Playful Pups Blog

Squishy in their holiday jammies

Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe During Holiday Events

Written By:  Maria Stouffer, Training Director at Playful Pups Retreat and Owner of Full Potential Dog Training This is a celebratory time of year when holiday gatherings are enjoyed by many.  If you are like me and love to host events at your home, you will appreciate these tips that will help both you and…

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trainer and dog working together

Understanding the Emotional Needs of the Post-Covid Dog

Written by Laurie Yost, Mosha’s mom and owner of Playful Pups Retreat Playful Pups Retreat is proud to be a Fear Free certified facility. Laurie also holds the highest level of certification through PACCC (Professional Animal Care Certification Council) with a CPACO certification (Certified Professional Animal Care Operator). Rebuilding Confidence in Post-Covid Dogs The COVID…

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Mosha’s Journey Part 3: Nurturing Confidence in Your Timid Pup

Written by Laurie Yost, Mosha’s mom and owner of Playful Pups Retreat Playful Pups Retreat is proud to be a Fear Free certified facility. Laurie also holds the highest level of certification through PACCC (Professional Animal Care Certification Council) with a CPACO certification (Certified Professional Animal Care Operator). Mosha, now 5 and a half months…

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trainer teaching dog with treats

D=Distractions Why are Distractions Important in Training Your Pup?

What is a distraction?  Most would say it is something that pulls our dog’s attention away from us ultimately causing them to stop listening. Yes, for the most part that is true if we are looking at distractions in a general way.  “Squirrel!” is the joke most of us use when we talk about losing…

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c consistency featured image

Unleashing Success: How Consistency Leads to a Well Trained Dog

Building a house begins with the strong foundation we lay first. When training dogs, one of the most important things to understand is consistency.  When we teach a behavior, we do it repeatedly with positive reinforcement each time the dog performs the requested behavior.  One thing we consider when working with every dog in our…

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Bruin at Build Behavior class

B = Build Behavior: Bruin A Case Study of Dog Training Success

When trainers talk about Building a behavior, we compare it to building a house.  No building will stand the test of time without a solid foundation. When you bring home your new puppy, you essentially are bringing home a new baby who needs guidance, rules, boundaries, care, and patience to help them grow into good…

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dog walking in the woods in central pa in the fall

Local Central PA Spots for Fall Fun with your Dog

With Fall weather upon us it’s a lovely time of year to get outside and enjoy the beauty of Central PA with your pup! Dogs are always eager to have some fun with their favorite humans and do what dogs do best…enjoy life! We are fortunate to have many amazing parks and rail trails in…

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trainer working with dog outside

A = ABOUT Playful Pups A to Z Day Training program

As we began to develop our training programs at Playful Pups, we did a deep dive into the ever-changing needs of the clients we see every day. Every dog is different, and creating a place for each dog where they can feel safe, learn, and thrive became an integral part of our discussions. Why Should…

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trainer working with dogs

Nine Training Tips to Unlocking the Potential of your Canine Companion

From mischievous puppies to adult dogs in need of guidance, dog training is an essential component that greatly contributes to having a well-mannered dog. It not only makes life easier for you and your furry family members, but also ensures their safety, enhances their well-being, and strengthens the bond you share. At Playful Pups Retreat…

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Mosha at Molly's Cafe with her brother Newman

From Timid to Confident: Mosha’s Journey, Part Two

Written by Laurie Yost, owner of Playful Pups Retreat Tuesdays are a joy for Mosha, and for me because I know she is thriving and having fun at Puppy Daycare.  The program is so beneficial for young puppies and has truly allowed Mosha to begin her transformation from a shy puppy to a slightly more…

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