Deciding on Your Young puppy
The idea of raising a new young puppy on your own may be frustrating. You need a puppy that can fit in  very well with your daily life. Your life in Barrington, Illinois possible is hectic, you’ve got a full time job, maybe you’re raising a young family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a worry free experience to add that  incredible dog to your life.

The Program Starts With a Assessment
We know it is vital that you know who you will be coordinating with. Building a rapport is very important to our team in Barrington, Illinois. Our chat begins with simple questions and leads into an detailed discussion, which will provide us a clearer idea of who you are and what your ideal dog would be. We want to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to select, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you are ready to add that perfect dog to your life in Barrington, Illinois. You have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to take into account including where you live, how much you work, maybe you are raising a young family, you you may love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. This information will not minimize your options, but instead help shed light on your lifestyle in Barrington, IL. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly help you choose what you want and which puppy will best accommodate your lifestyle.

Picking The Right Breeder in Barrington, Illinois
We work with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their puppies. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as important as to what follows. A great breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many fine breeders. We specifically seek breeders who are aware of the early part they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a great life.  It’s really important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s input as well as our years of knowledge to select the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Barrington, Illinois
Training your puppy is a mixture of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, along with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.Such as, we have the puppy stay overnight with different people in various settings; which creates a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. Because of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our hands in Barrington, Illinois. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the first thing we would like to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun even though we’re always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and even get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without the presence of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no restriction as to what we may incorporate into our techniques. Frequently we use particular locations or objects to create an encounter for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Barrington, Illinois. Our choices and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we closely supervise the puppy. We never confine 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 down to teaching the puppy.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We like to think of it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and living with us in Barrington, 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 time than any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a huge impact on their future personalities and decide a number of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting phase, every experience is vital. It is essential 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 pup.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained dog 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 critical. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, in addition to being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Barrington, IL  is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a puppy with remarkable manners and social skills. We begin by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which carries on as we fine-tune the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a standard request in our day-to-day routine in addition to within each new situation we expose your dog to. We move from shaping to formalizing commands and testing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being very clear and consistent is key. We limit our words when providing 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 Barrington, IL
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the typical age when many dogs are re-homed or given up to shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever imagine. Many owners hope their canine will grow out of undesirable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more challenging.

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

As the dog moves through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various scenarios. We consider each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the dog? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and various setting or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t dependent on continuous commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we desire a dog that can make good decisions. Our number one goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and refine good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been staying with the trainer in their own home. Throughout 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 dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in different environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he/she goes on to your home in Barrington, IL.