Picking Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new puppy on your own is frustrating. You need a dog that is going to fit  perfectly with your lifestyle. Your life in Highlands-Baywood Park, California can be busy, you’ve got a full-time job, maybe you’re raising a new family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a worry free experience to add in that  spectacular dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We know it’s vital that you know who you will be dealing with. Developing a relationship is incredibly important to us in Highlands-Baywood Park, California. Our conversation starts with simple questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your dream dog will be. We like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your puppy.

Picking The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have decided you are ready to add that perfect dog to your life in Highlands-Baywood Park, California. You have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are presently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to consider for example, the type of house you live in, how much you work, are raising a young family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not minimize your options, yet help shed light on your life-style in Highlands-Baywood Park, CA. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly assist you pick what you want and which puppy will best match your lifestyle.

Choosing The Perfect Breeder in Highlands-Baywood Park, California
We team up with responsible breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as significant as to what happens after. A excellent breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a rapport with many amazing breeders. We specifically pursue breeders who know the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their pups grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a fantastic life.  It is incredibly important to work carefully with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s feedback and also our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Highlands-Baywood Park, California
Training your pup is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, promoting healthy relationships, in addition to exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.For example, we have the pup stay overnight with various people in various settings; which produces a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. Because of this and exposures to other factors your dog easily connects with you and your family.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our care in Highlands-Baywood Park, California. Once we choose the puppy from the litter, the first thing we want 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 start exposing the puppy to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over various things, and also get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time reinforcing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still very aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup learns about this new world without the presence of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
In 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 methods. Often we take advantage of particular spots or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Highlands-Baywood Park, California. Our choices and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the last one. Through all of this, we thoroughly supervise the puppy. We never limit ourselves to rigid rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make use of occasions that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the puppy.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We often think of it as an early investment in the life of this puppy. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and living with us in Highlands-Baywood Park, 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 huge influence on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting period, every experience is important. 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 taking in 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 Pup
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained dog is so much more than just obedient. Knowing how to sit, stay or walk nicely on a loose leash are necessary things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are extremely important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Highlands-Baywood Park, 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 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 standard request in our regular routine as well as 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 center 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 right away.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Highlands-Baywood Park, 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 becoming a monster. That nice pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever imagine. Many owners hope their dog will grow out of unfavorable 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.

Working in the Real World in Highlands-Baywood Park, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted possibly chasing something like a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic locations, around barking dogs, around playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog goes 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 puppy? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are working to teach a dog how to cope in every new and various setting or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on continual commands that control what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we want a dog that can make great decisions. Our main priority is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and refine good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in their individual home. Throughout this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or friend. Providing them with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new settings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he or she moves on to your house in Highlands-Baywood Park, CA.