The Puppy Nanny

08/22/2025

Interesting study from the Dog Aging Project,

This research looked at how where a dog lives in the U.S. affects the kind of exposures it faces and the types of health problems it gets.

08/11/2025

We all get to decide what we find reinforcing. So do.our dogs.

08/04/2025

This

When I repost my articles on crate training, inevitably someone will take offence and launch into a verbal tirade about how they will NEVER force their dogs to live in a cage 🙄.

Firstly, having your dog desensitized to being in a crate for the short term, when necessary, is hardly the same thing as forcing a dog to stay in a crate all the time. Keeping a dog crated for many hours unnecessarily because the owner cannot be bothered to housebreak a dog or because their unruly and untrained dog trashes their house are both very poor reasons for crating a dog.

However situations do arise where a dog might be required to be confined to a crate for the short term ( ie: Vet hospital for surgery or due to injury, safe car transport, service people on call to your home, or a forced evacuation and emergency shelter situation).

A really good reason for crate desensitization training ahead of time is in case there is an evacuation emergency, your dog will be a bit less stressed during crate confinement. And if your dog is not freaking out in the crate, this gives you one less thing to be stressed out during this already stressful time.

07/20/2025

Another Movement Puzzles Workshop!

August 16th at The Puppy Nanny in Simpsonville, SC

07/17/2025

A spot has opened for the Movement Puzzles workshop this Saturday.
If you would like it, please email Sue, [email protected]

All spots have filled. Thank You.

Movement Puzzles Workshop
Saturday, July 19th - 10 AM to Noon

Come and learn how to get started with Movement Puzzles.
These puzzles are not only fun, but are great for dogs of all ages.
Movement puzzles will help you become a better trainer.
And, they don't require any special equipment.

Here is a video of an easy Movement Puzzle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytjV3vJBCfs&ab_channel=bedoghappy

07/06/2025

06/30/2025

For those who would like to join Anna's new out and about classes, check out the Family Pet Academy.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576701821236

Serving the families of upstate South Carolina, we are here for all of your family dog manners.

06/30/2025

Babies act like babies.
I often say that because puppies are so mobile and can learn so many things at such a young age, we tend to forget how really young they are.

A baby animal is a baby animal. They are still developing, figuring out their world and societal expectations.

They need to feel safe, being alone is scary, not knowing what’s happening from one moment to the next is scary.

We accept this in human children. We have a better understanding of what’s expected although we can never prepare. But do we go in with these expectations and anything that doesn’t meet them is a bonus.

With puppies we are surprised, feel like there’s something wrong and often question what is happening. If we all went in with the same idea that this is a life changing, challenging but very rewarding journey, we might see better choices when bringing home our pups.

06/28/2025

All spots have filled. Thank You.

Movement Puzzles Workshop
Saturday, July 19th - 10 AM to Noon

Come and learn how to get started with Movement Puzzles.
These puzzles are not only fun, but are great for dogs of all ages.
Movement puzzles will help you become a better trainer.
And, they don't require any special equipment.

Here is a video of an easy Movement Puzzle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytjV3vJBCfs&ab_channel=bedoghappy

06/27/2025

2 extra weeks with their mother and litter mates can make a world of difference in a puppy's eventual disposition, then behavior.
In many states, it's illegal to sell a puppy before 8 weeks of age. However, there are readers who disregard that.

I know this is a controversial topic among breeders, but it needs to be said: too many puppies are being sent to their new homes far too early.

The common excuse? “They’ve started eating solid food and are no longer nursing, so they’re ready to go.”

The truth? The longer a puppy stays, the more it costs the breeder—more food, more vaccines, more time.

Sending them home at 6 weeks is more profitable, but it’s rarely in the best interest of the puppy.

Some breeders argue that 6 weeks is the ideal time for puppies to start bonding with humans.

While it’s true that puppies begin to form attachments around that age, sacrificing their emotional and behavioral development for the sake of early bonding isn’t worth it.

Between 3 and 8 weeks, puppies are going through one of the most critical periods of their lives.

This is when they learn bite inhibition, frustration tolerance, canine body language, and how to interact with other dogs—all through feedback from their mother and littermates.

Pulling them too soon increases the risk of anxiety, poor social skills, and long-term behavioral issues.

A well-raised puppy who stays with the litter until at least 8 weeks can still form a strong bond with their new humans—without missing out on the foundational learning they can never get back.

06/26/2025

As if you needed another reason to play with your dog!

Scientists believe that dogs often dream about their humans—especially playful moments together—based on research into canine sleep and brain activity. Like people, dogs experience REM sleep, the stage linked with vivid dreams. During this phase, their brain waves mimic those seen when they’re awake, particularly during movement-based activities like running or playing.

Harvard researchers and others suggest that because dogs form strong emotional bonds with their owners, their dreams are likely filled with familiar interactions—chasing balls, going on walks, or simply being by your side.