Kelly Ripa joked that Mark Consuelos can spot their dog Lena’s anxiety faster than hers.
The exchange happened on the July 17 episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, when Ripa brought up a discussion about why some dogs may not like being hugged. Consuelos quickly said he had already warned her about that.
Ripa pushed back by pointing out that her husband carries Lena through the house “like a newborn baby.” The conversation then turned to whether Lena had seemed anxious that morning or had simply yawned after being taken out of bed.
When Consuelos said the dog had looked anxious, Ripa compared his concern for Lena with his reaction to her own anxiety over their 30-year marriage.
Kelly Ripa Said Mark Consuelos Notices Lena’s Anxiety Faster Than Hers
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Consuelos said Lena had shown the same discomfort signs Ripa had just listed during the segment. Ripa disagreed and said the dog had only been tired because he had woken her up.
“No, no, no. She was actually tired. You had just taken her out of bed, and she yawned, and he’s like, ‘She’s suffering from anxiety,’” Ripa said, according to OK! Magazine.
She then turned the joke toward herself. “I’ve been suffering from anxiety in front of you conservatively for 30 years,” Ripa said. She added that when she tells Consuelos she thinks she is having an anxiety attack, he usually tells her, “You’re fine.”
Mark Consuelos Carries Lena Like a Baby
Ripa also teased Consuelos for warning against dog hugs while treating Lena like an infant at home. “Says the man who carries his dog around like a newborn baby,” she said.
Consuelos demonstrated the position from the desk, holding his arms as though Lena were lying across them. He argued that carrying her was different from holding a dog in a hug, while Ripa continued to mock the baby-style cradle.
He later turned the dog-behavior list back on Ripa, joking that she also turns her head, shows the whites of her eyes and pins her ears back when he tries to hug her.
The Segment Started With Dog Hugging Advice
Ripa listed several signs that a dog may want space, including turning the head away, lip licking, yawning, showing the whites of the eyes and pinning the ears back.
The American Kennel Club also advises owners to watch a dog’s body language instead of assuming every dog enjoys being hugged. Some dogs tolerate close contact from familiar people, while others try to move away.
A yawn does not always mean anxiety. Dogs also yawn when they are tired, which is why Ripa rejected Consuelos’ read of Lena’s behavior that morning.
Lena Has Been a Regular Part of Their On-Air Banter
Consuelos has talked often about his attachment to Lena. In March, he became emotional during a birthday segment after the show played a message from the dog, whom Ripa jokingly called his “favorite child.”
Entertainment Weekly reported that Consuelos teared up during the bit, which included animated Lena saying she was staying hydrated and getting her steps in. Ripa asked him, “Are you crying?” after the camera showed tears in his eyes.
The couple’s affection for Lena followed the death of their older dog, Chewie. People reported that Ripa and Consuelos announced Chewie’s death on Live in February 2025 after nearly 18 years with the rescue dog.
Ripa Adopted Lena After a Live Segment
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Ripa adopted Lena after the Maltese-Shih Tzu mix appeared on a “Happy Pets” segment during Live with Kelly and Ryan in 2021.
Before bringing Lena home, Ripa wanted to make sure Chewie would not feel replaced. She later said Chewie sat outside Lena’s crate with their noses together, helping convince the family that the two dogs could live together.
Lena has since become a recurring part of Ripa and Consuelos’ stories on Live, from Consuelos monitoring her water and steps to Ripa joking that the dog can somehow communicate with him when something goes wrong.