The Puppy Academy

11/25/2025

Ep. 209: What To Do If Your Puppy Doesn’t P**p During Their Potty Break

It’s your puppy’s usual “p**p time”, but they don’t go during their potty break. What should you do?! Give them extra time? Let them have their free time as normal? Put them back in their crate?

If you’re following a potty schedule — which we HIGHLY recommend! (Grab ours in the Free Masterclass in the link in our profile) — in Episode 209 of the Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Bethany and Sparky share how to best utilize it in these cases to keep your puppy on track, accident-free and progressing with their potty training!

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)
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Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!
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Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)
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*1:18 - Should you put your 14-week-old puppy straight back in the crate if he doesn’t p**p at his usual time?
5:22 - What’s the best way to stop a 14-month-old Springer Cocker Spaniel from pulling on walks?
16:33 - How to train an 11-week-old Italian Greyhound who has a short attention span and isn’t very food motivated?

11/25/2025

Charlie’s first day of puppy school! 💛

At just 3 months old he’s learning his foundation skills — being lured onto “Place”, learning his first “Sit” and following his food back to his trainer for “Come.”

Day 1 is all about confidence, clarity and calm learning. Follow him in our Stories for daily updates when he’s in class! 🐾

11/09/2025

Ep. 208: Why Puppies Eat Their P**p & How To Stop It!

It’s possibly one of the most disgusting parts of puppyhood, and actually a LOT more common than new puppy owners may think: many puppies eat their p**p! 💩

Ewww, we know — and then they try to lick your face right after 🤢 Ok so why do some puppies do this and maybe more importantly: how do you make it stop asap?!

In Episode 208 of the Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Bethany and Sparky give you the reasons why and what you can do to nip this gross habit in the bud — or butt!!

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)
‼️
Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!
✏️
Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)
⬇️
0:31 - How to stop a 5-month-old Mini Poodle from eating their own p**p?
6:22 - Tips for a 6-month-old pup who suddenly developed leash fear and growls at other dogs walking by
12:00 - How to transition a 12-week-old Dachshund from doing things for treats to being obedient without them

11/03/2025

Puppies can bark for different reasons when they see another dog on a walk — over-excitement being one of them. Being able to get your pup’s attention and redirect is important, but before this comes building up your relationship with your pup so they know to look and listen to your for guidance in all situations. Start this inside the home where there’s less distractions and do short, consistent training sessions — a little can go a long way to build this foundation so you can tackle walk training, and anything else that comes your way! 🐶

10/28/2025

Ep. 207: Should You Leave Water Out For Your New Puppy?

Making sure you’re taking care of your puppy’s basic needs is of course top priority for new pup parents! So when it comes to water — what should you do? Leave a bowl down 24/7 to make sure they aren’t thirsty? Only give it to them at certain times? And how MUCH water should you give them?

In Episode 207 of the Ask A Puppy Trainer Show, Bethany and Sparky answer these water questions and more!

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)
‼️
Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!
✏️
Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)
⬇️
0:36 - Should you leave water out all day for a 10-week-old puppy?
4:49 - How to stop a 1-year-old Mini Goldendoodle from play-biting children
8:05 - Will a 12-week-old Mini Dachshund eventually listen without needing treats as a reward?
13:16 - How to help an 8-year-old dog and 9-week-old puppy play together nicely
18:25 - Is it okay to have puppy toys out all the time?
23:12 - What is the best leash/harness set up for walking?

10/26/2025

Having a puppy who doesn’t like their crate is not fun for them OR anyone around them.

Usually your puppy’s behavior IN the crate usually starts with what’s going on OUT of the crate. But there are simple things you can start doing now on the outside, that will help them settle and be more comfortable on the inside. 🐶

10/21/2025

How much out of crate time should a 13 week old puppy get?

Young pups = not a whole lot of time out of the crate! Why? Puppies (in many ways) are a lot like babies - and they need a lot of sleep. When they don’t get the rest and sleep they need, they get cranky. In puppies, this looks like them doing more nipping, biting, chewing barking and overall worse behavior.

Frequent breaks where you puppy can chill and relax in their crate without being bothered and overstimulated can help them stay regulated ☺️

Join us LIVE every Wed at 1pm PT to get your puppy q’s answered on our Ask A Puppy Trainer Show here on IG!

10/15/2025

Ep. 206: What’s The Point Of Place Command?

Place is probably the most useful command we teach puppies — why?? It’s essentially teaching your puppy how to be “CALM ON COMMAND”.

How do we do this? By teaching a pup to enjoy going on their Place cot, spending time there, how to relax on it, and how to stay there until we release them. Yes this takes some time to build upon but it is SOOO worth it and can be (not to sound dramatic) - LIFE CHANGING with a pup! Bethany and Sparky dive more into Place command in Ep 206 of the Ask A Puppy Trainer Show!

Check out the time stamps to find what other puppyhood help you’d like answers on and join us every Wed at 1pm PT on IG to ask your questions live! (Or submit them early via DM ☺️)
‼️
Full episodes can be viewed on our YouTube channel every Monday and listened to in our new official AAPTS Podcast! To get notified when it’s ready, sign up for our VIP (Very Important Puppy) list through the link in our bio and we’ll email it to you directly!
✏️
Looking for even more puppy training help but don’t live near us? Join our Online Puppy School! 💻 (link in bio)
⬇️
0:48 - When is Place used after training?
4:22 - When should you stop crating your dog?
10:02 - Is it bad if a 16-week-old Cavapoo only wants to be hand-fed?
16:09 - How to train a 11-month-old Retriever to stop chewing the drywall?
20:37 - What’s the best kibble we would recommend?

10/13/2025

October🧡🖤Eagerly counting down the days to our annual costume contest and pup parade!! 👻

Does your pup have a costume yet?

04/28/2025

11/23/2024

One of the best (and often overlooked) puppy “tools” that can make instantly help to make puppyhood easier is…..

THE LEASH!!!

A simple, inexpensive 4 foot leash that you let your puppy drag around indoors (while being supervised!) when they’re out of the crate will let you easily gain control of a situation when you need to:

- Puppy getting into trouble? Guide them with the leash to another area.
- Puppy jumping? Grab their leash to help them settle
- Puppy biting? Use the leash!

Leash = leverage. Don’t underestimate the power of the leash and how much quicker you can handle challenging puppyhood situations when you’re prepared and have it on before you need it. 🐶

Featured student: Sally! 🩷

10/23/2024

“Help!!! How do I get my new puppy to sleep through the night?!”

One of the most common questions we get from new puppy parents….

Some broken sleep is expected when your puppy first comes home, as they learn their new digs, get on track with potty training, and get comfy on their new crate.

But what do you do when your sweet pup breaks out into a full-blown orchestra of whining, yowling, and barking through the night?!

In our latest blog, we’re sharing what to do to get your puppy to sleep through the night ASAP, so you can enjoy your peaceful night’s sleep once again!

Click on the “Read Our New Puppy Blog” link under the stanstore link in bio. 🐶

And congrats to this special boy Twombly for being our latest graduate! (And yes he has conquered sleeping though the nights 🥰💙)