Selecting Your Pup
The idea of raising a new young puppy on your own can be overwhelming. You really want a puppy that is going to fit  beautifully with your daily life. Your life in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California possible is fast paced, you’ve got a full-time schedule, a young family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a anxiety free experience to add that  remarkable dog to your life.

The Process Begins With a Consultation
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be working with. Establishing a rapport is tremendously important to our company in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California. Our conversation begins with straightforward 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 fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your pup.

Picking The Perfect Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you are ready to add that amazing dog to your life in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California. You may have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to think of for example, the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, are raising a young family, you you may love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not minimize your options, yet help clarify your way of life in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA. We will help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can assist you choose what you want and which dog will best fit your lifestyle.

Picking The Right Breeder in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California
We work with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as vital as to what happens after. A great breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many fine breeders. We particularly find breeders who know the early part they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their pups grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a terrific life.  It is incredibly important to work carefully with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s feedback along with our years of expertise to select the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California
Training your dog is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, along with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments.For example, we may have the pup stay 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 way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog easily 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 hands in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California. Once we select the pup from the litter, the first thing we would like to achieve 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 begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over logs, and also get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet extremely 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 companionship of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
During the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we will integrate into our techniques. Often we utilize specific places or objects to create an experience for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California. Our decisions and creativity are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we very closely supervise the puppy. We never limit ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of events that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the puppy.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We often think about it as an early investment in the life of this dog. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, 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 decide a number of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is critical. It is essential to build their self-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 Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained dog 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 extremely important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a dog with impeccable manners and social skills. We start 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 strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a regular request in our daily routine as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We move from shaping to formalizing commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being very clear and consistent is key. We restrict our words when giving 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 Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, 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 rescues. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup developing into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever envision. Many owners hope their dog will outgrow unwanted behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more challenging.

Testing in the Real World in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, California 
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic areas, 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 consider 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 working to teach a dog how to cope in each new and different environment or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t dependent on constant commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we prefer a dog that can make great decisions. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and fine-tune manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been residing with the trainer in their personal home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another relative or friend. Providing them with this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in different environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he moves in to your house in Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CA.