Deciding on Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new pup on your own might be frustrating. You hope for a pup that can match  beautifully with your life style. Your life in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California is hectic, you may have a full time job, maybe you’re raising a new family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  spectacular dog to your life.

The Experience Starts With a Assessment
We think it is very important that you know who you will be partnering with. Developing a relationship is tremendously important to our company in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California. Our chat begins with basic questions and leads into an thorough conversation, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog will be. We like to have a excellent working partnership with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your pup.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Family
Once you have made a decision you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California. You may have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to think about such as where you live, maybe you work full time, maybe you 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 lifestyle in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, 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 accommodate your lifestyle.

Choosing The Right Breeder in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California
We work with responsible breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their puppies. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as essential as to what follows. A good breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

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

Your Puppy‘s Training in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California
Training your dog is a combo of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, as well as exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments. For instance, we have the pup sleep overnight with different people in different environments; which develops 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 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 minute a new puppy is in our hands in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the very first thing we want to accomplish 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 start exposing the pup to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over logs, and even get somewhat 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 focus 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
In the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we may incorporate into our approaches. Often we use certain locations or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California. Our choices and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the last one. Through all of this, we closely monitor the puppy. We don’t restrict ourselves to stiff rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of activities that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes to teaching the puppy.

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 his or her littermates and living with us in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, 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 experience will have a significant influence on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting phase, every experience is critical. It is essential 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 need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Friend
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup 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 important. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, along with having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog with impeccable manners and social skills. We begin by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which continues 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 regular request in our daily routine in addition to 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 very 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 right away.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, 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 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 imagine. Many owners hope their puppy will outgrow unwanted behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more difficult.

Working in the Real World in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic places, 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 it in various situations. We think of 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 working to teach a dog how to cope in every new and different environment or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t dependent on constant commands that dictate what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we prefer a dog that can make good choices. Our number one goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been living 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 loved one or friend. Giving this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new areas. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he/she moves on to your house in Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CA.