Picking Your Young puppy
The thought of raising a new puppy by yourself might be frustrating. You want a doggy that can match  very well with your lifestyle. Your life in Waterloo, California might be fast paced, you’ve got a full time job, maybe you’re raising a new family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  awesome dog to your life.

The Experience Starts With a Consultation
We think it is essential that you know who you will be partnering with. Developing a relationship is incredibly important to our team in Waterloo, California. Our discussion begins with basic questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog will be. We like to have a great working relationship with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your pup.

Finding The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have made a decision you want to include that perfect dog to your life in Waterloo, California. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you want one of our pups that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to take into account such as the type of house you live in, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or you’ve recently retired. All this will not reduce your choices, but instead help clarify your life-style in Waterloo, CA. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly help you decide what you want and which puppy will best match your lifestyle.

Selecting The Best Breeder in Waterloo, 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 pups life are as crucial as to what follows. A good breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many exceptional breeders. We particularly search out breeders who know the early part they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a wonderful life.  It is very important to work closely with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s feedback in addition to our years of knowledge to select the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Waterloo, California
Training your pup is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, in addition to exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments. For instance, we have the puppy sleep overnight with different people in various settings; which in turn creates 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 variables 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 hands in Waterloo, California. Once we choose the puppy from the litter, the first thing we would like to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over branches, and maybe even get relatively close 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 extremely aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup learns about this new world without 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 incorporate into our strategies. Typically we make use of specific places or objects to create an experience for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Waterloo, California. Our choices and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully observe the puppy. We do not confine ourselves to rigid rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make use of activities that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless 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 dog. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and living with us in Waterloo, 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 experience will have a massive impact on their future personalities and decide many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, every experience is vital. 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 Dog
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 very important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, in addition to having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Waterloo, 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 continues as we refine the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a solid foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a standard request in our day-to-day routine in addition to 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 very 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 immediately.

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

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the normal age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to animal shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup developing into a monster. That nice pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever picture. Many owners hope their canine will grow out of 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.

Testing in the Real World in Waterloo, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy moves 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. What does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture shift 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 puppy that isn’t dependent on ongoing commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we desire a dog that can make great decisions. Our number one goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and improve manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been residing with the dog trainer in their own home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another loved one or friend. Offering this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in different areas. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he moves in to your home in Waterloo, CA.