Selecting Your Young puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy on your own may be frustrating. You want a doggy that can fit  wonderfully with your way of life. Your life in Santa Rosa, California can be hectic, you’ve got a full time profession, you may be raising a young family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a stress free experience to add in that  awesome dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Consultation
We know it’s vital that you know who you will be partnering with. Developing a rapport is tremendously important to us in Santa Rosa, California. Our chat begins with straightforward questions and leads into an thorough conversation, which will provide us a better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog would be. We like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your pup.

Picking The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have made a decision you are ready to add that amazing dog to your life in Santa Rosa, California. You have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. There are things to consider like the type of house you live in, your schedule, are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or you’ve recently retired. All this will not minimize your choices, yet help clarify your everyday life in Santa Rosa, CA. We 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 life-style.

Selecting The Best Breeder in Santa Rosa, California
We partner with responsible breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their puppies. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as crucial as to what comes after. A great breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many amazing breeders. We particularly search out breeders who comprehend 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 terrific life.  It’s incredibly important to work carefully with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s knowledge in addition to our years of expertise to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Santa Rosa, California
Training your pup is a mixture of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, together with exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.Such as, we 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 lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other variables your dog easily bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our hands in Santa Rosa, California. Once we decide on the pup from the litter, the very 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 pup to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over branches, and even get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time reinforcing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet very aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup learns about this new world without having the companionship 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 integrate into our approaches. Typically we make use of particular areas or objects to create an experience for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Santa Rosa, California. Our decisions and creativity are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds on the last one. Through all of this, we carefully monitor the puppy. We never confine ourselves to stiff rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of activities that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new pup 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 their littermates and staying with us in Santa Rosa, 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 massive effect on their future personalities and determine many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting period, every experience is important. It is important to build their confidence. The phrase ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are absorbing every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Pup
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 very important things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are very important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, along with being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Santa Rosa, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to raise 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 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 regular 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 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 Santa Rosa, 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 turning into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever imagine. Many owners hope their dog will outgrow unfavorable 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.

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

As the puppy goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various scenarios. We consider each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to cope in each new and different environment or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on ongoing commands that dictate what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we want a dog that can make good choices. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and improve good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been staying with the trainer in his/her own home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another relative or friend. Giving this opportunity, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in new settings. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he goes on to your home in Santa Rosa, CA.