Call It Short & Sweet: Puppy Blues

Summary

Podcast Summary: Call It What It Is - Episode: "Puppy Blues"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Call It What It Is
• Host/Authors: Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington (BFFs and stars from Grey’s Anatomy)
• Episode: Call It Short & Sweet: Puppy Blues
• Release Date: May 15, 2025

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Introduction and Backstory

In this heartfelt episode, Jessica Capshaw and Camilla Luddington delve into the emotional challenges of welcoming a new puppy into a household already bustling with family and other pets. Jessica shares her personal journey of adopting Scooby, the newest addition to her family, and the unexpected emotional toll it took—a phenomenon commonly referred to as "puppy blues."

Opening Moments:

• [00:35] Jessica Capshaw: Jessica humorously mentions her unique emotional responses, saying, “I don’t feel emotions correctly. I collect my roommate’s toenails and fingernails.”
• [02:10] Host Introduction: Jessica and Camilla introduce themselves and set the stage for the episode, emphasizing that it’s an intimate conversation without guests.

Adopting Scooby: The Unexpected Challenges

Jessica recounts the spontaneous decision to adopt Scooby, an English black lab, during an Easter outing. Despite initial excitement, she soon realizes that integrating a new energetic puppy into a household with older, more sedentary rescue dogs comes with unforeseen challenges.

Key Moments:

• [05:21] Jessica Capshaw: “We never start a sentence with don’t tell Daddy.” This highlights Jessica’s attempt to secretly adopt Scooby without Camilla’s prior knowledge.
• [07:55] Jessica Capshaw: Jessica candidly shares her emotional breakdown upon introducing Scooby, stating, “I think I’ve made a terrible mistake. Like, I have taken on this dog for life.”
• [08:25] Camilla Luddington: Camilla provides a stabilizing presence, reassuring Jessica with, “He is very steady in a storm. And he was like, he’s really cute. And you’ve made the commitment and it’s time to put on your big girl pants now.”

Understanding the Puppy Blues

The conversation shifts to the concept of "puppy blues," a period of emotional distress that new puppy owners may experience. Jessica admits her lack of awareness about this phenomenon until she encountered it firsthand.

Insights and Discussions:

• [20:35] Jessica Capshaw: “I just hoped he doesn’t poop in his crate yet.” This reflects Jessica’s humor and frustration during the training phase.
• [21:17] Camilla Luddington: “Encourage rest and routine. Remind them that it gets easier because puppies do go through rapid development, and what’s hard now will pass.”
• Research Highlight: Jessica cites a 2023 survey by East Coast Dog Training, revealing that approximately 70% of puppy owners experience symptoms of anxiety and depression during the initial stages of puppy ownership.

Listener Submissions: Shared Experiences

Jessica and Camilla read and discuss various listener submissions, illustrating that many dog owners have traversed similar emotional landscapes.

Notable Submissions:

• Nicole: Describes puppy blues as “literally like postpartum depression,” struggling to balance the emotional upheaval and the responsibility of pet ownership.
• Megan: Shares her journey from a “nightmare” puppy phase with constant biting and crying to a beloved family pet after four months.
• Barb Rodin: Recounts the chaos of cleaning up after a puppy’s antics during a professional Zoom call, highlighting the disruptive nature of puppy behavior.

Memorable Quotes:

• Nicole: “It’s the change that’s a struggle or if it was just the wrong decision.”
• Megan: “Constant biting, crying. Chewed her way out of a wooden crate.”

Coping Strategies and Support

Jessica and Camilla offer practical advice and emotional support for listeners grappling with the puppy blues. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging one's feelings, seeking help, and maintaining a structured routine to manage stress.

Key Recommendations:

• Validate Feelings: Recognize that feeling overwhelmed is normal and doesn’t reflect poor pet ownership. “This doesn’t mean that you’re a bad owner. It’s a big adjustment,” Jessica advises.
• Encourage Routine: Establishing a consistent schedule can provide stability for both the owner and the puppy.
• Seek Assistance: Whether it’s professional training, consulting a veterinarian, or talking to a therapist, seeking help is crucial. “Asking for help is a strength, not a failure,” Camilla emphasizes.

Positive Outcomes and Moving Forward

Despite the initial struggles, Jessica shares the positive developments in her household. Scooby bonds with Jessica’s existing dog, Casper, and the overall situation improves as they adapt to the new family member.

