Picking Your Pup
The thought of raising a new pup on your own can be stressful. You hope for a dog that will match  nicely with your daily life. Your life in Shell Ridge, California is fast paced, you may have a full time job, you may be raising a new family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a anxiety free experience to add that  incredible dog to your life.

The Experience Begins With a Consultation
We think it’s crucial that you know who you will be partnering with. Developing a relationship is incredibly important to our company in Shell Ridge, California. Our talk begins with simple 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 might be. We would like to have a great working partnership with you. It starts the journey to select, teach and raise your puppy.

Picking The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have made a decision you want to add that perfect dog to your life in Shell Ridge, California. You may 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. Certainly there are things to take into consideration including the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, are raising a young family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not restrict your choices, yet help clarify your way of life in Shell Ridge, CA. We help guide you in your decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly aid you pick what you want and which breed will best suit your lifestyle.

Finding The Perfect Breeder in Shell Ridge, California
We collaborate with responsible breeders who are truly 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 comes after. A excellent breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many fine breeders. We specifically seek breeders who know the early part 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 is extremely important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge along with our years of expertise to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Shell Ridge, California
Training your pup is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing 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 have the pup sleep overnight with various people in different environments; which produces a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other factors your dog readily bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our care in Shell Ridge, California. Once we choose the puppy from the litter, the first thing we wish to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun even though we’re always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin 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 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 remarkably aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without the company of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we will incorporate into our methods. Often we utilize specific locations or objects to create an experience for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Shell Ridge, California. Our decisions and vision are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the prior one. Through all of this, we closely observe the puppy. We do not limit ourselves to rigid rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of occasions that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the pup.

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 puppy. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Shell Ridge, 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 any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a massive influence on their future personalities and determine a number 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 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 Puppy
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 important things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are critical. In addition, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Shell Ridge, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a puppy with remarkable manners and social skills. We start by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which continues as we fine-tune 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 puppy to. We go from shaping to formalizing commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being clear and consistent is key. We limit 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 right away.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Shell Ridge, CA
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the usual 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 envision. Many owners hope their dog will grow out of unwanted behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Shell Ridge, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted perhaps 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 dog goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various situations. We consider each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the puppy? 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 setting or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t reliant on continuous commands that dictate what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we want a dog that can make good decisions. Our top priority 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. Throughout this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in his or her personal home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another loved one or friend. Offering this opportunity, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new settings. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he/she moves on to your home in Shell Ridge, CA.