Playful Pups Blog

dog getting smooches

10 Tips for Choosing the Best Pet Care Services for Your Furry Family Member

As a busy, yet devoted dog owner, ensuring the happiness and well-being of your furry family member is undoubtedly a top priority. Whether you’re planning a vacation, traveling for work, or simply need assistance with daily dog care, finding the right pet care services can be a daunting task. With many options available, from doggie…

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keep your dog engaged

How Do You & Your Environment Affect Your Dog?

As the owner of Playful Pups Retreat, a bustling dog resort, for the past 14 years, I have talked with countless numbers of pet parents and our team cares for thousands of dogs each year.  As pet care professionals we provide Doggie Daycare, Overnight Boarding and Dog Training services for all sizes, shapes and breeds…

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Moshe with brother at the hidden still

Eight Pawsome Places in Lancaster County that are Dog Friendly

The beautiful Spring weather of Central PA is upon us and that means it is time to get out and have some fun, right?!  Getting out into nature, or enjoying yummy food (and the occasional adult beverage) is an important way to reduce our stress and connect with friends and family. Our mental well-being improves…

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trainer working with a dog using treats

How to Achieve Motivation and Engagement When Training Your Dog

Ask any dog trainer and they will tell you that finding the right motivation, whether your dog is motivated best by food, play or toys, is a very important part of how dog’s learn.  Creating an association with something positive, tells your dog when they are doing the right thing that pleases their owner. Most…

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dog learning agility

Live, Laugh, Love & Learn – “L” in our A to Z Training Series

When we get a dog and welcome them into our lives, most of us are not quite ready for what is in store.  You just picked up your new family member from the breeder, the rescue, or from the back yard where they showed up as a stray (yes, I have a client this happened…

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Warm Weather is Coming and The Fur is Flying!

Whether your furry pal is shedding extra due to changes with the weather or they shed excessively all year round, when you have a dog, you likely get overwhelmed trying to keep the house clean. If you are like many pet parents we see at Playful Pups Retreat, you probably keep a lint roller handy,…

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senior dog

Caring for Those Sweet Senior Dogs!

Written by Laurie Yost, 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). As beloved members of our families, senior dogs hold a…

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crate for car ride post surgery

The Benefits of using a Kennel/Crate for your Dog

Written by Maria Stouffer, CPDT – Training Director at Playful Pups Retreat and Owner of Full Potential Dog Training We are continuing our Playful Pups Retreat “A to Z” in dog training series with information on the importance of using a kennel/crate for your dog.  Often in my private training sessions and in my puppy…

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What Does It Take to Run a Pet Care Facility?

Did you know that much of the pet care industry is “unregulated.” This means it is an “easy to enter” industry where basically anyone can buy business cards and call themselves a pet sitter, dog walker, or even a dog trainer. Anyone who loves dogs (we hope) can open a pet care facility since there…

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trainer and dog working on agility

Train the Dog – Just Do It!

A motivational phrase made popular by the athletic company Nike to inspire customers to purchase their athletic shoes and create a healthier lifestyle through exercise!  It encourages people to take action without procrastination or hesitation.  The advertising campaign worked and today the phrase “Just Do It” is more than a slogan, it is a mindset,…

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