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Puppy Enrichment: Taking Your Puppy’s Education to the Next Level

by Hillary Alexander | June 17, 2025 | Dog Training | 0 Comments

Enrichment is more than just playtime. It’s a purposeful way to meet your puppy’s emotional, physical, and mental needs through stimulating activities that mimic their natural instincts. From sniffing and scavenging to climbing, problem-solving, and social play,...

Puppy Adolescence: The Bridge Between Babyhood and Bravery

by Hillary Alexander | June 6, 2025 | Dog Training | 0 Comments

If you’ve ever raised a puppy, you know the early days are filled with wonder. Wiggly tails, floppy ears, clumsy paws—and that sweet innocence that melts your heart. But just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, something shifts. Suddenly your puppy starts...

Part 4: Puppy Taste Test – Determining the Best Treats to Use with Your Puppy

by Hillary Alexander | May 17, 2024 | Optimal Learning Series | 0 Comments

When it comes to getting a young puppy’s attention outdoors, we are generally limited to three things. The first is to create distance, to be at what I call, “a cooler orbit.” If things are too exciting and your puppy becomes overwhelmed, chances are you’re too close...

Part 3: Calming Trifecta; Sniffing, Licking, and Chewing

by Hillary Alexander | May 16, 2024 | Optimal Learning Series | 0 Comments

There are three habits native to all dogs. I call them, “The Calming Trifecta; Sniffing, Licking, and Chewing.” Sniffing, Licking, and Chewing are three activities that help puppies stay grounded in busy places with lots of distractions. They do this by lowering a...

Part 2: Preparing Your Puppy for the Great Outdoors

by Hillary Alexander | May 15, 2024 | Optimal Learning Series | 0 Comments

We’ve talked a bit about creating an optimal environment for your puppy at home. What about outdoors, where all bets are off? This is an important question because every puppy is unique. In my Nursery we have puppies of all ages, sizes, and breeds and it is important...

Part 1: Creating an Optimal Learning Environment For Your Puppy

by Hillary Alexander | May 14, 2024 | Optimal Learning Series | 0 Comments

In my quest to create the optimal puppy environment, I have discovered that cultivating a calm, predictable environment is key to everything from potty training to a puppy’s ability to focus, to learn and retain new skills – even to rest properly. “And yet, visit the...

A Reunion with Luna. Working with Shy or Fearful Puppies

by Hillary Alexander | May 13, 2024 | Dog Training | 0 Comments

Meet Luna, a Jumpstart Puppy graduate who mastered several challenges we frequently see with shy and fearful puppies. Join us as we practice, "Go Say Hi!" - first in the Nursery, then in a mall. To meet Luna today you’d never guess how fearful she was during during...

The Talk. A Primer on Potty Training

by Hillary Alexander | May 12, 2024 | Dog Training | 0 Comments

Welcome to The Talk, a conversation about Potty Training, how to set up your puppy at home and more important - ensure her success! Join us along with Katie and Coco, a 9 week old doodle puppy on their Visit to the Jumpstart Nursery in April, 2024. I also would like...

Multi-Dog Households and Puppies

by Hillary Alexander | May 11, 2024 | Dog Training | 0 Comments

It is important in multi-dog households that each puppy or dog has a quiet place of his own (more on this in another chapter). Puppies and even dogs can easily become competitive for attention, food, treats, toys, even formerly unimportant items can become the focus...