Knockout Aussies

10/09/2026

I think we need some KO branded buckets! Aren’t these cool?!

THIS IS NOW CLOSED!! I Will be picking the winner at 9 pm EST !!

Congrats to Carrie Fairchild!!! I will send you a message tomorrow and we can get working on your set!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

This time it’s for a ringside starter kit! The drawing will be Saturday, October 10th!!

The set includes : a ringside spray bottle, a 2qt crate bucket, and a 20oz double insulated tumbler with your custom logo (if you do not have a logo, I can help you with that!)

Here are the rules:
⭐️ you must follow this page 😊
⭐️ you must ❤️ this post
⭐️ you must share this post to your page
⭐️ comment on this post what breed of dog you show!

All of these things MUST be completed in order to be considered for the drawing.

Good luck everyone! I can’t wait to work with the winner for something one of a kind and special!

10/08/2026

So you got a new puppy, now what?!

Day 12: Start Training Early

If you’ve been following along with this series from Day 1, by now your puppy should already have the makings of a pretty good routine and the beginnings of a solid set of skills. 🩷

You’ve been working on potty training, crate training, socialization, chewing, handling, leash work, settling, and creating a predictable routine.

Now it’s time to start putting some actual training into the mix.

And before anybody thinks you need to spend hours training a puppy… you don’t.

At 12 weeks old, 10 minutes once or twice a day is plenty.

In fact, I prefer short, successful sessions over trying to keep a young puppy’s attention until they’re bored, frustrated, or completely over it. 😂

You can work on things like:

Sit.

Come.

Name recognition.

Down.

Waiting for food.

Giving you something they’re holding.

Walking nicely with you.

And probably most importantly, paying attention to you.

You don’t even have to use a bunch of extra treats. You can use some of their regular food ration during training. Take a little of their meal and use it to reward the behaviors you’re working on.

You’re not adding extra calories, and your puppy gets to learn that listening to you can be pretty rewarding. 😉

Training also doesn’t have to happen in a formal session every time.

Ask for a sit before putting the food bowl down.

Call them to you while they’re playing.

Reward them for choosing to come check in with you.

Ask for a little patience before opening the door.

Those little moments add up.

And here’s the really cool part…

If you’ve been following along, you’re already doing it.

Your puppy has been learning since the day you brought them home. You’re just continuing to build on those lessons and giving them more ways to succeed.

A 12-week-old puppy isn’t supposed to be perfect. They’re still babies.

But with a good routine, consistent expectations, short training sessions and lots of positive reinforcement, you’re laying the foundation for the adult dog you’re going to have someday.

And remember…

Aussies are smart.

REALLY smart.

Which is fantastic when they’re learning what you want.

It’s slightly less fantastic when they decide to teach themselves what they want. 😂

So start teaching them now.

Because an ounce of training when they’re little is worth a whole lot of frustration later.

🩷🐾

10/07/2026

So you got a new puppy, now what?!

Day 11: Teach Your Puppy How To Settle

A puppy doesn’t automatically know how to turn it off.

They can play. They can zoom. They can bite. They can chase things. They can find approximately 900 things they shouldn’t be doing. 😂

But learning how to just hang out is a skill.

I want puppies to learn that they don’t have to be entertained every second of the day. Sometimes we’re playing. Sometimes we’re training. Sometimes we’re doing something fun.

And sometimes…nothing is happening.

That’s when you can encourage your puppy to lie down beside you, chew a toy, hang out on a dog bed, or just relax while you watch TV or work around the house.

You don’t want to accidentally create a dog who thinks, “If Mom is awake, we MUST be doing something!” 😂

Reward calm behavior. Don’t constantly interrupt a puppy who has finally decided to lie down. Let them learn that relaxing is perfectly acceptable.

And this is what you’re working toward…

Dogs who can just chill.

These aren’t puppies. They’re actually pretty young dogs in this picture, but this is the end result when you put the work in early.

They don’t need to be running, playing, or demanding attention every second. They can just lay down, relax and be dogs while life is happening around them.

THAT is what I want.

A dog who can go do the fun stuff with you when it’s time…

And then come home and curl up on the floor when it’s time to do absolutely nothing. 🩷

And remember, a puppy who is acting completely insane isn’t always asking for more exercise.

Sometimes they’re just tired.

Sometimes they need a nap.

