Malcolm & Angus: The Night Everything Changed
When Two Puppies Taught Me More About Leadership Than Any Book Ever Did
I've been thinking a lot lately about the nights before Malcolm and Angus came home.
The preparation. The anxiety. The endless research about "how to raise a puppy" that left me more confused than when I started.
Everyone has advice. Every article contradicts the last one. Crate training vs. free roam. Scheduled feeding vs. free feeding. Pee pads vs. straight to the grass.
It's enough to make you wonder why anyone ever decided to get a dog in the first place.
The Reality Check
Here's what the articles don't tell you: you will not be prepared.
No matter how many YouTube videos you watch, no matter how many books you read, no matter how much advice you get from friends who've "done this before" — your puppies will find ways to surprise you that no one could have predicted.
Malcolm, the gentle one, the one who was supposed to be "easy" — he had separation anxiety so severe I thought I'd made a terrible mistake.
Angus, the "rambunctious" one — he wasn't just energetic. He was strategic. He'd wait until I was in the middle of an important call to knock over the trash can he'd been ignoring all morning.
What I Eventually Figured Out
After weeks of barely sleeping and more frustration than I'd like to admit, something clicked.
These weren't problems to solve. They were relationships to build.
Every "bad" behavior was communication. The puppy equivalent of "I need something." Chewing? He needed more stimulation. Barking at nothing? He needed more exercise. Following me everywhere? He needed more confidence.
Once I started seeing it that way, everything changed.
The Leadership Parallel
Here's where it gets interesting — this isn't just about puppies.
Think about every "difficult" person you've ever worked with. The one who always caused problems. The one who seemed to be fighting every decision. The one who never seemed engaged.
What if, instead of seeing them as problems to solve, you saw them as puppies with unmet needs?
The "difficult" employee who fights every change? Maybe they need more clarity about why things are changing. Maybe they need to feel heard.
The "lazy" team member who never seems motivated? Maybe they're bored. Maybe they need a challenge. Maybe they're waiting for someone to ask what they actually want.
What I've Learned
Malcolm and Angus aren't perfect. They still have their moments. Malcolm still gets anxious when I travel. Angus still occasionally decides 3 AM is a great time for zoomies.
But they're also the best decision I ever made.
Because they taught me that every behavior is communication. And that the people (and dogs) who challenge us the most are often the ones who need us the most.
If you're struggling with a team member, a coworker, or even a puppy — pause before you get frustrated.
Ask yourself: What are they actually trying to tell me?
More updates coming soon. Follow along as Malcolm & Angus continue to teach me things I didn't know I needed to learn.
Tags: Puppy Training, Leadership, Personal Growth, Malcolm, Angus