Closing Thoughts:

• [28:12] Jessica Capshaw: Reflects on her journey, “By day three, I was crying to Matt and I was like, I think I’m depressed. I think I’m depressed,” showcasing her vulnerability and the path to recovery.
• [32:15] Camilla Luddington: Encourages resilience, “What the anger and frustration that would happen after this one,” highlighting the long-term rewards of overcoming initial challenges.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a reaffirmation of the bond between Jessica and her pets, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and love in overcoming the puppy blues. Jessica lovingly refers to her new puppy, Scooby, and acknowledges the support from Camilla and their listeners.

Final Remarks:

• [38:41] Michael Kassin: Reinforces the episode’s theme with a nod to relatable, quirky personal stories.
• [38:42] Jessica Capshaw: Affirms the positive relationship with her new puppy, “He’s still definitely the naughtier of the dogs, but he’s so sweet.”

Takeaways

• Awareness: Understanding that experiencing emotional distress after adopting a puppy is common and valid.
• Support Systems: Leveraging personal support and professional resources can alleviate the stress associated with puppy blues.
• Adaptation: With time, patience, and consistent training, the initial challenges of introducing a new puppy can lead to a harmonious household.

Notable Quotes from the Episode:

• Jessica Capshaw [07:55]: “I think I’ve made a terrible mistake. Like, I have taken on this dog for life.”
• Camilla Luddington [21:17]: “Encourage rest and routine. Remind them that it gets easier because puppies do go through rapid development, and what’s hard now will pass.”
• Megan [24:23]: “Megan wrote, my dog was a nightmare. From the time we bought her home until four months, constant biting, crying.”

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This episode of Call It What It Is offers a candid and empathetic exploration of the emotional challenges faced by new puppy owners, providing valuable insights and solidarity for anyone navigating the tumultuous early days of pet companionship.

Transcript

[Michael Kassin]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.

[Dan Flores]

With T Mobile. No Trendspotter has to deal with Trendspotty service because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network. Switch now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off at the $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I found out that was related to the guy that I was dating. I don't feel emotions correctly. I collect my roommates, toenails and fingernails.

[Michael Kassin]

Those were some callers from my call in Podcast Therapy Gecko. It's a show where I take phone calls from anonymous strangers as a fake gecko therapist and try to learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's very interesting. Check it out for yourself by searching for Therapy gecko on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Camille Luddington]

The Made for this Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well being and then climb that mountain.

[Unknown]

You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say. Hey, this is my mountain. This the struggle.

[Camille Luddington]

Listen to Made for this mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown]

Why is a soap opera Western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

Listen to the American west with Dan.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown]

Call it what It Is with Jessica.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Capshaw and Camille Ludington, an iHeartRadio podcast.

[Unknown]

Hello, hello, hello, hello, Call It Crew and welcome to another episode of Call it what It Is. Let's just dive in because it's just me and you today. There's no guests today and I think that we need to tell a little bit of the backstory of How I got here and how we got to this episode. Okay, here's what has happened. Everybody knows that I have three rescue dogs. I have Gus and Sully. They're my dogs. I've had for, like, 313 years with Matt. That's how old they are. And then I have Casper, who's my newest rescue. He's two years old. He was dumped in a box as a puppy. He's this cattle dog retriever lab mix with all the love, all the energy, all the things, and he's adorable. But what I realized is when I brought him home is that my older dogs have zero interest in playing with him. Right? They were just. They weren't like. It's not like the dogs were, like, fighting when we got him. It's just that they. They were bored. They. They didn't want anything to do with him. They. They want us, their pillows. They want to sit on the couch. They want to wait for a little bit piece of cheese if it comes their way. And when they get to go to the dog park, they're happy. And then they want to come home and be a pillow again. They're cozy in their old age. And to be honest, both of them we rescued when one was one and one was four. They've always sort of been like that. They were street dogs before, and so they didn't. They honestly didn't really come with, like, puppy energy. So Casper bugs them all the time. He's on the couch with a ball in his mouth just waiting for anyone to play with him. And it started to get really sad. So a conversation a year ago started where I said to Matt, listen, I think we should get Casper a friend, a puppy buddy friend. Matt was like, hell, no. And I was like, just think on it. I'll send you four dogs a day to look at. Which is what's happened for the past year. And we've come really close to adopting a couple. And Matt has not been super into it. He's like, okay, you do this. You gotta start helping out more. You gotta pick up the poops, because I don't do pooping up in our yard, okay? So he's like, you gotta pick out the poops. You gotta feed them more. Easter Sunday rolls around, and we go to an Easter lunch. And then Matt has to go and do this meeting actually on Easter. So he goes and does this. Well, it's an audition. He has to do this, like, audition thing, put something on tape. And he's like, okay, I'll be back home after. And so I Sneaky sneak knew that there was a Wagmore Pets as a rescue in Studio City in the Valley in Los Angeles. I knew that they were open for the day on Easter for any rescue. So I put the kids in, and I was like, don't tell Daddy. We're gonna go to the rescue. And we're just gonna. My plan was just.