And sometimes they need you to help them figure out how to turn that little Aussie brain OFF. 😂

Teaching your puppy to settle is one of those things that doesn’t seem like a big deal when they’re eight weeks old…

Until they’re grown and you’re sitting on the couch looking at this, thinking “Yep. That’s exactly what I wanted.” 🩷🐾

10/07/2026

Part 10 in my series: So you got a new puppy, now what?!

Day 10: Get Your Puppy Used To Being Handled

One thing I think gets overlooked with puppies is teaching them that being handled is just part of life.

Your puppy needs to learn that people are going to touch their feet. Look in their ears. Check their teeth. Brush them. Touch their tail (if they have one😉). Run their hands over their body. Pick up their feet. Hold them still for a few seconds.

And sometimes somebody other than Mom is going to do it. 😂

This is especially important if you plan to show, compete with, travel with, or do anything with your dog where somebody else may need to handle them.

This picture is from a dog show, and while Legend is being presented to the judge, there is a LOT more going on than just standing there looking pretty. The dog needs to be comfortable with a stranger approaching, touching them and examining them.

You can start this at home when they’re little.

Play with their feet. Look in their ears. Lift their lips and look at their teeth. Brush them. Touch them all over. Practice standing still for a few seconds.

And don’t wait until you need to trim nails or discover something in their ear to decide they should be comfortable with it. 😂

Make it part of everyday life.

Some puppies will be perfectly happy about it.

Others will act like you’ve just announced that you’re going to remove their entire leg because you touched their foot. 🤦‍♀️😂

Be patient, keep it positive, and practice often.

The goal is a dog who thinks, “Yep, people touch me. No big deal.”

Instead of, “OH MY GOD, SHE TOUCHED MY FOOT. THIS IS THE END.” 😂🐾

🩷

10/05/2026

Part 9 in my series: So you got a new puppy, now what?! 🐶

Day 9: The Collar & Leash

Please don’t wait until the first time you need to take your puppy somewhere to put a collar and leash on them. 😂

A puppy who has never worn a collar suddenly feeling something around their neck and something dragging behind them can have a very dramatic reaction.

Start at home.

Let your puppy wear their collar for short periods while you’re supervising. Give them treats, play with them, let them go about their normal puppy business. Once they’re comfortable with the collar, introduce the leash.

And no, the goal isn’t to immediately have a perfect little dog walking politely beside you. 😂

At first, the leash is just another weird thing attached to them. Let them get used to the feeling. Keep sessions short and positive and don’t turn it into a wrestling match.

Leash manners are something you teach, not something puppies magically know.

And please remember, that little puppy who is bouncing around at the end of the leash today is going to grow into the dog you’re taking to the vet, walking around the neighborhood, traveling with, going to shows or events with, and possibly doing all kinds of fun things with.

It’s a whole lot easier to teach good leash habits when they’re little than to wait until you have a 25-pound Aussie who has decided that you are the one being walked. 😂

Start small. Be patient. Make it fun.

And don’t forget the treats. 😉

🩷🐾

10/04/2026

Part 8 in my series: So you got a new puppy, now what?! 🐶

Day 8: Puppy Proofing Your House

Let’s talk about something nobody thinks about until they bring home a puppy…

Puppies explore the world with their mouths. 😂

That means the shoe you just took off and left by the door? Apparently a chew toy.

The phone charger hanging off the nightstand? Delicious.

The kids’ toy that somehow ended up under the couch? Obviously puppy approved.

Before your puppy comes home, get down on their level and look around. You’ll be amazed at all the things you suddenly notice!

A few things to think about:

👟 Shoes, socks and clothing
🔌 Electrical cords and chargers
🗑️ Trash cans
💊 Medications
🧴 Cleaning supplies
🌱 Houseplants that may be toxic
🧸 Small toys or objects that could be swallowed
🍫 Food that isn’t safe for dogs
🪑 Anything they can climb on, knock over or get stuck behind

And remember, puppy proofing isn’t just about protecting your stuff. It’s about keeping that curious little puppy safe while they learn what is and isn’t appropriate to chew.

You don’t have to spend the next six months chasing a puppy around yelling “DROP IT!” 😂

Set them up for success. Keep tempting things out of reach, give them plenty of appropriate things to chew, and use that puppy containment area we talked about in Day 1 when you can’t actively supervise.

