At a Glance
- Kristin Cavallari put down her German Shepherd Kona at almost 12 years old
- Son Camden, 13, asked to be picked up from school and sobbed in the car
- Kona protected the family while Jay Cutler played in Miami, sleeping on the staircase
- Why it matters: Shows the deep bond between pets and children during formative years
Kristin Cavallari opened 2026 grieving the loss of her German Shepherd Kona, a dog who had guarded her Nashville home and grown up alongside her three children. The 39-year-old shared the emotional story on the Jan. 13 episode of her podcast Let’s Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari, recorded one day after Kona was euthanized.
The Final Goodbye
Cavallari described the toll of putting a pet down for the second time, having previously euthanized her Yorkie. Kona had reached nearly 12 years, an advanced age for the breed, and had recently lost much of her eyesight and hearing.
> “She lived a great life,” Cavallari said, recalling that Kona still joined family walks until a few months ago. “In the last five, six months, she just really took a downhill turn.”
The family spent a week saying goodbye, feeding Kona chocolate, peanut butter and steak-treats normally off-limits-before the appointment. Cavallari lay beside the dog, petting her during the procedure, and called the experience “intense.”
Children’s Heartbreak
Kona’s death marked the first major loss for Cavallari’s kids: Camden, 13, Jaxon, 11, and Saylor, 10. The dog had lived with them for most of their lives.
Camden’s reaction especially shook the former reality star. He texted his mother from school asking to be picked up, then broke down in the car.
> “Seeing Camden so sad… It just wrecked me,” Cavallari said, her voice cracking. “This is like the first big death for them.”
A Protector in the Home
Cavallari acquired Kona as an adult from a breeder while ex-husband Jay Cutler played football in Miami. Alone in a large Tennessee house with three small children, she felt unsafe and barely slept.
The breeder promised Kona would be an “attack dog” with fierce loyalty. Instead, the German Shepherd immediately bonded with Cavallari and toddler Jaxon, following her everywhere.
On her first night home, Kona chose to sleep on a back staircase that provided access to the children’s rooms yet sat far from Cavallari’s bedroom. The moment reassured the anxious mother.
> “Finally, after months of not sleeping… Kona just knew to sleep on that staircase to keep them safe,” Cavallari recalled. “That was Kona in a nutshell-just the most badass, amazing dog on the planet.”
Life After Kona
Cavallari still owns two younger dogs, ages 3 and 2, but plans to wait before adding another German Shepherd to the household.
> “I’m not ready to pull the trigger just yet,” she said. The family is cremating Kona and will spread her ashes in their yard once they receive them.
Key Takeaways
- Kristin Cavallari euthanized German Shepherd Kona at nearly 12 years old after a six-month health decline
- Son Camden’s emotional response highlighted how deeply the dog’s death affected the children
- Kona had served as both companion and protector, sleeping on the staircase to guard the kids while their father was away
- Cavallari vows to always keep a German Shepherd in the future, honoring Kona’s legacy
