Selecting Your New Puppy
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself can be overwhelming. You really want a doggy that will match  very well with your life-style. Your life in Mission Canyon, California can be chaotic, you may have a full time profession, maybe you’re raising a young family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a anxiety free experience to add in that  outstanding dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Assessment
We think it is crucial that you know who you will be working with. Establishing a rapport is tremendously important to our company in Mission Canyon, California. Our discussion begins with simple questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will give us a better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog would be. We want to have a great working partnership with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Mission Canyon, California. You have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to take into consideration including where you live, your schedule, are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or you’ve recently retired. This information will not minimize your options, but instead help clarify your lifestyle in Mission Canyon, CA. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly aid you decide what you want and which breed will best fit your lifestyle.

Finding The Right Breeder in Mission Canyon, California
We work with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and great temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as vital as to what follows. A good breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a rapport with many fine breeders. We particularly seek breeders who recognize the early part 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 good life.  It’s quite important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge as well as our years of expertise to pick out the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Mission Canyon, California
Training your new puppy is a combination 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 various environments. For instance, we may have the pup sleep overnight with different people in different environments; which develops a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other factors your dog readily bonds with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in Mission Canyon, California. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the very first thing we wish to accomplish is building 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 puppy to its new world. Such as, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and maybe even get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without the presence 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 limit as to what we will incorporate into our methods. Frequently we utilize certain spots or objects to create an experience for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Mission Canyon, California. Our decisions and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we thoroughly monitor the puppy. We do not limit ourselves to stiff rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make use of activities that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes down to teaching the pup.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We often think about it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Mission Canyon, 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 massive influence on their future personalities and determine a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting phase, every experience is critical. It is essential 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 must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
4 to 6 months 

A well-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 paramount. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Mission Canyon, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog with impeccable manners and social skills. We start by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which continues as we improve 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 daily routine as well as 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 immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Mission Canyon, 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 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 undesirable behavior more challenging.

Testing in the Real World in Mission Canyon, 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 locations, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various situations. We imagine 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 various setting or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on continual commands that control what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we want a dog that can make good choices. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and improve good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been residing with the dog trainer in their individual home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another loved one or close friend. Providing the puppy with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he moves on to your house in Mission Canyon, CA.