Selecting Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new young puppy on your own may be overwhelming. You hope for a doggy that will fit in  nicely with your daily life. Your life in La Cañada Flintridge, California possible is hectic, you’ve got a full-time schedule, a young family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  awesome dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be dealing with. Developing a relationship is very important to us in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Our talk begins with easy questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will give us a better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog might be. We would like to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It starts the journey to pick, teach and raise your puppy.

Picking The Perfect Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you want to add that perfect dog to your life in La Cañada Flintridge, California. You have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to think of such as the type of house you live in, how much you work, are raising a  little family, you love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not minimize your choices, yet help shed light on your daily life in La Cañada Flintridge, CA. We will 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 dog will best match your lifestyle.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in La Cañada Flintridge, California
We collaborate with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their puppies. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as critical as to what follows. A great breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a relationship with many amazing breeders. We specifically pursue breeders who comprehend the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their puppies grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a terrific life.  It’s very important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s input and also our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in La Cañada Flintridge, California
Training your new puppy is a mixture of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging 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 puppy stay overnight with various people in various settings; which in turn develops a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your lifestyle. As a result of this and exposures to other variables 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 moment a new puppy is in our hands in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Once we select the pup 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 branches, and also get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while boosting 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 company of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
In the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we may incorporate into our methods. Frequently we make use of certain places or objects to create an experience for the puppy. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in La Cañada Flintridge, California. Our options and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we very closely observe the puppy. We never confine ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of occasions 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 often consider it as an early investment in the life of this puppy. This is the first time away from their littermates and staying with us in La Cañada Flintridge, 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 massive impact on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is vital. It is important to build their self-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 Pup
4 to 6 months 

A trained puppy is so much 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 critical. In addition, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in La Cañada Flintridge, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a puppy with impeccable manners and social skills. We begin by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which continues as we fine-tune the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a standard request in our daily routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy 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 very clear and consistent is key. We limit 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 La Cañada Flintridge, CA
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 turning into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever think of. Many owners hope their dog 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 La Cañada Flintridge, 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 maybe chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, near 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 consider each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the dog? How does that picture shift from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to cope in every new and various setting or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on constant commands that control what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we prefer a dog that can make great choices. Our main priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and improve manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog 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 family member or friend. Giving this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new surroundings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he/she moves on to your house in La Cañada Flintridge, CA.