Pup Scholar explores Canine Behavior & Caretaking through the lens of relationship science.
With a focus on companion animals, the work integrates research, education, and applied caregiving to better understand how human behavior and caregiving environments shape canine well-being and affect the human-canine bond.
The goal is to foster understanding, connection, and ethical care for both dogs and the people who share their lives, while helping establish clearer, more consistent standards in a pet care industry that currently lacks cohesiveness.
CORE IDEAS
01
Care Is Stewardship, Not Control.
Ethical care prioritizes human responsibility, understanding, and guidance over authoritative control or forced compliance.
02
Behavior Is Communication.
Behavior reflects internal emotional states, unmet needs, and environmental context—not defiance or dominance.
03
Cues, NOT Commands
For relationships built in trust, reliable behaviors are respectfully requested. Compliance is Commanded. Cooperation is Care.
Language Matters.
04
Humans Set the Emotional Tone
Human emotional regulation deeply influences canine behavior, especially anxiety and stress. You can not regulate your dog’s emotions if you haven’t regulated your own.
Who Is This For?
This work is for people who share their lives with dogs and want to approach that relationship with greater understanding, care, and intention.
It is especially relevant for those navigating fear, anxiety, stress, behavioral “issues,” or communication challenges with their dog. Whether you are a dog owner, foster or rescue caregiver, adopter, or professional care provider, this work supports ethical, relationship-centered caregiving and a stronger human–canine bond.
How Our Work Shows Up
Education & Science Communication:
Science-informed learning for both owners and professional caretakers of dogs.
Pet Care in Practice:
Ethical, relationship-centered pet care in practice.
Behavioral Health Support
Human support for understanding dog behavior and communication, and navigating challenges with clarity and compassion.
Ongoing Research & Development:
Studying how human behavior and caregiving environments shape canine outcomes and human-canine relationships.
