Proper Pups LLC

06/25/2026

Anyone who knows us knows we are absolute SUCKERS for a cute Lab puppy 😍

Everyone, meet Miss Gemma, our newest Puppy Day Camp student!

This girl is an absolute firecracker, and we are here for it! She can keep up with the best of them and tackles life full speed ahead. Gemma doesn’t seem to know what the word “fear” means because, quite honestly, she doesn’t appear to be afraid of anything! 🤣

We’ll be working on helping this brave girl learn that sometimes slowing down and thinking things through is just as important as charging ahead. And honestly, those bold, confident puppies are some of our absolute favorites to work with!

Welcome to camp, Miss Gemma! We can’t wait to watch you grow and learn.

06/25/2026

Not our usual share, but a very important one.
Earlier this year, we had the honor of helping host a large pack walk in memory of a young woman who was taken far too soon. The animal community suffered a tremendous loss with Rylee’s passing.

Rylee was truly a mover and a shaker in the animal welfare world. Her passion, dedication, and love for animals touched countless lives both human and canine.

Please consider sharing information about the The Rylee Godsoe Legacy Scholarship Fund with anyone you know who may qualify.

Keeping Rylee’s legacy alive by helping others pursue their dreams in animal welfare is a beautiful way to honor her memory. ❤️🐾

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19FGu6fNTv/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🚨1 week remaining to apply

The Rylee Godsoe Legacy Scholarship was created to honor Rylee’s compassion, dedication to animals, and commitment to helping others.

This scholarship supports Vermont students pursuing careers in:
🐾 Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
🐾 Veterinary Technology (RVT/LVT/CVT)
🐾 Pre-Veterinary Studies

Preference may be given to applicants who have demonstrated leadership in anti-bullying initiatives, mental health awareness, or community-building efforts.

📅 Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
🔗 Apply Here: https://forms.gle/6D1ftE1U7FS5LQRB8
📧 Questions: [email protected]

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with students, educators, veterinary professionals, and community members across Vermont. 💜🐾

06/22/2026

Venus really doesn’t have anything “typical” about her, and honestly, we love that about her. She’s like a fun little puzzle. Her board and train program is specially tailored to help her live a more confident and comfortable life.

We’ve been doing a tonnnn of confidence building with her. Showing Venus things like, yes, you actually can power through and walk through wet grass! She’s incredibly smart. After just 2-3 repetitions she’s usually like, “Wow, okay, that’s not so bad.”

Of course, Venus is smart enough to use that intelligence to her advantage sometimes too. She can be a bit manipulative, so it’s important to push her just enough that it’s fair and productive, without overwhelming her.

We’ve also been using Ethyl as a role model. While Venus doesn’t particularly love other dogs, she has built some really strong bonds with a few dogs here. Ethyl is the perfect combination of pushy, confident, and goofy. She helps Venus lighten up a little and reminds her that life doesn’t always have to be taken so seriously.

06/22/2026

Update - sadly they were called to an emergency 10 mins prior to landing. So no practice landing tonight.

If you have a nervous dog please take note for this evening In Williamstown.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GAQ6mui2s/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Williamstown Fire Department will be holding a DHART helicopter landing training tonight. We will be landing it at Poulin Lumber parking lot. Meadow st will be closed from Depot st to Brockway Hill during this time. Training is held starting at 6pm. The helicopter will be dependent on their availability during that time frame. We are hoping for a 7p to 730p time frame

06/21/2026

We have a winner folks! Lucky 🍀 number 13 Danielle Jensen!!! Congratulations on WINNING chicken 💩 bingo! Thank you to all who participated we were able to raise $300 between squares and donations!

06/20/2026

We currently have two very different dogs in our Board & Train program. Although they’re both in the same program, their goals are drastically different. That’s exactly why we love Board & Train so much. Every program is specially tailored to the individual dog in front of us.

Miss Venus is a nervous Nelly. Life is pretty scary for her in just about every aspect. We are doing a ton of confidence building and showing her that she can overcome the “scary” things. With dogs like Venus it’s a fine line. We need to push her enough that she grows and gains confidence, but not so much that she completely shuts down. Watching these dogs realize they are capable of hard things is one of our favorite parts of training.

