PupScouts of Hunterdon: Puppy Training & Separation Anxiety Coaching

08/29/2025

😭 Don’t reach for the tissues just yet!

Puppy biting, chewing, and little predicaments can bring you to tears—but your freezer is the real solution. 🧊🐶

✨ Skip the sob story: fill & freeze those empty KONGs now, so you’re stocked up for the week. Your puppy gets fun, soothing enrichment… and you can save the tissues for allergy season instead. 😉

08/28/2025

🧐 What’s wrong with describing dogs as pack animals?

A few of things...
🔸dogs are not wolves. They are so far removed from wolf ancestors. Dogs are their own species. Dogs do not form packs.
🔹referring to dogs as pack animal lends people to believe there is some sort of alpha/dominance factor in play when living with humans.

⚠️The incorrect information doesn't help our dogs when trying to live with us. Everything gets blamed on the dog trying to be alpha or asserting dominance.

🟨 A dog growling when a person tries to pick up their bone is mislabeled as trying to assert dominance when the dog is actually trying to communicate they are stressed over losing their important resource.

🟨 A dog who growls for being pushed off the couch to make room for their human is viewed as trying to take over some alpha position when in fact the dog is communicating being pushed off the couch is stressful.

🔴 What is a pack? A pack of wolves is a breeding pair & their offspring. The offspring will eventually go out and create their own pack. These family units live together, cooperatively. Wolf research shows us these family units/packs do not live in a state of conflict, trying to assert dominance over one another.

👉🏻 Very early research was wrong and has since been debunked. This early, incorrect research was modeled after captive wolves forced to live together. There was conflict, but these were not natural family units/packs.

✅ We need to help our canine companions- do them a big favor and stop calling them pack animals. When we understand they are not pack animals, we can realize the things our dogs are doing are NOT coming from alpha/dominance.

✳️ You are already the ‘alpha’. You are in charge of every moment of your dog’s day.

🐶 Your dog is totally, completely, 100% dependent on you.

✳️ You dictate when your dog:
🐶 eats
🐶 goes out to potty
🐶 goes on walks
🐶 gets to play
🐶 has a tasty treat.

‼️If your dog is displaying an undesirable behavior, there is a reason... but it's not because of pack theory/alpha/dominance.

08/27/2025

This is just heartbreaking. Please be careful who you send your dogs to. 21 dogs are now dead. It’s just devastating.

Do research. If anything feels off during your conversation with the facility, listen to your gut.

https://6abc.com/post/owners-dog-boarding-facility-charged-deaths-21-dogs/17661131/?ex_cid=TA_WPVI_FB&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMb4OlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHseK-tLYjWj0wGurW5T-2Xwd530FKpZcaQEXVl8atykdgbb0RN17ioJCVDem_aem_BzJRMTK_l_ujNlTYh5ytJA

The owners of an upstate New York dog boarding facility where 21 dogs were recently found dead are now facing more than 20 misdemeanor counts

08/26/2025

🐾🧻 Happy National Toilet Paper Day! 🧻🐾

Did you know that those seemingly useless toilet paper tubes can actually turn into fantastic and FREE enrichment games for your puppy? 🐶💕

🐾 Treat-Filled Fun: Stuff those tubes with tasty treats and fold the ends to create a DIY puzzle toy. Your puppy will have a blast shredding them to uncover the hidden treasures inside! 🍗🎉

🐾 Sensory Adventure: Place a few filled tubes in a shallow box along with some packing paper. Watch your curious puppy dive in, explore, and sniff out the goodies. It's like a mini treasure hunt for your fur baby! 🐾📦

🐾 Hide-and-Seek Challenge: Scatter these cardboard wonders around in plain sight. Their natural scavenging instincts will kick in as they sniff out and uncover these exciting prizes! 🕵️‍♂️🔍

🐾 Repurposed Playtime: Extend the life of your puppy’s chewed stuffed toys by tucking a tube inside before they retire. It's a double win – engaging playtime and repurposing! 🧸🔄

🧩 All of these free and easy games promote appropriate, chewing while tapping into your puppy’s, natural desires to forage, scavenge, shred, and dissect! 🐶

Remember, while your puppy enjoys these fun games, always keep an eye on them to ensure they don't munch on the cardboard. A few tiny pieces are okay, but let's keep them safe and sound! 🚫🍽️

Share the joy by tagging your fellow puppy parents and let them in on this toilet paper fun! 🐕🎈

08/25/2025

🐾 When choosing a puppy trainer, don't settle for less than the best! Here's what to look for:

🥇 Certifications Matter: Check if they hold recognized certifications in dog training. Credentials like PMCT3, CTC, VSA, or KPA-CTP indicate expertise.

🏫 Commitment to Learning: A great trainer continues to educate themselves. Ask about their recent workshops, seminars, or courses. A dedication to staying updated is crucial.

🔍 Specialization: Consider trainers with a focus. Find someone whose specialty aligns with your pup's needs.

🐶 Modern Methods: Ensure they use the latest, positive reinforcement-based training methods. Harsh techniques have no place in effective puppy training.

🔑 Professional Affiliation: Being a member of organizations like the PPG or IAABC signals professionalism and adherence to ethical standards.

💕 Equipment Insights: Inquire about the tools they use. Positive trainers should favor tools that don't cause harm or stress to your puppy.

🎉 Learning from Mistakes: A reliable trainer helps you handle setbacks. Ask how they advise handling situations when your puppy "gets it wrong."
Hint- your puppy should never be punished for making a mistake. A trainer should recognize the skill was too hard and set the puppy up for success in order to get it right.

