how GREEN does your dog manage to get?! 😂💚

02/09/2026

It's that time of year. Early morning walks = blackberry picking! Jam packed full of vitamins for us and the dogs 😋😋😋

01/09/2026

🐾 The Little Things Matter

💡Train the Start, Not Just the Exercise💡

We spend a lot of time training what happens during an exercise.

But what happens in the few seconds before it begins?

That’s something I pay a lot of attention to.

If your dog starts distracted, disconnected or unsure, you’re already making the exercise harder than it needs to be.

Before you ask for anything, notice what you’ve actually got.

Where is your dog’s attention?

Are they mentally with you?

Are they ready to work?

Or have you simply decided it’s time to begin?

Sometimes I’d much rather spend a few seconds getting the start right than launch into an exercise and spend the next minute trying to rescue it.

And this applies at every level.

It could be a recall in the park, a stay in the kitchen or the beginning of an exercise in the competition ring.

Don’t just train the behaviour.

Train the moments that lead into it.

Because very often, the quality of the finish starts with the quality of the beginning.

Because in dog training, the little things matter. 💚

💬 Here’s one to think about. When something goes wrong in your training, how often do you look back at what was happening in the few seconds BEFORE it went wrong?

26/08/2026

🐾 IS A GERMAN SHEPHERD REALLY THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU?

I adore German Shepherds. They have been a huge part of my life for many years, and for me there is very little that compares to living and working with a good GSD.

But that doesn’t mean I think everybody should own one.

In fact, I think one of the most important conversations we can have about this wonderful breed is whether they genuinely fit the life you have, rather than the life you imagine having with one.

Because there are an awful lot of reasons to choose a German Shepherd.

THE GOOD BITS ❤️

🐾 They are incredibly intelligent.
They are capable of learning an enormous amount and, with the right training, can turn their paw to almost anything.

🐾 They are wonderfully versatile.
Obedience, tracking, scent work, agility, protection sports, working roles, hiking, holidays or simply being an active family dog. A well-bred GSD can be incredibly adaptable.

🐾 They can form fantastic relationships with their people.
They are often very tuned into their owners and interested in what is happening around them. That connection is one of the things many of us become completely addicted to.

🐾 They are generally keen to learn and work.
Give them appropriate outlets for their brains and bodies and they can be enormously rewarding to train.

🐾 They have presence.
There is something rather special about a German Shepherd. They are beautiful, powerful dogs and, for many of us, once you’ve lived with one it is very difficult to imagine life without one.

🐾 They can be fabulous family dogs.
The right GSD, with the right genetics, upbringing and home, can be a wonderful companion who is just as happy being part of everyday family life as doing something more structured.

But…

There is another side to all of those qualities.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD BITS 😬

🐾 They are incredibly intelligent.
Yes, that’s on both lists! Intelligence isn’t always convenient. A clever dog with insufficient guidance or appropriate outlets can become very inventive about finding its own entertainment.

🐾 They can be sensitive.
German Shepherds often notice EVERYTHING. People, dogs, noises, movement, changes in environment and changes in you. That sensitivity can be a huge asset, but it can also make poor experiences particularly significant.

🐾 Reactivity can be an issue.
This isn’t a breed where I would ever assume that simply exposing a puppy to absolutely everything will create a bombproof adult. Genetics matter. Temperament matters. Experiences matter. How those experiences are handled matters enormously.

🐾 Adolescence can be interesting!
That gorgeous, relatively straightforward puppy can suddenly become a large, powerful teenager with opinions. Fear periods, hormones, increased awareness of the environment and developing guarding tendencies can all appear.

🐾 They need your time.
Not necessarily hours of mindless exercise every day, but they do need involvement. Training, appropriate exercise, mental stimulation and being included in life all matter.

🐾 They are big and powerful.
A 30 to 40kg dog barking and lunging at the end of a lead is very different from a 5kg dog doing it. Training isn’t an optional extra.

🐾 They can be vocal.
Some have an opinion on absolutely everything, and they are quite prepared to share it with you, your neighbours and occasionally the entire postcode. 😂

🐾 THE HAIR. THE HAIR. THE HAIR.
If you like a pristine house and don’t want dog hair on your clothes, furniture, carpets, car and occasionally somewhere completely inexplicable, this may not be your breed.

