by Heidi Clayton | Jul 2, 2026 | South Jersey, Atlantic County, Editorial, Pets
My puppy Bento Box has turned five months old, is in the throes of teething, and has lost his cute card with the other dogs in the house. Bringing a puppy into a multi-dog or one-dog household is going to require management. It is absolutely normal for the older dog...
by Heidi Clayton | Jun 25, 2026 | Editorial, Atlantic County, Pets, South Jersey
Puppies do what works for them in the moment, with little thought other than to seek instant gratification for their needs or pleasure. Things like jumping, pulling on a leash, and barging out of doorways are all a result of a lack of impulse control. For example,...
by Heidi Clayton | Jun 18, 2026 | Editorial, Atlantic County, Cape May County, Pets, South Jersey
One of the most beneficial things you can do for your puppy is to give them the skills they most need to live in today’s world. Teaching your puppy to recover quickly from excitement, stress, fear, or worry is more valuable, in my opinion, than teaching them the...
by Heidi Clayton | Jun 11, 2026 | South Jersey, Atlantic County, Cape May County, Editorial, Pets
During the critical socialization period, which occurs during the first 14 weeks of a puppy’s life, every puppy goes through a fear period. This fear period occurs in most cases between eight and 11 weeks. A brave, happy puppy will suddenly, without warning or having...
by Heidi Clayton | Jun 4, 2026 | Atlantic County, Cape May County, Editorial, Pets, South Jersey
When it comes to puppies, you have a very small window in which they need to be exposed to the world and learn about interactions with other dogs that are not their littermates. The critical socialization period in all puppies, regardless of breed, ends about week 14...
