Lifestyle Pets Jake Owen's Adorable Rescue Pup Axel 'Is in the Chewing Phase' The country star spilled on his German shepherd at the iHeartCountry festival in Austin By Kate Hogan Kate Hogan Instagram Twitter Kate Hogan is Director of Digital Specials and Features at PEOPLE. In her 14 years at the brand, she has covered everything from pets and babies to style and Sexiest Man Alive, interviewing celebrities including Céline Dion, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Evans. Currently, she oversees the creation of photo galleries that complement breaking news and major PEOPLE moments like The Beautiful Issue and 100 Reasons to Love America. She has offered expert celebrity commentary on Good Morning America and Access Hollywood. Before joining PEOPLE in 2008, Kate was an editorial assistant at Morris Visitor Publications. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication and resides outside of Chicago with her husband and three kids. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 9, 2017 04:25 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: John Shearer/WireImage In case you missed it, Jake Owen brought home a new German shepherd pup recently — and he is quite the looker. Axel — who earned his moniker from Owen’s daughter Pearl, 4 — was just 3 months old when the country singer adopted him, and is fitting into the family (which also includes 6-year-old bulldog Merle) nicely, earning a starring role on Owen’s Instagram account with sweet snapshots and funny videos of him attacking doorstops. Country Stars as You’ve Never Seen Them Before in the iHeartCountry Photo Booth “My daughter loves him,” Owen told PEOPLE over the weekend at the iHeartCountry Festival in Austin. “She loves to play with him.” However, Axel has one habit that Pearl doesn’t quite love: “He’s in the chewing phase,” Owen admitted. “She doesn’t like it when he chews on her hands.” (We feel that, Pearl.) RELATED VIDEO: Meet PEOPLE’s Sexiest Pet Vet Owen has long been a dog lover. In 2011, he spoke to PEOPLE about Merle and his other bulldog, Vern, whom he was retiring from the road. At the time, Merle was taking over as “copilot” as Owen kicked off a tour. “I like to take my dog on the road,” the singer said. “He stays up front; he likes it there.” Reporting by KRISTEN O’BRIEN