And if you do catch them with something they shouldn’t have, I don’t recommend turning it into a game of chase. 😂

Instead, offer them a trade. Give them something that is more valuable and Mom approved, like a yak cheese chew or a pizzle stick, and let them make the choice to give up the forbidden item for something better.

You’re teaching them what to chew instead of just telling them what not to chew. 🩷

Eventually, that little puppy brain starts to figure out, “Ohhh… Mom has the good stuff!” 😂

But until then, assume everything is a potential puppy toy. 😂🩷

10/03/2026

Part 7 in my series: So you got a new puppy, now what?!

Day 7: Feeding Your Puppy 🍽️

One of the easiest things you can do for a new puppy is keep their routine as consistent as possible, especially when it comes to food.

When your puppy comes home, they’ve already had a LOT of changes. New people, new smells, new surroundings, new schedule… and now you’re changing their food, too? That can be a recipe for an upset puppy tummy. 😂

I recommend keeping your puppy on the same food they’ve been eating and making any changes gradually if you decide to switch foods later.

Puppies also need a predictable feeding schedule. It helps with potty training, gives them a routine they can count on, and makes it easier for you to keep track of how much they’re actually eating.

And please remember, puppies are puppies. They are going to act like they are absolutely starving to death approximately 4.7 seconds after finishing their meal. 😂

That does not necessarily mean they need more food. Follow the feeding recommendations for their age, size and individual needs, and adjust as they grow.

And finally…

In-N-Out is NOT puppy-approved food. 🍔😂

Even if it is apparently Ace-approved. 🤦‍♀️🐾

🩷

10/02/2026

Part six in my series: So you got a new puppy, now what?!

Day 6: Crate Training Is a Life Skill

One of the things I really recommend working on with your new puppy is crate training.

And I’m not talking about putting your puppy in a crate for hours and calling it good. 😂

The goal is to teach your puppy that their crate is a safe, comfortable place where they can relax and settle.

Feed meals in there.
Give special chews in there.
Let them take naps in there.
Start with short periods of time and gradually build up.

And don’t use the crate as punishment.

You want your dog to grow up thinking, “Oh, my crate? That’s my safe place.”

Because crate training isn’t just about keeping your puppy out of trouble while you’re cooking dinner.

It’s a life skill.

Think about all the times your dog could potentially need to be comfortable in a crate throughout their life.

🩺 At the vet
🚨 During an emergency or evacuation
🏨 Staying at a boarding facility
✈️ Traveling
✂️ At the groomer
🏠 Staying somewhere other than home
🐾 Recovering from an injury or surgery

You don’t want the first time your dog ever has to spend time in a crate to be during an emergency when they’re already scared and stressed.

Teach them now, while they’re young, that being in a crate is no big deal.

And if you’ve got a puppy who currently thinks the crate is a tiny prison cell…

Don’t panic. 😂

Take your time, make it a positive place, and build up their comfort gradually.

You’ll be glad you did. 🩷🐾

10/01/2026

When the task requires help from zero dogs…

Y’all, I can’t even put together a Blackstone Products griddle without supervision.

Thankfully, I have a whole crew of highly qualified aussholes on standby. Their job description seems to be standing directly in my way, staring intensely at whatever I’m doing, and offering absolutely ZERO assistance. 🤣

It would be aussome if they could hand me a tool once in a while… or maybe read the instructions for me. But apparently that’s asking too much. 😏🐾

10/10 supervision.
0/10 actual assistance.
Would hire again. 🩷

09/30/2026

I use MoxiGuard from Vetgrade to deworm my dogs. Normally I get the vanilla flavor and it’s fairly pleasant to smell, but the dogs still protest the deworming.

This time I thought I would try the chicken flavor, to be nice to the dogs. They love Chick-fil-A  nuggets, so a little switcheroo surprise-your-chicken-nuggets-are-dewormer would be good, right? WRONG.

Guuurl, they need to put a warning label on the bottle. “HAZARD BREATHE THROUGH YOUR MOUTH.” This stuff smells like the chicken went out clubbing for the night, got ran over *twice* while crossing the road, and then spent a week rotting in the garden before being used as flavoring for my dewormer.

🤢🤢🤢 ⬅️ Me the whole time I am deworming dogs, trying not to gag. But they were surprised and delighted by mom’s little switcheroo. So is the joke on them, or on me? 😳😂😅

Pic of the offending material for your amusement (because it looks innocent enough, right?!)

Dogs - 1
Mamma - 0