Deciding on Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new young puppy by yourself might be stressful. You need a puppy that will match  wonderfully with your life style. Your life in Woodside, California is busy, you may have a full time schedule, maybe you’re raising a young 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 Program Begins With a Consultation
We think it’s vital that you know who you will be dealing with. Developing a relationship is exceptionally important to our company in Woodside, California. Our discussion starts with straightforward questions and leads into an thorough conversation, which will provide us a better idea of who you are and what your dream dog will be. We want to have a excellent working partnership with you. It starts the journey to choose, teach and raise your puppy.

Finding The Perfect Breed For Your Home
Once you have determined you are ready to include that perfect dog to your life in Woodside, California. You may have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to take into consideration including where you live, maybe you work full time, are raising a young family, you you may love to travel or you’ve recently retired. This information will not minimize your choices, but instead help clarify your daily life in Woodside, CA. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can help you pick what you want and which dog will best match your life-style.

Selecting The Best Breeder in Woodside, California
We work with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new pups life are as critical as to what happens after. A good breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a relationship with many fine breeders. We particularly find breeders who are aware of the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their puppies grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It is quite important to work carefully with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s feedback together with our years of knowledge to select the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Woodside, California
Training your puppy is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, as well as exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.For example, we have the puppy stay overnight with different people in various environments; which 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 connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our hands in Woodside, California. Once we choose the pup from the litter, the first thing we would like to accomplish 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, go up and down stairs, walk over logs, and even get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while reinforcing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet significantly aware in those moments it is imperative to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without having the presence 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 techniques. Frequently we take advantage of certain areas or objects to create an experience for the pup. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Woodside, California. Our choices and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we closely supervise the puppy. We do not restrict ourselves to stiff 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 puppy is a teaching moment. We often consider 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 Woodside, 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 substantial effect on their future personalities and decide a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting period, 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 soaking up every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is 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 critical. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Woodside, 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 fine-tune the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a standard request in our day-to-day routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We move from shaping to formalizing commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center 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 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 Woodside, 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 rescues. 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 think of. Many owners hope their puppy will grow out of undesirable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more difficult.

Working in the Real World in Woodside, California 
We work to prevent any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted perhaps chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic locations, 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 scenarios. We imagine 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 working to teach a dog how to cope in every new and various setting or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t dependent on constant commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Rather, we want a dog that can make good decisions. Our number one 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. Throughout this time, the puppy has been living with the dog trainer in his or her own home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another loved one or close friend. Offering this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he goes on to your home in Woodside, CA.