Deciding on Your New Puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy on your own might be frustrating. You want a dog that can fit in  perfectly with your lifestyle. Your life in Blackhawk, California might be fast paced, you may have a full-time job, a young family, you may like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  amazing dog to your life.

The Experience Begins With a Assessment
We think it is essential that you know who you will be coordinating with. Building a rapport is extremely important to our team in Blackhawk, California. Our talk starts with straightforward questions and leads into an in depth discussion, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your perfect dog would be. We would like to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It starts the journey to select, teach and raise your puppy.

Selecting The Perfect Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Blackhawk, California. You may have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There are things to take into consideration such as the type of house you live in, how much you work, are raising a  little family, you love to travel or you’ve recently retired. This information will not reduce your choices, but instead help clarify your life-style in Blackhawk, CA. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly assist you pick what you want and which puppy will best match your lifestyle.

Finding The Perfect Breeder in Blackhawk, California
We partner with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their puppies. The initial eight weeks of a new pups life are as essential as to what follows. A excellent breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many fine breeders. We specifically find breeders who know 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 good life.  It is really important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s input along with our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Blackhawk, California
Training your new puppy is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, as well as exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.For example, we have the pup sleep overnight with various people in different settings; which develops a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your way of life. Because of this and exposures to other factors your dog easily bonds with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our care in Blackhawk, California. Once we select the puppy from the litter, the very first thing we wish to achieve is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin 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 relatively near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet remarkably aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without the companionship 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 limitation as to what we will integrate into our methods. Frequently we use particular spots or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Blackhawk, California. Our options and vision are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we thoroughly supervise the puppy. We never limit ourselves to stiff rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and make use of events that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We like to consider it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Blackhawk, California. 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 they can learn in a lifetime. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a substantial impact on their future personalities and determine a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting stage, every experience is critical. It is important to build their confidence. The expression ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are taking in every experience like a sponge, we need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Dog
4 to 6 months 

A trained dog is a lot more than just obedient. Knowing how to sit, stay or walk nicely on a loose leash are very important things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are very important. In addition, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, along with being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Blackhawk, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to create 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 solid foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a regular request in our day-to-day routine as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We go from shaping to formalizing commands and testing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being clear and consistent is key. We limit 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 Blackhawk, CA
6 months to young adult

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

Testing in the Real World in Blackhawk, California 
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted maybe chasing something like a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog moves through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various situations. We consider each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to adapt in each new and different environment or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on continual commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make good choices. Our top priority is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and improve manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been staying with the trainer in his or her own home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or friend. Giving this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in different environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he goes on to your house in Blackhawk, CA.