Your Best Behavior LLC, Duncannon, PA

06/07/2026

Got a puppy or a new adult dog?
You’ve got four weeks (maybe fewer, actually) to make sure they’re “fireworks ready.”

Don’t wait!

Start by exposing them at tolerable levels (significant distance and low volume) paired with good things they really enjoy (playing, eating dinner, etc). Gradually decrease distance and increase volume.

As long as your dog isn’t showing signs of concern, you’re making progress!

06/06/2026

Yes!

06/04/2026

Update: Duncannon Puppy K is CLOSED!
But we still have room in Puppy K at Paw Prints Veterinary Center in Elizabethville! Puppy K is one of the best things you can do to help guard against behavior issues later in your dog's life. Register today!

Don't miss out! Register today!
ONE spot left at Paw Prints Veterinary Center for Basic Manners! bit.ly/ppvc-classes
ONE spot left at Duncannon location for Puppy Kindergarten! www.yourbestbehaviorpa.com/service-page/puppy-kindergarten-17
We still have room in the Puppy Kindergarten class at Paw Prints!

05/29/2026

Please be aware of the dangers of xylitol, even for adult dogs. Check ingredient lists before you give your dog “people” food. Teach a “leave it” and a “drop it” cue.

Tonight I ended up trying to help a friend whose puppy ate a kid's vitamin containing xylitol. Simple accident: kid dropped vitamin, puppy scarfed it down. (Note: this household is knowledgeable and is xylitol free, but a relative bought the vitamins, unaware of the risk to the dogs.)

The puppy only ate *one* vitamin. Which turned out to contain 1500 mg of xylitol.

100 mg/kg is the threshold for hypoglycemia which can be fatal. At 500 mg/kg, hepatic necrosis occurs -- destruction of liver tissue.

So just ONE chewable vitamin ended up creating a serious problem for a 30 pound pup (which is not quite 14 kg).

The emergency vet induced vomiting. Thankfully, the puppy had had a meal and so there was food in her stomach. In the vomit was the orange tablet, identifiable though dissolved.

Quick thinking on the owner's part (including grabbing the bottle of vitamins) and fortunately a nearby 24/7 emergency vet hospital meant that this pup received prompt treatment, and should make a full recovery.

Check your medications, vitamins, gum, candy, toothpaste, mouthwash, peanut butter and more for xylitol, also known as birch sugar.

This is useful information to have on hand:
https://www.calculatorsfordogs.com/health-nutrition-calculators/xylitol-toxicity-calculator

ALWAYS contact vet and ASPCA Animal Poison Control center immediately!

As for everyone (the non-vets) recommending the use of hydrogen peroxide, please update your understanding:
https://www.gsvs.org/woodbridge-nj/blog/hydrogen-peroxide-for-dogs-emergency/

Pass this along. I hope you never have to use it.

05/27/2026

Let’s talk about puppy behavior.
When people say “it’s a good thing they’re cute” they absolutely know what they’re talking about.

If you have an adorable, cuddly puppy who never does anything that makes you want to give him back, you have no idea how lucky you are!

Arthur is adorable. And cuddly. And for the first week, he really didn’t do anything that made me want to scream.

Enter week 2. He is apparently very comfortable here now. He’s feeling quite entitled. Every toy is his toy. Everyone is here for him to exercise his jaws on (and oh does he ever exercise them!). He doesn’t understand personal space, even when the grumpy old guy (I’m talking about Taylor, not Bill) tells him he’d better go away.

Tonight he bit Mirabel hard and wouldn’t let go. Not ok. Bought himself some time in the pen for that one. And here’s the thing…Mirabel isn’t going to defend herself. In my opinion she shouldn’t have to. Dealing with a puppy’s behavior is not her job. I brought him here and he’s my responsibility. So when he mistreats her, I step in and make it stop. Time in the pen. Not a punishment…he has toys, chews, he had some food, and he can move around quite freely.

And later, when we were outside, he was grabbing my pants. Tugging on them. Nope. Not happening. So we came inside and worked on some training. Sits, downs, touch. He didn’t bite anyone the whole time. And added bonus: the grumpy old guy loves training so much that he was willing to tolerate the new guy’s presence. A win all around.

And later still we were playing and he wouldn’t leave Taylor alone. I don’t think Taylor would intentionally hurt him. But he could, accidentally or intentionally. So Arthur pestering Taylor will not be tolerated. We all went out with some high value treats and played a game. I dropped a treat on the ground for Arthur to find while the other dogs and I ran away from him. When he finished his treat, I called him and he came racing to us at top speed, did a little joyful hop when he reached us, and everyone got a treat!

We repeated this for a while, then came in, and put him to bed.

Puppies are hard. And I feel like I’m pretty well prepared. But there are going to be days when I’ll wonder what on earth I was thinking. I love the little bu**er. I really do! But he sure can push my buttons!

05/25/2026

Family training session.

05/24/2026

They say a tired dog is a good dog (and I am 100% on board with this idea!). But how do you get your puppy or dog tired without running yourself ragged? Sign up for a puppy kindergarten or basic manners class near Duncannon or in Elizabethville to find out!

05/21/2026

We all (adult dogs included) breathe a sigh of relief when the little guy is sleeping. Puppies are hard work, even when you’re pretty well prepared for one. If you have a new puppy, please consider taking a class. It will help you get through the most challenging parts of puppyhood in a community of others going through the same challenges, and it will help you ensure that your puppy can avoid some challenging behaviors early in life. An early class, before 16 weeks, is ideal because your puppy will still likely be in the critical socialization period.

Need a class? PM me. I have options.
And yes, I will be taking the little guy to a puppy class too!

05/18/2026

Announcing the homecoming of Sunsprite Sovereign of Mist N’Magic, aka King Arthur. Arthur is 10 weeks old today, and I’ve been watching him grow almost daily since Day 1. He arrived this morning all the way from Georgia, and he’s fitting right in. Arthur shares lineage with Your Best Behavior dogs Odin, Granite, and Mirabel!

I could not be more proud of Mirabel, who is playing with him beautifully! She learned from Taylor, who took his time warming up, but became the most gentle and adoring older brother imaginable. Looks like she’s following in his footsteps. And I have no doubt Taylor will eventually (on his own terms) warm up to Arthur too!