Selecting Your Young puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy by yourself can be frustrating. You want a dog that will match  perfectly with your life. Your life in Kenilworth, Illinois might be hectic, you’ve got a full-time job, a new family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a worry free experience to add that  outstanding dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We know it is important that you know who you will be teaming up with. Building a rapport is tremendously important to our team in Kenilworth, Illinois. Our conversation begins with simple questions and leads into an in detail discussion, which will provide us a clearer idea of who you are and what your dream dog might be. We like to have a great working relationship with you. It begins the journey to select, teach and raise your puppy.

Selecting The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have determined you want to include that perfect dog to your life in Kenilworth, Illinois. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to think about including where you live, your schedule, maybe you are raising a young family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not reduce your options, yet help clarify your life-style in Kenilworth, IL. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can aid you pick what you want and which breed will best suit your life-style.

Finding The Right Breeder in Kenilworth, Illinois
We team up with responsible breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and great temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as important as to what happens after. A great breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a rapport with many great breeders. We particularly search out breeders who recognize the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their puppies grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It is incredibly important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge as well as our years of expertise to pick out the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Kenilworth, Illinois
Training your new puppy is a mixture of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, together with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments. For instance, we have the pup sleep overnight with various people in various settings; which in turn develops a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other factors your dog readily bonds with you and your family members.

Imprinting Good Behavior ~Birth to 16 Weeks
Getting your puppy from the breeder

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our hands in Kenilworth, Illinois. Once we choose the pup from the litter, the very first thing we want to accomplish is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over branches, and also get relatively near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet remarkably aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without having the presence of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we may incorporate into our strategies. Typically we use specific places or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. At times a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Kenilworth, Illinois. Our options and creativity are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we very closely observe the puppy. We never restrict ourselves to stiff rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of occasions that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We like to think of it as an early investment in the life of this puppy. This is the first time away from their littermates and staying with us in Kenilworth, Illinois. Puppies have a small window of time during brain development when they are most impressionable. This is called the imprinting also known as the critical learning period. Puppies learn more during this period than they can learn in a lifetime. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a substantial effect on their future personalities and determine many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, every experience is vital. It is important to build their self-confidence. The phrase ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are absorbing every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is much more than just obedient. Knowing how to sit, stay or walk nicely on a loose leash are important things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are extremely important. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, in addition to being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Kenilworth, IL  is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a puppy with remarkable manners and social skills. We start by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which carries on as we refine the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a standard request in our everyday routine as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We move from shaping to formalizing commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center of our philosophy. Being very clear and consistent is key. We restrict our words when giving commands. We want your dog to understand what we want when we give them the command. When we say ‘come’ or ‘here’ we expect 100% response immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Kenilworth, IL
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the usual age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup developing into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever think of. Many owners hope their dog will outgrow unfavorable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Kenilworth, Illinois
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted perhaps chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic areas, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various situations. We consider each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture shift from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and different setting or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t dependent on constant commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we prefer a dog that can make great choices. Our main goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and fine-tune good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been living with the trainer in his or her own home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or close friend. Giving this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he/she goes on to your house in Kenilworth, IL.