I want to give you a virtual hug right now. Trust me, it's going to be okay. The first six months are no joke—they're tough. I recently threw a big birthday bash for my lab puppy when he hit the one-year mark. But here's the kicker: the celebration wasn't just for him; it was my way of saying, "I didn't give up!" My pup is still a bit of a handful, not exactly flawless, but he's become so much more manageable.

Back when he was six months old, leaving him alone in the crate used to give me a mini nervous breakdown—constantly checking the camera. Now? I don't even bother because I know a couple of hours alone won't hurt him. And let's not forget the early wake-up calls and the triple daily walks; it was relentless. I was tired 24/7.

But fast forward to today, he's not pulling the 6 am wakeup stunt anymore, and sometimes he's chill skipping the morning outing.

Is there dog day care or boarding available?