Selecting Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new pup on your own can be frustrating. You really want a doggy that is going to fit in  beautifully with your everyday life. Your life in Orinda, California possible is fast paced, you may have a full time job, maybe you’re raising a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a worry free experience to add that  amazing dog to your life.

The Process Begins With a Assessment
We think it’s very important that you know who you will be teaming up with. Establishing a rapport is very important to our team in Orinda, California. Our chat starts with straightforward questions and leads into an thorough discussion, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog would be. We would like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to decide on, teach and raise your pup.

Finding The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Orinda, California. You have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are presently in our puppy raising program. There are things to take into consideration for example, where you live, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not limit your options, but instead help shed light on your lifestyle in Orinda, CA. We will help guide you in your decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can assist you pick what you want and which dog will best accommodate your lifestyle.

Picking The Perfect Breeder in Orinda, California
We coordinate with responsible breeders who are genuinely 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 important as to what happens after. A excellent 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 comprehend 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 great life.  It is very important to work carefully with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s input along with our years of experience to pick the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Orinda, California
Training your dog is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, together with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.For example, we may have the pup stay overnight with different people in various settings; which creates a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog easily 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 care in Orinda, California. Once we pick the pup from the litter, the first thing we want to accomplish is developing 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 example, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over branches, and even get somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still extremely aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without the companionship of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we will incorporate into our techniques. Often we make use of particular locations or objects to create an experience for the pup. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Orinda, California. Our decisions and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the prior one. Through all of this, we carefully supervise the puppy. We never limit ourselves to rigid rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of events that unfold 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 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 staying with us in Orinda, 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 encounter will have a substantial influence on their future personalities and decide many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is important. 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 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 critical. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Orinda, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to create a puppy 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, keeping it a normal request in our day-to-day routine as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We move from shaping to defining commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center of our philosophy. Being 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 Orinda, CA
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the typical age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to animal shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever think of. Many owners hope their dog 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 undesirable behavior more difficult.

Working in the Real World in Orinda, California 
We work to prevent any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog moves through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various scenarios. We think of each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the dog? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to cope in each new and various environment or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on continual commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we prefer a dog that can make great choices. Our main goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and improve good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in his/her own home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or friend. Giving this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new surroundings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he or she moves on to your home in Orinda, CA.