✅ Puppy Essentials: Puppy training is about more than just obedience. Look for a program that addresses puppy essentials like biting, chewing, house training, socialization, and separation anxiety prevention.

🐶🎓 Remember, not all trainers are created equal. The quality of training should be your top priority. Your puppy journey is special and it’s important to get off in the right paw.

🩵 Happy training! 🐶

08/22/2025

If your KONGs are empty, your pup might start feeling a bit... thorny! 🌵

Keeping your puppy happy and busy with a tasty treat is the perfect way to avoid prickly situations.

Stay sharp and freeze those KONGs! 🌵 🧊

08/21/2025

📏 Have a growing puppy? Does your puppy need a bigger KONG?

✅ Using the right size is important. Too big and your puppy might get frustrated with it. Too small and it could be too easy.

👀 Keep an eye on your growing puppy. If the KONG is too small, your puppy could bite and tear it apart or it could become a choking hazard.

👉🏻 In order to give your puppy proper enrichment, you don’t want one that is too big or too small. You want one that is sized appropriately for optimum enrichment for your puppy.

💬 Send me a message or leave a comment if you need helping sizing your puppy’s KONG.

08/20/2025

I can’t stress this enough! Work at your puppies level 🐶

🏫 Are you working at your puppies level when teaching new skills?

🐿 You are competing with the environment each time you’re trying to get your puppy’s attention to do something.

🏡 Teaching your puppy a new skill will be easier in your house because there isn’t much in the way of competition. There aren’t a lot of distractions in your house (there aren’t any squirrels in your house… unless your aren’t telling me something). By contrast, if you started teaching your puppy a new skill while at the park, your puppy would have a much harder time.

🏠 It’s always best to start teaching new skills at a level where your puppy has a higher probability of getting it right.

🐶 We can’t expect our puppies to perform grad school skills if we haven’t practiced at other levels.

🏞 By the same token, an environment we think is easy can actually end up being hard. For example, teaching your puppy a skill in your house when it’s just you is very different than trying to teach your puppy the skill when you are having a dinner party or kids are having a sleepover at your house.

🏫 If your puppy isn’t able to do the things you’re asking, assess at the environment you’re training in and find a way to make things easier so your puppy can get it right. If you can’t change the environment so your puppy can be successful, then you need to work in a different environment so your puppy can succeed.

08/19/2025

😢 Each new separation anxiety client comes to me with the same stories of friends and family making them feel bad or guilty about their dog’s separation anxiety. Making them feel as if they’ve caused the problem.

🙄 Friends and family can full of advice on what you should not have done or what you should be doing.

👉🏻 Don’t let your friends or family make you feel bad.

⭐️ You did nothing to cause your dog’s separation anxiety.

👉🏻 Now, say it with me… I didn’t do anything to cause my dog’s separation anxiety.
👋🏻 You, in the back… you’re saying it like you don’t believe it. Say it with me with confidence- I didn’t do anything to cause my dog’s separation anxiety.

🐶 Truth is, your friends and family don’t know the first thing about separating anxiety. They don’t understand what you’re going through because they’ve never had to help their dogs through it. They aren’t certified in separation anxiety and aren’t qualified to provide you with actual helpful information.

👉🏻 Next time someone makes you feel bad or guilty tell them someone who is certified in separation anxiety told you that doing “this” (spoiling your dog, letting your dog sleep in bed, etc) doesn’t cause separation anxiety and that letting her cry it out (or forcing her to be in a crate or anything else they tell you) can actually make it worse.

👉🏻 Better yet, don’t leave it open for any kind of discussion. Just say, “ thank you for your help, but I’m getting help from a certified separation anxiety specialist and.… Then, walk away or change the subject.

08/18/2025

🐶 You love your new puppy. Your new puppy is cute, fun, sweet, and is wonderful in so many ways… BUT, there are probably things you wish your puppy was able to do or that they were able to do better.

💬 Tell us about your puppy. What would you like them to do or not to do? Share your wishes and goals in the comments.

08/15/2025

When your pup is acting sour, frozen KONGs can help sweeten the situation! 😅🐾

We know the puppy stage can be pucker-worthy—from sock stealing to lots of biting—but instead of puckering, it’s time to squeeze in a little enrichment magic. 🧊✨

🍋 Squeeze the day... fill & freeze your empty KONGs for the upcoming week! 🐶

08/14/2025

🐕✨ If you're on a journey to house training your adorable puppy, here's a golden nugget of wisdom for you: Puppies have little to no bladder control, so take your puppy out frequently! 🏠🌳

🐶💦 Picture this: Your puppy is still discovering the ropes of house training. Just like how we guide toddlers, our puppies need patience (a lot of patience) and understanding during this crucial phase. By taking them out for potty breaks regularly, you're setting them up for success! 🙌

🕒 Schedule those outdoor adventures every hour to start, after meals, playtime, and snoozes.

There’s no secret sauce- It's all about consistency! The more opportunities you provide for your puppy to do their business outside, the quicker they'll grasp the concept of doing their business in the right spot. 🎯🌞

🚀 Remember, accidents are bound to happen. You will miss an opportunity to get your puppy out. It’s almost unavoidable and it even happens to me!

🙈 Stay armed with cleaning supplies and a heart full of understanding. 🧡 With time, positive reinforcement, and a whole lot of patience, your puppy will conquer potty training like a champ!

Share your own puppy training tales below! 📖🐾 Let's have a laugh and support each other. Tell me- have you ever stepped in puppy 💩 or slid in puppy p*e 🟡?