Overview
- On the VOX show Die Welpen kommen, an eight-week-old Catalan shepherd named Nika joined single mother Nicole and her seven-year-old son Henry in Isernhagen.
- During play in the first weeks, Nika nipped Henry’s legs, and Nicole tried pinching the puppy as a correction, which Martin Rütter called ineffective and warned could lead to long-term issues without proper training.
- The family consulted a dog trainer and saw gains at home, with Nicole saying Nika obeys in 99 percent of cases and Rütter praising their camping trip as a positive step.
- In city settings such as an ice-cream shop, Rütter saw stress signals including a tucked tail, a rounded back, and heavy panting, and he said the puppy was still overwhelmed and needs quick, consistent work.
- Rütter still questions whether this high-energy herding breed fits the family’s routine, even as he calls the placement largely right, noting that herding instincts like mouthing must be guided early to protect the child and avoid entrenched behavior.