Kathy Callahan & Helen St. Pierre - Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One

What happens when you bring a playful puppy into a home shared with an aging dog? 

Is it a heartwarming tale of intergenerational friendship—or a recipe for resentment and overwhelm?

In this deeply insightful and refreshingly honest conversation, I’m joined by Kathy Callahan and Helen St. Pierre, authors of Old Dog, New Dog: A Guide to Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One. 

We explore the emotional, practical, and soulful layers of combining puppy energy with senior dog wisdom—and what it really takes to make that transition harmonious for everyone involved.

Helen brings her experience from running a senior animal sanctuary and navigating end-of-life care with grace and compassion. Kathy shares her joyful yet grounded perspective on puppyhood—why it often gets a bad rap, and how to set yourself and your new pup up for success.

This episode is packed with laughter, raw truth, and beautiful reminders that dogs—young and old—have so much to teach us about living fully and letting go gently.

🐶 In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why a peaceful senior-puppy combo takes more than wishful thinking—and what factors to consider before making the leap.
• How to assess your older dog’s bandwidth, physically and emotionally, before bringing a new dog into the mix.
• The truth about grief, quality of life, and making end-of-life decisions—and why "they'll tell you when it's time" isn’t always true.
• Why managing expectations (and having a few good gates and stuffed Toppls!) makes all the difference.
• The one crucial mistake even experienced dog lovers make when bringing home a puppy to an aging dog.
• Why your puppy will almost always choose your older dog over you—and how to prepare for that dynamic.

🧡 Favorite Quote:
“Regret and guilt are optional. Grief is not. But if you lean into today—fill it with connection, meet their needs—you make peace later that much easier.” — Helen St. Pierre

00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:16 Kathy's Expertise in Puppies
02:31 Helen's Journey with Senior Dogs
05:22 Challenges and Joys of Puppyhood
07:42 Writing the Book Together
11:56 Integrating Puppies with Senior Dogs
16:21 Managing Expectations and Practical Tips
22:51 The Emotional Journey of Dog Relationships
24:09 Understanding the Need for Separation
25:26 Setting Realistic Expectations for New Puppy Owners
27:13 Dealing with the Loss of an Older Dog
31:29 Recognizing Signs of Decline in Senior Dogs
35:35 Making the Difficult Decision of Euthanasia
44:31 Living Regret-Free with Your Dogs
48:10 Where to Find More Resources and Support

About Kathy and Helen:
Kathy Callahan (🐾 https://puppypicks.com) is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and Family Dog Mediator (LFDM) who specializes in puppies. She’s also the author of Welcoming Your Puppy from Planet Dog and 101 Rescue Puppies. Kathy fosters rescue litters and helps families navigate puppyhood with joy, realism, and a lot of cheerleading.

Helen St. Pierre (🐾 https://nomonkeybusinessdogtraining.com) is the founder of Old Dogs Go To Helen, a senior dog sanctuary, and an experienced trainer with over two decades in the field. She’s certified as a CPDT-KSA, CDBC, and LFDM and offers courses and consults on end-of-life care for pets, including her signature course The Good Death.

Together, Kathy and Helen are the co-authors of Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One—a practical and heartfelt guide for navigating this transition with compassion and clarity.

🌐 Connect with Kathy & Helen:
Kathy Callahan
Website: https://puppypicks.com
Instagram: @puppypicks
Facebook: Kathryn G. Callahan
YouTube: Kathy's Channel

Helen St. Pierre
Website: https://nomonkeybusinessdogtraining.com
Sanctuary: https://olddogsgotohelen.com
Facebook: Old Dogs Go To Helen | No Monkey Business Dog Training | Helen’s Personal

📚 Get the Book:
Old Dog, New Dog: Supporting Your Aging Best Friend and Welcoming a New One
Available here https://a.co/d/j5SuTJP or wherever you buy your books!

As always, to find out all about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to https://soultouchedbydogs.com