Selecting Your Pup
The thought of raising a new young puppy by yourself might be overwhelming. You hope for a pup that is going to match  nicely with your way of life. Your life in Hillsborough, California is stressful, you’ve got a full time schedule, a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a stress free experience to add that  incredible dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be working with. Building a relationship is incredibly important to us in Hillsborough, California. Our conversation starts with easy questions and leads into an in detail conversation, which will provide us a better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog might be. We would like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to select, teach and raise your pup.

Selecting The Perfect Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you are ready to include that perfect dog to your life in Hillsborough, California. You may have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There are things to take into account including the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not reduce your options, but instead help shed light on your everyday life in Hillsborough, CA. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can assist you pick what you want and which breed will best accommodate your lifestyle.

Picking The Best Breeder in Hillsborough, California
We work with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their puppies. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as vital as to what comes after. A great breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many exceptional breeders. We particularly search out breeders who are aware of the early role 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 fantastic life.  It’s very important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s feedback along with our years of expertise to select the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Hillsborough, California
Training your dog is a mixture of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, along with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments. For instance, we have the pup stay overnight with various people in various settings; which develops a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our hands in Hillsborough, California. Once we pick the puppy from the litter, the very first thing we wish to achieve is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We begin our relationship having fun even though we’re always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and also get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time strengthening our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet extremely aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without the companionship of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial time for learning
In the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we will incorporate into our approaches. Frequently we make use of certain locations or objects to create an encounter for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Hillsborough, California. Our options and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully supervise the puppy. We do not confine ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and make use of activities that manifest before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes down to teaching the dog.

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 dog. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and living with us in Hillsborough, 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 any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a substantial effect on their future personalities and decide much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting phase, every experience is critical. It is essential to build their 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 need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Friend
4 to 6 months 

A trained pup is far 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 important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Hillsborough, 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 stable 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 dog to. We move from shaping to defining commands and testing 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 providing commands. We want your dog to understand what we mean when we give them the command. When we say ‘come’ or ‘here’ we expect 100% response immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Hillsborough, CA
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the usual age when many dogs are re-homed or given up to animal shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup turning into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever think of. Many owners hope their canine 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 Hillsborough, California 
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted possibly chasing something like a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic areas, 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 it in various scenarios. 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 each new and different environment or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on constant commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we desire a dog that can make good choices. Our main priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable 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 residing with the trainer in his/her individual home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or friend. Offering this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he or she moves on to your home in Hillsborough, CA.