[Jessica Capshaw]

We never start a sentence with don't tell Daddy.

[Unknown]

Don't sell Daddy. It's not a full secret because, well, Matt happened in the know that I'd wanted one. He's at the point where I was like, listen, if you want to get one, get one, fine. You know? So I was like, we're gonna go. My plan was just to hold a couple puppies. I just thought, like, we'll hold them and then we'll go.

[Jessica Capshaw]

That's always the plan.

[Unknown]

So we went and they held. They sat and they held a couple Pomeranian puppies. And then I said, do you have any other little puppies back there in the bag? Anyone that wants to come forward? Like, it's like a seance, right? Does anyone else want to come forward? And they're like, we do, actually. We have a purebred English black lab. And they said he had a little sister who was a yellow lab, and she went in 24 hours, and him and his brother sat forever. And he was the last one. And he came out, Jess, and his eyes locked with mine, and he said, take me home.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

And I said, also, I'll disclose. I was on my period, so I was feeling a little emotional. When I was looking at me, he caught me at the wrong time of the month.

[Jessica Capshaw]

It's like going grocery shopping when you're hungry. Nothing to stand between you and taking that dog home because you told your children not to tell Daddy no.

[Unknown]

And I couldn't call him because I didn't. I didn't want to interrupt that audition. That would have been really important.

[Jessica Capshaw]

And you knew he was. Yeah, because he was locked up. He wasn't gonna come out of nowhere and be like, yeah, put him in.

[Unknown]

The car, drove home with him. I get home, I'm so excited. The dogs all greet him. There's no real issues. And then here's what happened. They're running around the backyard, and we have a nice. We have a large backyard. I would never adopt four dogs if we didn't have some sort of backyard, because that'd be mean, right? So running around the backyard, and suddenly I kind of almost, like, sobered up and. And. And it looked like, yes, this is When I sort of sobered up and I was like, that's a lot of dogs. These are a lot of dogs in my backyard. And I thought, crap, Matt's gonna come home and I have to break the news to him. Like, there's another dog in here. And check your credit card statement. Did not have a dog bed. Did not have food. Didn't have anything for him. Matt comes home and I burst into tears.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, you did. By the way, that was very well played. Sympathy for you is what he's supposed to have right now.

[Unknown]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Sympathy for you. You've created this.

[Unknown]

I did. And I felt terrible because I have never experienced this before. This is what the episode's going to be about. I burst into tears and I said, I think I've made a terrible mistake. Like, I have taken on this dog and for life, Right? And I'm looking at all these dogs in our backyard, and it looks like that scene where Melissa McCarthy steals all the puppies and bridesmaids and there does 20 of them in the back. Like, I felt like her.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Probably just as unhinged, quite frankly, as unhinged.

[Unknown]

And he is very. He's very steady in a storm. And he was like, he's really cute. And you've made the commitment and it's time to put on your big girl pants now. And you've been wanting this for a long time. And he's. We're obviously keeping him.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I love Matt. He's so good in these situations.

[Unknown]

I know. So that's how Scooby came into our life.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Scooby.

[Unknown]

Scooby. That's how Scooby came in. Here's what I did not anticipate. My first two dogs were street dogs. They were. They came potty trained. Right. They came older. They were not in a crate. They just kind of sat around. They were fine. When I got Casper, we did get him as a puppy, but I had to work immediately after Matt had to work. And so we did the very swanky thing of sending the puppy off. Yeah. Doing a little doggy boarding school where they go for three weeks and they come back and they're fully trained.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Unknown]

And I think you did that with your puppies.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Too expensive, too.

[Unknown]

It is so much money. Did you do that because you have August Gus and you have cow.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Unknown]

Did you do the puppy boarding school?

[Jessica Capshaw]

Okay, So I. I'm like you. I love dogs. I've always loved dogs. I've always had dogs. And when I got out of college, I was like, of Course, I can handle having a dog. I could not. Absolutely not at all. And I think the main reason why I couldn't was because I didn't take the time to train the dog. So I learned my lesson the hard way.

[Unknown]

Did you have to re home the puppy?

[Jessica Capshaw]

I did have to re home that puppy.

[Unknown]

There's no shame in that.

[Jessica Capshaw]

No, I know. And by the way, she. We found her an incredible home, and she lived out her days in total luxury, and I know there's no way close to me and I could go visit her. And she finally did mellow out. She was a lab, and she had a ton of energy, and I could not meet her where she was at.