Mr. Hank, on the other hand, is working on those listening ears. He’s a really fun guy, but he’s also a bit spoiled 😉. He wants what he wants, when he wants it, and isn’t afraid to test those boundaries. Hank is a super social dude and his family would love to take him everywhere. However, his enthusiasm when greeting people can be a bit much. We’re working on channeling all that excitement into appropriate behaviors so he can become the go anywhere companion his family is hoping for.

No two dogs are the same, and that’s why no two training plans should be either.

🐶 We currently have one Board & Train opening available July 8th-22nd! If you’ve been considering training for your pup, now is the perfect time to reach out. 🐶

06/20/2026

🔥 The Great Rescue Debate: Should Dogs Be Altered Before Adoption? 🔥

This can be a hot topic, so first and foremost, please be respectful of others’ opinions. The goal of this post is to have a healthy discussion and hear different perspectives.

When I first got into rescue over 10 years ago, it was pretty much a hard rule that dogs were altered before adoption. If a puppy was 8 weeks old and at least 2 pounds, surgery was scheduled.

Over the years, that has changed for many rescues. Some organizations now adopt puppies out on spay/neuter contracts, citing research that suggests waiting until dogs are older may be beneficial for growth and development. Some even offered partial refunds once proof of alteration was provided.

On the flip side, we’ve also seen situations where those contracts weren’t followed. A few years ago, we responded to a reported neglect case. During the investigation, we discovered the dog had been adopted from a local rescue and was in the process of raising a litter of 9 puppies while struggling to maintain her own weight and condition.

There are valid arguments on both sides. Waiting may have health benefits for some dogs, but it also relies heavily on adopters following through.

So I’m curious…

Do you feel rescue dogs should be spayed/neutered prior to adoption, or should rescues allow adopters to wait until the dog is older?

If you support waiting, what procedures do you think rescues should have in place to ensure dogs are actually altered when the time comes?

Let’s keep it respectful and educational. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

06/20/2026

Agnus is a 9 month old Cane Corso and one of our personal dogs. We’ve treated her nail trims exactly the same way we do with all of our dogs. Since coming home at 8 weeks old, she’s had her nails dremeled once a week.

This is a super boring video… and that’s exactly what we want.

No struggle. No panic. No alligator rolls. No shenanigans.

Was it stressful in the beginning? Absolutely. Most puppies don’t come out of the womb thinking nail trims are a great time. Instead of avoiding it, we taught her how to work through that stress and be successful. The goal was to teach her how to calmly handle them.

Why does this matter? Because nail trims aren’t just about looks. Long nails can change the way a dog stands and moves, put extra stress on joints, cause discomfort, and even increase the risk of injuries. Keeping nails short is an important part of keeping dogs comfortable and healthy for their entire lives.

As you can see, Avery (10) and Ethyl (2) are patiently waiting for their turns. They learned the same way when they were Agnus’ age, and now nail trims are just another normal part of life.

A few minutes a week as a puppy can save you years of stress later on.

06/19/2026

🌞 14 DAY BOARD & TRAIN • JULY 8-22 🌞

🏕️ ONE SPOT AVAILABLE 🏕️

Imagine this summer…

Loading up the camper without worrying if your dog will come when called.

Enjoying a hike without your arm being pulled out of its socket.

Relaxing by the lake while your dog calmly hangs out nearby instead of creating chaos.

Taking your dog to family cookouts, campgrounds, beach days, and adventures because they’re a joy to bring along not stress inducing .

That’s exactly what this program is designed for.

For 14 days, your dog lives in our home and becomes part of everyday life while learning the skills needed to enjoy more freedom and adventure with you.

This full on/off leash e-collar obedience program focuses on creating a reliable, well-mannered dog both at home and out in the real world.

Program Includes:
14 Day Board & Train
Full E-Collar System
Go-Home Lesson
Follow-Up Lesson
6 Months of Virtual Support

This isn’t just obedience training.

It’s more camping trips.
It’s more hikes.
More lake days.
More adventures.
More freedom.

Most importantly, it’s being able to include your dog in the memories instead of leaving them at home.

❌ No aggression, fear, or severe anxiety cases for this program.