Deciding on Your New Puppy
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself can be stressful. You want a doggy that can fit  wonderfully with your way of life. Your life in Norris Canyon, California can be hectic, you may have a full-time profession, maybe you’re raising a new family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a worry free experience to add that  spectacular dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Consultation
We think it’s crucial that you know who you will be working with. Developing a rapport is incredibly important to our team in Norris Canyon, California. Our talk begins with straightforward questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your dream dog would be. We like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It starts the journey to decide on, teach and raise your pup.

Selecting The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you are ready to add that perfect dog to your life in Norris Canyon, California. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to consider for example, the type of house you live in, your schedule, maybe you are raising a young family, you love to travel or you’ve recently retired. All this will not limit your choices, but instead help clarify your lifestyle in Norris Canyon, CA. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly help you choose what you want and which breed will best match your lifestyle.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in Norris Canyon, California
We partner with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as important as to what follows. A excellent breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a relationship with many great breeders. We specifically find breeders who understand 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 extremely important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s input along with our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Norris Canyon, California
Training your new puppy is a mixture of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, in addition to exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments.For example, we may have the pup stay overnight with different people in different environments; which in turn creates a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily connects 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 Norris Canyon, California. Once we select the puppy from the litter, the first thing we would like 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. Such as, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and maybe even get somewhat near 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 incredibly aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers 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 limit as to what we will integrate into our methods. Often we utilize certain locations or objects to create an experience for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Norris Canyon, California. Our options and vision are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully observe the puppy. We never confine ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make use of events that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We like to think of 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 Norris 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 huge impact on their future personalities and determine a number of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, 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 soaking up 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 a lot 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 vital. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, in addition to having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Norris Canyon, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a dog with remarkable manners and social skills. We begin by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which carries on 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 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 proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center of our philosophy. Being very 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 Norris 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 rescues. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever picture. Many owners hope their canine will grow out of unfavorable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more challenging.

Working in the Real World in Norris Canyon, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely 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 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. How 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 adapt in every new and different environment or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on ongoing commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we want a dog that can make great decisions. Our top priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and fine-tune good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the puppy has been living with the dog trainer in their individual home. Throughout this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or friend. Giving this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new surroundings. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he/she goes on to your home in Norris Canyon, CA.