[Unknown]

You were a college kid.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I was just out of college, and I was. I mean, I was hustling. I was trying to get jobs. I was. I had a work schedule, then I got a job, and then I was working crazy hours.

[Unknown]

Oh, yeah, no, no, that's. Yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

You know, it was just a lot. And she was really not very well behaved. If you have the wherewithal and if you can afford to have them go off for training, I am all for it.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

And we did do that with Gus also, because we did not have a dog, and we did have four children. So when I put my four children in the backyard, to me, that looked like a lot of children.

[Unknown]

Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

And adding in a dog, I was like, ooh, all right, buckle up.

[Unknown]

And Josie was little.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, she was little. She was like one or two, but. And then we. We had. We.

[Unknown]

We.

[Jessica Capshaw]

He. He came crate trained, although then he shows up and he actually wasn't. And I did go to a dog trainer and get all of her tips and tricks. I love her so much. She's in Los Angeles. You should totally go use her. And the first night in the crate, he cried and cried and cried and cried, and I felt so terrible. And he didn't want to go in this crate that they told me was his den. And so he was so happy in this crate. No, he wasn't. He wanted to get the fuck out of that crate.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

And scream and cry. He was like, no. And I had four kids, and I was like, this puppy cannot take my ship down. And so in that first week, I definitely did, like, put him in a half nelson at one point.

[Unknown]

What's a half nelson?

[Jessica Capshaw]

Like, right under. Like, right underneath my arm. Like, I had to snuck a fly him a little bit. Like, you know, in the dog world, you got to dominate and didn't hurt him. I'm very gentle. But I was like, you know, you gotta be the alpha and you gotta put them on their back and like, you know, be the alpha. And so I alpha'd him. And then honestly, it was just that one little tussle that we had. And he's been, he's been a dream dog ever since.

[Unknown]

Well, he knew in that moment. He's like, don't mess with Mama Cappy.

[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

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[Dan Flores]

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[Jessica Capshaw]

I found out I was related to the guy that I was dating. I don't feel emotions correctly. I am talking to a felon right now and I cannot decide if I like him or not.

[Michael Kassin]

Those were some callers from my call Podcast Therapy Gecko. It's a show where I take real phone calls from anonymous strangers all over the world as a fake gecko therapist and try to dig into their brains and learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's pretty interesting if you give it a shot. Matter of fact, here's a few more examples of the kinds of calls we get on this show.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I live with my boyfriend and I found his piss jar in our apartment. I collect my roommate toenails and fingernails. I have very overbearing parents even at.

[Unknown]

The age of 29.

[Jessica Capshaw]

They don't let me move out of their house.

[Michael Kassin]

So if you want an excuse to get out of your own head and see what's going on in someone else's head, search for Therapy gecko on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the one with the green guy on it.

[Unknown]

What about Cal? Because then you got a second puppy.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. That is the one that I had the puppy blues with a bit. We really wanted him. We had just moved. We were in a rental. That all felt like a really good idea to have a puppy. But all of A sudden, we were in seasons. And he. He has a disposition that's a little more like. I always think dogs have voices. And Gus, you know, the aforementioned, you know, little teeny bit of a bumpy beginning, but then total acquiescence and. And he kind of, like, walks around the house. And I think that his. His. His voice, his dog voice and pets would be like, well, hello there. All right, shall we say? I. I think I'm going to go outside and get a lie in the sun today. Like, that's how he talks. And all of a sudden, Cal showed up, and Cal was like, hi. I'm like, what are we gonna do? Oh, can I eat that?

[Unknown]

Oh, he's a cow.

[Jessica Capshaw]

That's okay. I'll eat my own shit. Which, by the way, it really grosses me out that. That. That situation. I mean, if you're gonna eat your poop in front of me, how am I meant to ask you to come into my home?

[Unknown]

I don't know.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Isn't that what boundaries are for? Aren't we supposed to exercise them? Aren't we supposed to say no? So I felt, yes, I had puppy blues. And also all the kids were kind of looking at me like, I mean, he's really cute, but he does seem a little naughty. And, yeah, I had no backup for. For any reasons to keep him, but I was not getting. He was not going anywhere. So I was like, yeah, that was the blues part.

[Unknown]

Yes.

[Jessica Capshaw]

My general feelings of dissatisfaction. I just looked totally things that you get in puppy.

[Unknown]

So the first night, he cries all night in his crate. And, you know, I'm reading the Tick Tocks, it's like, they really need to be in their crate. They love their crates. It's going to be their safe space. He acted like that crate was like Alcatraz, right.