🐾 They can be expensive.
Food, insurance, training, equipment and veterinary treatment for a large breed soon add up.

🐾 Health absolutely matters.
German Shepherds can be affected by a number of inherited and structural health problems, which makes researching breeders, health testing and family history incredibly important.

🐾 They don’t necessarily love everybody.
And personally, I don’t think they need to. A German Shepherd doesn’t have to want every stranger or every strange dog in its face. Neutrality is hugely underrated.

🐾 A badly bred GSD can be extremely difficult to live with.
Poor nerves, inappropriate aggression, extreme reactivity or an inability to settle are not small problems in a dog of this size and power. Choosing where your puppy comes from really does matter.

And perhaps the biggest consideration…

You aren’t just choosing the cute fluffy puppy you bring home at eight weeks.

You are choosing the adolescent.
The adult.
The muddy dog.
The hairy dog.
The dog who might bark.
The dog who may need considerably more training than you expected.
The dog who may not grow into exactly the character you pictured.

And hopefully, you are choosing the old grey-faced German Shepherd who will still be beside you more than a decade later. ❤️

For the right person, I think they are one of the most extraordinary breeds in the world.

But loving the idea of a German Shepherd and enjoying the reality of living with one can be two very different things.

So, GSD owners, what would YOU add to the list?

What’s the one thing you wish somebody had told you before you brought your first German Shepherd home? 👇

22/08/2026

19/08/2026

The Little Things Matter

Let Them Think

The idea is about how quickly handlers jump in when a dog hesitates. We repeat the cue, move our body, point, lure, encourage, or otherwise try to help.

But sometimes the dog isn’t stuck.

They’re thinking.

Giving them an extra second or two to work something out can be incredibly valuable. It helps us discover what the dog genuinely understands rather than what they can do when we’re helping them.

The graphic could simply say:

LET THEM THINK.

Don’t be too quick to fill the silence.

18/08/2026

A brilliant article from Amy, and I agree with everything she has written in this guide.

Coffee shops and pubs are a great example of remembering that our idea of a nice experience isn’t necessarily our dog’s idea of one. Some of my dogs are completely at ease in these situations, others aren’t. Some have been absolutely fine at certain ages, but less comfortable at different stages of their lives.

And that’s okay. It’s their decision, not mine. I don’t need every dog I own to enjoy sitting in a busy pub or coffee shop just because I might like them to.

How about you? Is it a yes or a no for you and your dog?

Before we got dogs I'm sure lots of you (myself included) imagined a lovely long walk with the dog stopping off at a nice dog friendly pub for a nice lunch afterwards.

The truth is that this isn't a reality for lots of dogs as many cannot cope with this environment.

And that's absolutely ok.

It took me a long time to get over the guilt of leaving my dogs at home, but the truth is they are happier with that arrangement.

However I now have two more confident dogs and our world is opening up for more adventures.

Whilst I don't take them to these places often I do want to future proof our training so that eventually we can do such things when we want.

So, how do I go about setting my dogs up for success?

🐾 I practice my settle on a mat in lots of environments first.

🐾 I make sure their needs are met before I expect them to settle in a busy environment. Exercised, toileted etc. It's not fair to expect calm if these aren't met.

🐾 I think about where I sit. Not on a thoroughfare, or by the door where people will constantly pass by.

🐾 I always take my own water for the dogs. Staff in dog friendly places are great at offering but I never want my dogs to associate people carrying bowls as goodies for them. If they never learn that expectation I'm much less likely to have a dog accidentally take out a waitress in search of a snack.

🐾 At first I go with a friend who understands that I might need to leave suddenly. I aim to leave BEFORE my dog becomes unsettled not afterwards.

As a rule I don't take my dogs with me during adolescence. Dogs are extra sensitive at this age and I believe sometimes less is more.

However Stitch and I were having a great day Sunday so we decided to risk it. My husband was home and could easily come and collect him for me if it was too much.

Thanks to having a back up plan and all the points above we had a very successful visit. ♥️

But if he'd of been unhappy I'd of had no qualms about sending him home instead. As long as my dogs are happy so am I.

12/08/2026

👇let's see your answers in the comments 👇