Choosing Your New Puppy
The thought of raising a new pup by yourself is overwhelming. You need a pup that will match  perfectly with your lifestyle. Your life in Sherman Oaks, California might be hectic, you’ve got a full time job, a young family, you may like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a stress and anxiety free experience to add that  incredible dog to your life.

The Process Begins With a Consultation
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be teaming up with. Developing a relationship is extremely important to our team in Sherman Oaks, California. Our chat begins with basic questions and leads into an detailed conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog might be. We like to have a excellent working partnership with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your pup.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Home
Once you have determined you are ready to add that amazing dog to your life in Sherman Oaks, California. You have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you want one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to think about for example, where you live, how much you work, are raising a young family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not reduce your choices, yet help clarify your daily life in Sherman Oaks, CA. We help guide you in your decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can assist you decide what you want and which dog will best suit your lifestyle.

Finding The Best Breeder in Sherman Oaks, California
We work 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 critical as to what comes after. A good breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many great breeders. We particularly seek breeders who know the early part they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their puppies goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a wonderful life.  It’s extremely important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge along with our years of knowledge to pick the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Sherman Oaks, California
Training your puppy is a mixture 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 instance, we have the pup sleep overnight with different people in various settings; which in turn produces a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your lifestyle. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily connects with you and your family.

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

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our care in Sherman Oaks, California. Once we pick the pup from the litter, the very first thing we want to achieve is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We begin 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 various things, and also get somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while enhancing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy learns about this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
During the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we may integrate into our methods. Typically we use certain locations or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Sherman Oaks, California. Our decisions and creativity are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we carefully observe the puppy. We never confine ourselves to rigid rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of activities that manifest before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We like to think about it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Sherman Oaks, 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 period than any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a massive impact on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting phase, every experience is critical. It is important to build their self-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 need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Dog
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is so much 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 paramount. In addition, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Sherman Oaks, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a puppy 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 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 in addition to within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go from shaping to defining commands and proofing 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 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 Sherman Oaks, 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 rescues. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup turning into a monster. That nice pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever imagine. Many owners hope their canine will outgrow undesirable 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 Sherman Oaks, California 
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted maybe chasing something like a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic places, 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. How does that look like to the dog? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and different setting or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on constant commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make great decisions. 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 puppy has been staying with the dog trainer in his/her personal home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or friend. Offering this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he goes on to your house in Sherman Oaks, CA.