[Jessica Capshaw]

On fire or on fire 100%. It's a burning building.

[Unknown]

Yep. And he even figured out how to unlock it like he was Houdini. And he came out and he was so excited. And the first night he ended up on the couch, he was just chilling. When I came down the morning, I was like, how did you get out? There was a poop and a pee out. I'm like, what? Point is. You've been using the term puppy blues. I had never heard of this term. And by day three of me crying over the stress of this new dog, I wonder so many things. I'm gonna be honest, I thought like, I can't handle this, and this is really embarrassing because I have a bunch of other dogs and kids And I felt like our dynamic in our home was so copacetic and we had our thing down, and now I've introduced this other being for what reason? And it's all up. And my kids usually had been cut. My son had trouble sleeping for years, and he was coming in every night to wake me up, and he just. The past, like, stop doing that. And now I'm like, hey, let me figure out a way to not get any more sleep again. And then I just bought new rugs and here. And of course, he's like, that's a new rug. Great. That's a potty that I love now, Right?

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

By day three, I was crying to Matt and I was like, I think I'm depressed. I think I'm depressed. And he was like, you know, did his mat thing of like, yeah, we got this. Don't worry, it's going to be. So I got on Tik tok, as you do, and I looked up people's experience with puppies, and there was like, postpartum puppy came up and puppy blues. Had you heard of these terms before? We talked about them in the.

[Jessica Capshaw]

No, no, no, no. Definitely not.

[Unknown]

So I had not either. So these terms came up and hundreds, probably thousands of videos came up of people saying, I'm so depressed after getting this beautiful puppy that I've been dying to get. I'm anxious. I'm not sleeping. I'm having trouble. I work from home. This is a nightmare. I don't even love the dog. And I thought I loved the dog. And then in the comments, it's like two years later now. They love the dog. So there truly is this period of time that I was not aware of that I wish I had been aware of called the puppy blues. And I'd never had it before. And so we thought we'd do a whole episode on it.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

And just call it what it is.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Also, like, you do you deal with real feelings because it's a real, living, breathing animal that you are and you're in charge of taking care of. I felt very guilty. When I was having a hard time.

[Unknown]

I felt so guilty. I felt absolutely terrible.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Has Matt giving you any of the. Like, when it's hard, is he like, you kind of did this to yourself?

[Unknown]

I didn't think it through. And I have to say, though, Casper and him became fast best friends. And if they hadn't. If that hadn't have happened, I would have really regretted it because I would have felt like, this is the reason I'm really doing it.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah. By the way Gus couldn't have cared less about Cal. We thought that that was going to be the case, like, they would be playmates, but nope, they both just care about us.

[Unknown]

Yeah, my other dogs don't care, but they really are best friends. And what I didn't know is that the English lab compared to he's a pur at English lab, they're actually much calmer than American labs. And so he's pretty chill. He's actually a really chill, floppy, real cute puppy. Thank God. Okay, so here are some facts that I found kind of interesting. A significant number of dog owners, estimated at around 70%, experience what's known as the puppy blues after bringing home a new puppy. These feelings can manifest as anxiety, depression, or both, often due to the significant changes in lifestyle and responsibility that come with puppy care. And it said the east coast dog training found. In a 2023 survey, 70% of puppy owners reported symptoms of anxiety and depression or depression, which is bonarus. The Huffington Post has done a whole article piece on this, and the title of it is, yes, the puppy blues are a Real thing. Here's how to cope. We'll get into that, but we also threw it out to you guys, and we asked if you guys had experienced any of this. And so we should read some of the submissions we got because the crew gets it.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yes, they do. Yes, they do. They understood the mission.

[Unknown]

They understood.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Okay, so let's start off with Nicole. Nicole wrote in and said it's literally like postpartum depression. Hard to tell if it's the change that's a struggle or if it was just the wrong decision. Yeah, I think that's where it starts.

[Unknown]

Yeah. And I think. I think that you have your home and you're set in your ways, and then you imagine this cute little thing coming in and just being part of it, like, going with the flow. And you're like, no, you're the main event now. Yeah, you're the main event. And you're sort of dictating, right? Like, hearing him. I'm up. I'm still up right now. I'm like two weeks into it. I'm still up through the night to take him out. Megan wrote, my dog was a nightmare. From the time we bought her home until four months, constant biting, crying. Chewed her way out of a wooden crate. We brought her. Oh, yeah, he chewed his. Yeah, he chewed his way out of a wooden gate, guys. He was able to get himself out. Once her puppy teeth fell out, she was a different dog. She's been mine. My husband's and my kids best friend for eight and a half years now.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Okay, that's a good. That's a good story.

[Dan Flores]

With T Mobile. No trendspotter has to deal with trends body service because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Michael Kassin]

I found out that was related to.

[Jessica Capshaw]

The guy that I was dating. I don't feel emotions correctly. I am talking to a felon right now and I cannot decide if I like him or not.

[Michael Kassin]

Those were some callers from my call in Podcast Therapy Gecko. It's a show where I take real phone calls from anonymous strangers all over the world as a fake gecko therapist and try to dig into their brains and learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's pretty interesting if you give it a shot. Matter of fact, here's a few more examples of the kinds of calls we get on this show.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I live with my boyfriend and I found his piss jar in our apartment. I collect my roommate's toenails and fingernails. I have very overbearing parents. Even at the age of 29, they don't let me move out of their house.

[Michael Kassin]

So if you want an excuse to get out of your own head and see what's going on in someone else's head, search for Therapy gecko on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the one with the green guy on it.

[Camille Luddington]

Made for this Mountain is a podcast that exists to empower listeners to rise above their struggles, break free from the chains of trauma and silence the negative voices that have kept them small. Through raw conversations, real stories, and actionable guidance, you can learn to face the mountain that is in front of you.

[Unknown]

You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refer. Refuse to identify the thing that you refuse to say. Hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle. This is the thing that's in front of me. You can't make that mountain move without actually diving into that.

[Camille Luddington]

May is mental Health Awareness Month. A time to conquer the things that once felt impossible and step boldly into the best version of yourself, to awaken the unstoppable strength that's inside of us all. So tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well being, and climb your personal mountain.

[Unknown]

Because it's impossible for you to be the most authentic you. It's impossible for you to love you fully if all you're doing is living to please people. Your mountain is that.

[Camille Luddington]

Listen to Made for this mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bom Han]

Yo, K Pop fans. It's your boy, Bom Han, and I'm bringing you something epic.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Epic.

[Bom Han]

Introducing the K Factor, the podcast that takes you straight into the heart of K Pop. We're talking music reviews, exclusive interviews, and deep dives into the industry like never. From producers and choreographers to idols and trainees, we're bringing you the real stories behind the music that you love. And yeah, we're keeping it hunted, discussing everything from comebacks and concepts to the mental health side of the business. Because K Pop isn't just a genre, it's a whole world. And we're exploring every corner of it. And here's the best part. Fans get to call in, drop opinions, and even join us live at events. You never know where we might pop up next. So listen to the K factor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This isn't just a podcast. It's a movement.

[Michael Kassin]

Are you ready?

[Bom Han]

Let's go.

[Michael Kassin]

Let's go.

[Jessica Capshaw]

By the way, I love Cal and I and we got through it. He's still. He's still definitely the naughtier of the dogs, but he's so sweet.

[Unknown]

He is so sweet.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, I love him. And he's like a heartier size. Gus is a little more like, you know, puff, but a smaller body. But Cal's got, like, some girth I like.

[Unknown]

Yeah. And it's funny because even now I'm two weeks in, I haven't cried in, you know, a week. And so it's gotten a little better. And I've made it aware. I said to Matt, next time I make a decision, I need to not be on my period because that was probably not the right time for me to, like, be really resilient and making a decision too. But I love this damn dog. I love this dog. And it's still tough and we're still dealing with all the things because it's. He's fresh, right? He's just out the oven. He's just been.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Are you still crate training?

[Unknown]

Yes, we are. But I have to tell you, I, I. Here's what I don't like. I went on tick tock and everyone's like, okay, so here's what you're gonna do. You're gonna make the crate like, his little space that he just loves. You're gonna throw a treat in and throw a treat out. Okay, great. Like, that's a cute exercise for 10 minutes, right? What happens at 10pm when you put that dog in? You can't sit by that crate and go, okay, I'm gonna send you treats every 30 minutes for the next 12 hours. Here's what happens. They cry, and they're crying loud and they're barking and it's so stressful. And if I had an apartment, I would seriously not know what to do because I would feel the anxiety of neighbors next to me.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, has he pooped in his crate yet? They always say that. They don't do that, but guess what? Mine did.

[Unknown]

He has not yet.

[Jessica Capshaw]

You better hope he doesn't.

[Unknown]

But, like, knock on wood, Alexandra, crate training is so worth it. But it's a lot of sleepless nights. I had not. So like I said, I had never done the crate training before. I started to dread the evenings, like, really dread them, and get like, kind of almost emotional at night being like, okay, it's my turn. I'm being real. I know it sounds crazy. And I said, champagne problems, right? I have a puppy. Like, oh, my God, boohoo me. But I felt I did find it very isolating and depressing and. And I have three other dogs and had never experienced this before, so I'm glad we're talking about it.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Okay, so Blair wrote in and said we just got another dog because our older dog was lonely. And now they are inseparable. We'll see. Good for you. Maybe they do make friends every once in a while.

[Unknown]

They do. Chloe said the waking up at 3am to take them out is brutal. I have, I have a 2:30 timer. That's when I take him out.

[Jessica Capshaw]

When does that stop? How long did you do that?

[Unknown]

I don't know. Do you guys know crew? Please, someone tell me, because I'm over it, but I'm gonna do it so he doesn't pee in this crate.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Is it like with babies? Like, if he gets us to a certain weight, can he hold it?

[Unknown]

How old is he gets age appropriate? He's four months, I think. I think it's an age appropriate thing. But he's new with us. He's been. He. He was in the, you know, he was in the rescue in a little room the whole time. He's used to doing that.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Samantha wrote it and said, I resented my dog so much. He hit one year and now I'm obsessed.

[Unknown]

I think we should talk about that because I think that I saw that a lot on social media too. And a lot of people really feeling guilty about.

[Jessica Capshaw]

A year is a long time.

[Unknown]

Yeah, a year is a long time to feel that way. But maybe not. I mean, I don't know like what your lifestyle's like. But I. A lot of people were talking about the resentment. They sort of did have early days with their puppy because they're not sleeping and you're picking up the. You take them out and they pee and they come in, they pee right again and you're like, what the. I just, you know, so.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah. And they get into everything.

[Unknown]

And they get into everything and let's. Yes, Betty. My 10 month old lab has eaten 30 pairs of undies, 25 socks and can open drawers. That's like the velociraptor in Jurassic Park. When he opens the door for the first time, it's so terrifying.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Opening drawers and it's a lab. Yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah. Kathy wrote in, said, nothing like chasing your puppy trying to get batteries out of his mouth.

[Unknown]

See, that is. That would have made me cry last week.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

Lauren inside it said I cried every day the first month I got my dog. That was three years ago and she's the best dog ever now. I just don't think you realize until you're in it. And I think that you just, just be prepared to cry all the time. Yeah, I know that it's normal. It's. It helped me to see all these tick tocks showing me like this is normal because I'd never experienced it before.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Do you take him out and like try and run him so that he gets all the energy out? I feel like that was something I did.

[Unknown]

I mean, luckily he plays so much with Casper that there's a natural like running and chasing and all that kind of stuff happening. But I feel really bad because we are very fortunate enough to have a backyard and that's not everyone's situation. And the truth is they also can't go out for walks. Right. Like they're too little. They don't have their shots. And so a lot of people are having to. They're at home and they're also having to figure out how to pause their work schedule or whatever they're doing with their kids. And now how many times a day is that? That's rough to wear them out to get them to go into their crate where they're gonna cry. It's just. It's a lot.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yes, it is.

[Unknown]

Celine said, we rescued a dog and he had worms, severe puking, and watery diarrhea. Never forget. But now he's a healthy, perfect boy.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Amy wrote in and said, I have a perfect four year old lab named Hank. And he was a very hyper puppy. It drove me nuts at time, but now I miss his energy. Okay, Barb Rodin. Because of my puppy, I just had to clean up a dead bird in my living room while I was on a zoom with a new client. Okay, this is something because, you know, we kind of live in the country that I turn into a squealing, ridiculous city girl. The dogs come back with things in their mouth.

[Unknown]

Really? I haven't experienced this yet.

[Jessica Capshaw]

And it's disgusting.

[Unknown]

What is the. What is like an example of something they brought in the house. Like a bird.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, a bird or a frog or.

[Unknown]

Ew.

[Jessica Capshaw]

There was one time we were on a walk, hike, whatever, and Cal brought something back, and I did not investigate or, you know, take multiple looks at it because I really needed it to stop being just. I just wanted to erase it from my memory in general. But I think it looked like whatever I would imagine a naked mole rat would look like. I don't know that I've ever seen a naked mole rat, but it looked like what would be called a naked mole rat.

[Unknown]

That's so disgusting.

[Jessica Capshaw]

And it was disgusting. And then I started screaming, and then I was like, drop it. Drop it. And then he thought that was funny. And then it was a nightmare. It was a nightmare. It was a nightmare. It was a total nightmare.

[Unknown]

I did. Okay, we'll read a couple more and then we'll tell you. We. Oh, my God. Megan said, my dog is a lab. See, labs have. They came out with this thing, and I now have a lab that labs have the, like, the gene for obesity, so they truly do eat anything. Meg said, my dog's a lab, and he ate some brownies, got drunk off of hand sanitizer, and so much more. That would have made me cry last week. That would have sent me you guys.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, I don't even know how you would. I mean, like, the. The. The anger and, like, the frustration that would happen after this one. Harmony wrote in and said nothing. Like coming home to your whole restoration hardware cloud couch ripped to pee.

[Unknown]

That's a nice couch. I've seen that couch.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Oh, my God. If you had. Did you mean, can you get puppy insurance for the things they destroy?

[Unknown]

I wish. Is that covered under a homeowner?

[Jessica Capshaw]

That would really bum me.

[Unknown]

So what to do about the puppy blues? First off, I think it's helpful to name it because then I would know. It always helps to know what you' experiencing. I would have been like, oh, is this the puppy blues? So we looked into some ways to help support yourself. If you know someone that has the puppy blues, validate their feelings, let them know it's normal to feel overwhelmed, anxious, sad, sad, even regretful. And you can say things like this doesn't mean that you're a bad owner. It's a big adjustment. And you're not alone.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I know what Matt said to you.

[Unknown]

Yeah, exactly. Right. And encourage rest and routine. Remind them that it gets easier because puppies do go through rapid development, and what's hard now will pass. And most people feel better in a month. And a month feels like a really long time. But I have to say, two weeks in and I'm already feeling better. And then do watch where red flags. So if they seem really deeply depressed, anxious, or they're, you know, you know, suggest for them to get some sort of help. Maybe you talk to a therapist or even a break. They need a break. Or. Or offer, you know, offer to find someone that can help them. You know, do a training session with them or vet behaviorist and reassure them that asking for help is a strength, not a failure. I realize these are champagne problems, guys. I realize that this is not like, you know, a life or death situation, but I was shocked at my own feelings after being a dog owner for over a decade, initially getting my Scooby Dooby Doo.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yeah.

[Unknown]

And it was really helpful to see everyone on Tick Tock and learn about the puppy blues. So I just. And then I started talking to everybody, and they didn't know the term, but they'd also experienced it. Like you, Jess. And so here is our little episode on it. And if you guys have any more stories about this, we would love to hear from you.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Yep. There's no shame in it. And always, always, always, just no matter how frustrated you are, remember that you keep that. That puppy safe. You keep that puppy safe.

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Jessica Capshaw]

That's your job.

[Unknown]

That's your job.

[Jessica Capshaw]

I'm here for you. If I lived in the same. If I lived in the same place, I'd take him for the night. I do a sleepover.

[Unknown]

Trust me, you'd be. You would have the puppy blues by the morning. I love him, but I do. You know what? I love him so much though. Let's call it the end of the episode.

[Michael Kassin]

I found out I was related to.

[Jessica Capshaw]

The guy that I was dating. I don't feel emotions correctly. I collect my roommate's toenails and fingernails.

[Michael Kassin]

Those were some callers from my call in Podcast Therapy Gecko. It's a show where I take phone calls from anonymous strangers as a fake gecko therapist and try to learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's very interesting. Check it out for yourself by searching for Therapy gecko on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your.

[Camille Luddington]

Podcasts the Made for this Mountain podcast exists to empower listeners to rise above their inner struggles and face the mountain in front of them. So during Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, focus on your emotional well being and then climb that mountain.

[Unknown]

You will never be able to change or grow through the thing that you refuse to identify. The thing that you refuse to say. Hey, this is my mountain. This is the struggle.

[Camille Luddington]

Listen to Made for this mountain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown]

Why is a soap opera Western like Yellowstone so wildly successful? The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

Listen to the American west with Dan.

[Jessica Capshaw]

Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Michael Kassin]

I'm Michael Kassin, founder and CEO of.

[Unknown]

3C Ventures and your guide on Good Company, the podcast where I sit down.

[Michael Kassin]

With the boldest innov shaping what's next. In this episode, I'm joined by Angeli.

[Unknown]

Sud, CEO of Tubi. We dive into the competitive world of streaming.

[Jessica Capshaw]

What others dismiss as niche, we embrace as core.

[Unknown]

There's so many stories out there and if you can find a way to curate and help the right person discover the right content. The term that we always hear from our audience is that they feel seen.

[Michael Kassin]

Listen to Good company on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Flores]

Foreign.

[Michael Kassin]

You'Re listening to an I Heart Podcast.