Deciding on Your Pup
The thought of raising a new puppy by yourself is frustrating. You need a puppy that is going to fit in  wonderfully with your everyday life. Your life in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois might be fast paced, you may have a full-time profession, maybe you’re raising a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a stress free experience to add in that  spectacular dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We think it’s vital that you know who you will be coordinating with. Building a relationship is incredibly important to our team in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Our conversation begins with simple questions and leads into an thorough conversation, which will provide us a clearer idea of who you are and what your dream dog will be. We like to have a great working partnership with you. It starts the journey to decide on, teach and raise your puppy.

Finding The Best Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. You may have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you want one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. There are things to take into consideration for example, where you live, how much you work, maybe you are raising a young family, you you may love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. This information will not minimize your choices, but instead help shed light on your lifestyle in Hawthorn Woods, IL. We will help guide you in your decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly help you pick what you want and which breed will best suit your life-style.

Selecting The Best Breeder in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
We team up with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and great temperament of their puppies. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as important as to what happens after. A excellent breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many outstanding breeders. We specifically search out breeders who comprehend the early role 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 fantastic life.  It’s very important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s feedback in addition to our years of knowledge to select the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
Training your pup is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, promoting healthy relationships, as well as exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments.For example, we may have the puppy stay overnight with various people in different 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. As a result of this and exposures to other factors your dog easily bonds with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Once we choose the pup from the litter, the very first thing we wish to accomplish is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. Such as, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over logs, and also get relatively near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while boosting 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 learns about this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
In the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we may incorporate into our approaches. Often we use certain spots or objects to create an experience for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. Our choices and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the last one. Through all of this, we carefully observe the puppy. We do not confine ourselves to rigid rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and benefit from activities that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the puppy.

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 their littermates and living with us in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. 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 effect on their future personalities and determine many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of 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 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 dog is far 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 extremely important. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Hawthorn Woods, IL  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a puppy with impeccable manners and social skills. We begin by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which continues as we improve 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 move from shaping to formalizing commands and testing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center of our philosophy. