2024 was a year to remember at Aspen’s Corner! 🐾This year, we had the privilege of welcoming 348 amazing dogs into the Aspen’s Corner family through boarding, daycare, and training. Each one brought so much joy and excitement to our facility, and we’re so grateful to be part of their journeys.🐶 Smart Start Puppy School: We launched our very first Smart Start Puppy School and had two adorable puppies kick off this new program.🐕🦺 Pack Walks with Purpose: We hosted two Pack Walks and raised funds for the Sullivan County SPCA, giving back to our community while enjoying time with our furry friends and their humans.📚 New Offerings: This year, we expanded our services with virtual obedience training and our first-ever downloadable e-book, making training more accessible for our clients near and far.🐕 On-Site Opportunities: We continued to offer group classes and structured socialization groups, helping dogs and their owners build confidence, improve focus, and strengthen their bonds.💚 A Special New Addition: And how could we forget? We welcomed Jade, a very special rescue pup, to our Aspen’s Corner family! Jade has been such an inspiration and a reminder of why we do what we do every day.Looking back, it’s clear that none of this would’ve been possible without our amazing clients, their incredible pups, and the support of our community. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your dogs’ lives—we’re beyond grateful!As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to keep growing and improving. We’d love to hear from you—what services or events would you like to see at Aspen’s Corner next year? Share your ideas in the comments or send us a message. Let’s make 2025 even more pawsome! 🐾#AspensCorner #DogTraining #DogDaycare #PackWalks #RescueDog #Gratitude #NewYear
POV: You’re living the scavenger dream, snacking on a toddler’s leftovers… until your coat starts to smell like yesterday’s dinner. 🫣 Time for a bath!Thank goodness for Pride + Groom bath products! 🛁 Their luxurious, all-natural grooming line is designed specifically for dogs, with shampoos, conditioners, and sprays that leave coats clean, soft, and smelling amazing. 🌿✨We love their products because they’re made with high-quality, dog-safe ingredients (no harsh chemicals!) and tailored to different coat types. Plus, Pride + Groom gives back—a portion of their sales supports animal rescue organizations. 🐾❤️Clean coat, happy pup, proud mom. 🐕💦 Order yours: https://prideandgroom.com/ASPENS_CORNER #DogBathDay #PrideAndGroom #FreshCoatFeels #DogMomLife #AspensCorner
You’ve heard me rave about freedom walks, and here’s why: they’re a powerful tool for building your dog’s confidence and resilience. 🐾Today’s freedom walk was all about socialization through surfaces—ice and a rock wall. Why is this important?🔬 Did you know?Exposing your dog to different textures, sights, sounds, and smells helps develop their sensory processing and reduces the likelihood of fear-based behaviors. By engaging their brains in a low-pressure environment, freedom walks make learning fun and stress-free!Curious about how to incorporate positive socialization into your routine? Download my FREE guide here: https://payhip.com/b/GVoXO.Let’s build confident, well-rounded pups together! 🐕💪#AspensCorner #FreedomWalks #DogSocialization #PositiveReinforcement #DogTrainer #ScienceBasedTraining
🎥 Raising a Confident Puppy!
Today, we worked with Henry on building his confidence, and he crushed it! 💪🐾
We started with a simple exercise: tossing kibble into a tunnel. This allowed Henry to explore at his own pace, with the freedom to retreat if he felt unsure. Confidence grows when puppies learn to navigate new challenges on their terms! 🌟
You can try this at home with:
📦 Boxes
🎶 Unfamiliar/noisy surfaces
🪜 Stairs
We leveled up by involving my kids for safe, structured socialization with children. By teaching them how to interact appropriately, we’re helping both the puppy and the kids build trust and understanding. Plus, we played puppy ping-pong (recalling him between two people) to strengthen his recall skills!
📚 Did you know?
🔹 Puppies are in their critical socialization period from 3-16 weeks. Positive experiences during this time shape their confidence and resilience.
🔹 Safe exposure to new sights, sounds, and textures helps prevent fear-based behaviors later in life.
🔹 Teaching kids to interact appropriately with puppies reduces the risk of accidents and creates positive associations for both.
Confident puppies grow into well-rounded, happy adult dogs! 💕 Start small, keep it positive, and make every experience fun!
Follow @aspens_corner for more tips, and check out our free puppy socialization guide here: https://payhip.com/b/GVoXO 🐶✨
#AspensCorner #ConfidentPuppy #PositiveReinforcement #PuppyTraining #DogTrainerTips #PuppyLife
🎥 Raising a Confident Puppy!
Today, we worked with Henry on building his confidence, and he crushed it! 💪🐾
We started with a simple exercise: tossing kibble into a tunnel. This allowed Henry to explore at his own pace, with the freedom to retreat if he felt unsure. Confidence grows when puppies learn to navigate new challenges on their terms! 🌟
You can try this at home with:
📦 Boxes
🎶 Unfamiliar/noisy surfaces
🪜 Stairs
We leveled up by involving my kids for safe, structured socialization with children. By teaching them how to interact appropriately, we’re helping both the puppy and the kids build trust and understanding. Plus, we played puppy ping-pong (recalling him between two people) to strengthen his recall skills!
📚 Did you know?
🔹 Puppies are in their critical socialization period from 3-16 weeks. Positive experiences during this time shape their confidence and resilience.
🔹 Safe exposure to new sights, sounds, and textures helps prevent fear-based behaviors later in life.
🔹 Teaching kids to interact appropriately with puppies reduces the risk of accidents and creates positive associations for both.
Confident puppies grow into well-rounded, happy adult dogs! 💕 Start small, keep it positive, and make every experience fun!
Follow @aspens_corner for more tips, and check out our free puppy socialization guide here: https://payhip.com/b/GVoXO 🐶✨
#AspensCorner #ConfidentPuppy #PositiveReinforcement #PuppyTraining #DogTrainerTips #PuppyLife
🎥 The Verdict Is In: Jade’s Lick Mat Adventure! 🎥Jade was super excited to try her lick mat, but after about 10 minutes, she decided it just wasn’t worth the effort! 😂 Luckily, Dakota was happy to jump in and finish the job!This shows that enrichment is all about finding what suits your individual dog. Not every dog will love every activity, and that’s perfectly normal! A dog’s breed, genetics, life experiences, and natural drives (food, toy, prey) all influence which enrichment activities they’ll enjoy.💡 Scientific Insight: Studies show that engaging in enrichment helps stimulate a dog’s prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and self-control. By working their minds in a focused way, enrichment can actually reduce impulsive behavior and improve patience over time!So don’t be discouraged if one activity doesn’t stick—there’s a whole world of options to explore, each giving your dog a chance to relax and tap into their natural instincts! 🌍🐾#EnrichmentJourney #DogIndividuality #ScienceOfPlay #AspensCorner #FindWhatTheyLove
🎥 Decompression & Enrichment: Let’s Talk Lick Mats! 🐾
Since we’re diving into decompression, let’s chat about some fun enrichment activities to help your dog unwind! Lick mats, food puzzles, and enrichment toys are fantastic tools, and here’s why:
✨ Benefits of Enrichment for Decompression:
1️⃣ Reduces anxiety by encouraging calming, repetitive licking.
2️⃣ Engages your dog’s natural instincts, making them feel more fulfilled.
3️⃣ Provides mental stimulation, which helps tire them out in a healthy way!
Use your dog’s favorite foods—yogurt, pumpkin, peanut butter, or even a blend—and make it more challenging by freezing it!
Stay tuned to see Jade’s first go at a lick mat and how long it takes her to work through it! 🐶
#DecompressionTips #DogEnrichment #LickMatFun #AspensCorner
🎥 Decompression & Enrichment: Let’s Talk Lick Mats! 🐾
Since we’re diving into decompression, let’s chat about some fun enrichment activities to help your dog unwind! Lick mats, food puzzles, and enrichment toys are fantastic tools, and here’s why:
✨ Benefits of Enrichment for Decompression:
1️⃣ Reduces anxiety by encouraging calming, repetitive licking.
2️⃣ Engages your dog’s natural instincts, making them feel more fulfilled.
3️⃣ Provides mental stimulation, which helps tire them out in a healthy way!
Use your dog’s favorite foods—yogurt, pumpkin, peanut butter, or even a blend—and make it more challenging by freezing it!
Stay tuned to see Jade’s first go at a lick mat and how long it takes her to work through it! 🐶
#DecompressionTips #DogEnrichment #LickMatFun #AspensCorner #jadesjourney #sullivancountyspca
🍂 I know I sound like a broken record, but we are loving this perfect fall weather! The dogs are having a blast, especially with their favorite yard game—keep away. 🐾Did you know there’s a difference between good play and bad play in dogs? Here are 3 signs of each to help you spot the difference:✅ Good Play: 1. Loose, wiggly bodies 🐕 2. Play bows and bouncy movements 🎯 3. Taking turns during chase 🏃♂️❌ Bad Play: 1. Tense, stiff posture 😬 2. Excessive mounting or pinning 🐾 3. Constant growling or snapping 🐶#FallFun #DogPlay #DogTrainer #AspensCorner #GoodPlayBadPlay
Dash’s mom brought in this awesome treat puzzle for everyone to enjoy! 🧩 Treat puzzles are a fantastic way to give your dog a mental workout, keeping their brain sharp and engaged. Mental enrichment, like solving puzzles, helps reduce boredom, relieves stress, and can even tire out your pup as much as physical exercise!🐾 Benefits of mental enrichment: • Reduces anxiety and destructive behaviors • Boosts problem-solving skills • Builds confidenceDisclaimer: Always separate dogs for food-based enrichment unless you’re sure there are no resource guarding issues. Safety first! 🐶💡 #MentalEnrichment #DogTraining #AspensCorner
🎉🐾 Happy 1st Birthday, Luna! 🐾🎉 We had the best time celebrating this sweet girl’s big day at Aspens Corner! Her mom went all out with delicious treats and cupcakes from Ooh La La Treats, making sure all of Luna’s daycare friends got to join in the fun. 🧁🎈We love making these moments special for our pups and their families! Here’s to more playdates, belly rubs, and birthdays! 🎉❤️#PawtyTime #HappyBirthdayLuna #DogBirthday #AspensCorner #DogDaycare #OohLaLaTreats #DogParty #FurryFriends
What’s harder—cleaning the house with a toddler or a Golden Retriever? 😂 It’s a tough call, right?
Did you know that understanding your dog's breed can help you provide the best enrichment for them? Breed-specific enrichment activities tap into your dog's natural instincts and make a world of difference in their happiness and behavior. For instance, Golden Retrievers were bred to retrieve game during hunts, so they often love playing fetch or engaging in activities where they can carry or "retrieve" objects. It’s mentally stimulating and physically satisfying for them!
Different breeds thrive on different types of enrichment:
- Herding dogs like Border Collies love tasks that involve problem-solving and movement.
- Terriers are natural diggers and often enjoy games that let them "hunt" or unearth toys.
- Scent hounds, like Beagles, excel in nose work, using their powerful sense of smell to track scents.
By catering to your dog's unique instincts, you can enhance their mental and physical well-being, prevent boredom, and help manage unwanted behaviors.
What enrichment activities does your dog love? Drop a comment and share your tips for breed-specific fun! 👇
#DogEnrichment #GoldenRetrieverLife #BreedSpecificCare #HappyDogs #AspensCorner #PositiveReinforcementTraining
