Choosing Your Pup
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself might be frustrating. You need a pup that is going to fit  nicely with your lifestyle. Your life in East Foothills, California is fast paced, you may have a full time schedule, you may be raising a young family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a anxiety free experience to add in that  amazing dog to your life.

The Process Begins With a Assessment
We know it’s crucial that you know who you will be dealing with. Building a rapport is very important to us in East Foothills, California. Our conversation begins with straightforward questions and leads into an in detail conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog would be. We like to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It starts the journey to decide on, teach and raise your pup.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Home
Once you have decided you are ready to add that perfect dog to your life in East Foothills, California. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to think of for example, where you live, how much you work, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not reduce your options, yet help clarify your daily life in East Foothills, CA. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can help you pick what you want and which breed will best fit your life-style.

Selecting The Best Breeder in East Foothills, California
We coordinate with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as vital as to what comes after. A excellent breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a relationship with many amazing breeders. We specifically search out breeders who know the early part they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their puppies goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It is very important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s knowledge as well as our years of experience to select the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in East Foothills, California
Training your pup is a combo of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, along with exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.Such as, we may have the puppy stay overnight with various people in different environments; which in turn creates a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your lifestyle. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog easily connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in East Foothills, California. Once we select the pup from the litter, the very first thing we wish to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We begin our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin exposing the pup to its new world. Such as, 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 puppy to the world while at the same time boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet significantly aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without the company of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial 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 integrate into our techniques. Frequently we take advantage of specific locations or objects to create an experience for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in East Foothills, California. Our choices and vision are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully observe the puppy. We don’t restrict ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of events that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the pup.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We like to think about it as an early investment in the life of this puppy. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in East Foothills, 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 period than they can learn in a lifetime. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a significant impact on their future personalities and determine many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, every experience is critical. It is essential to build their confidence. The expression ‘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 fun with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Dog
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 vital. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in East Foothills, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog 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 improve the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a normal request in our everyday routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We move from shaping to defining commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being 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 East Foothills, CA
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the normal age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to animal shelters. 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 picture. Many owners hope their canine will outgrow undesirable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more difficult.

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

As the puppy moves through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various scenarios. We imagine each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture differ 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 scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t dependent on constant commands that determine what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make good choices. Our main goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in his/her personal home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another family member or close friend. Offering this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in different environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he moves on to your house in East Foothills, CA.