There is nothing quite as humbling as a 50-pound pitbull who has decided she knows a better route than you do.

One second you're leading a calm, structured walk. The next second you're holding onto a leash attached to 50 pounds of determined muscle that has completely different plans for your afternoon—and possibly your shoulder socket.

And right in the middle of that frustration, God tapped me on the shoulder and said: "Now you know how I feel."

In this episode of Abiding Trails, we're taking the leash outside and asking the honest question every dog owner eventually faces: who's really walking who? Because the way your pitbull pulls against your leadership has everything to do with the way we pull against God's direction.

What we cover in this episode: • The trail moment that made me laugh out loud by myself (and probably look unhinged) • What Proverbs 16:9 reveals about planning your way vs. trusting God's steps • Why pulling against the leash creates exhaustion while heeling creates endurance • The difference between what your dog sees (squirrel!) and what you see (cliff edge!) • Why correction isn't rejection—it's redirection toward safety • Three practical challenges for The Steward who wants to follow God's lead better

Whether you're managing one strong-willed dog or eight, this episode will change how you think about every single walk you take from here on out.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

👕 NEW TEE: "I Asked God for Patience. He Sent Me a Pitbull." - $30
Embroidered right here in my shop for Stewards who know exactly how much daily grace dog ownership requires.
→ Shop Now

📺 ABIDING PAWS YOUTUBE: Behind the scenes of this week's content
→ Watch Here

🌐 SHOP ALL GEAR: abidingpaws.com

CONNECT WITH THE PACK:
Instagram: @abidingpaws
Pinterest: @AbidingPaws

If this made you laugh while it challenged you, share it with a fellow Steward whose dog is currently winning the leadership battle. You know exactly who that is.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Get Your Free Faithful Companions: A Guide to Loving & Caring for Your Bully Breed Guide Here.

If you want to check out the gear that reflects this kind of life, it’s linked below.

— Abiding Paws

Ever specifically ask God for patience and then wonder what you were thinking?

Yeah, me too. His response was to send me eight pitbulls.

In this episode of Abiding Trails, we're getting honest about the hilarious, humbling, sanctifying reality of what it actually looks like to steward powerful dogs while trying to grow in your faith. Because James 1:2-4 says "trials of various kinds" produce steadfastness—but nobody tells you that sometimes those trials have blocky heads, selective hearing, and zero respect for your morning coffee.

What we cover in this episode: • Why everyday chaos with your dogs counts as biblical "trials of various kinds" • The trail story that completely humbled me and changed how I handle frustration
• Three practical ways to build steadfastness without losing your mind • Why laughing at the beautiful chaos is actually a biblical response • A brand new direction for Abiding Paws that's been on my heart for months

We talk serious stewardship on this show, but sometimes you just have to laugh at the reality that God uses stubborn dogs and 6am zoomies to sanctify us in ways we never expected.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

👕 NEW HUMOR TEE: "I Asked God for Patience. He Sent Me a Pitbull" - $30
Embroidered in my shop for men who know exactly how much daily grace dog ownership takes.
→ I Asked God for Patience He Sent Me a Pitbull – Christian Dog Mom Dad Tee – Abiding Paws

📺 ABIDING PAWS YOUTUBE: Behind-the-scenes of this week's gear launch
→ https://www.youtube.com/@AbidingPaws

🌐 SHOP ALL GEAR: abidingpaws.com

CONNECT WITH THE PACK:
Instagram: @abidingpaws
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abidingpaws

If this made you laugh while it encouraged you, share it with that one buddy who definitely needs the patience shirt. You know exactly who he is.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Get Your Free Faithful Companions: A Guide to Loving & Caring for Your Bully Breed Guide Here.

If you want to check out the gear that reflects this kind of life, it’s linked below.

— Abiding Paws

If you take a powerful bully breed to the edge of the Grand Canyon and just let the leash go slack because you want them to "feel free"—that isn't love. That's a disaster waiting to happen.

In this episode of Abiding Trails, I'm sharing the story of taking our senior dog Deimos to the Grand Canyon—and what that desert trail experience revealed about preparation, leadership, and why structure creates freedom rather than restriction.

Water in the desert isn't optional. It's life or death. And that reality taught me more about faithful stewardship than any classroom ever could.

What we cover in this episode: • Why desert trail preparation with your dog is literally a life or death responsibility • The Grand Canyon lesson: How structure creates freedom on the trail and at home • Why managing eight pitbulls in structured groups is faithful stewardship, not failure • How 1 Corinthians 14:33 and Proverbs 27:12 connect directly to trail wisdom • The moment we had to make the hard call on the trail with Deimos—and why it mattered • Why biblical stewardship isn't reactive—it's prepared • How boundaries protect your dog rather than punish them

Whether you hike with your dog, manage multiple dogs at home, or simply want your faith to mean something in your daily leadership decisions—this episode will challenge how you think about structure, preparation, and faithful responsibility.

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:

👕 FEATURED BUNDLE: Saved Mountain Sunset Bundle (Hat + Tee) - $55
Embroidered for men who lead through structure, not sentiment
→ https://abidingpaws.com/products/saved-mountain-sunset-bundle-stay-steady

📺 ABIDING PAWS YOUTUBE: Visual content for biblical stewardship and bold faith
→ https://www.youtube.com/@AbidingPaws

🌐 SHOP ALL GEAR: abidingpaws.com

CONNECT WITH THE PACK:
Instagram: @abidingpaws
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/abidingpaws

If this encouraged you, share it with one man who needs to hear this message today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Get Your Free Faithful Companions: A Guide to Loving & Caring for Your Bully Breed Guide Here.

If you want to check out the gear that reflects this kind of life, it’s linked below.

— Abiding Paws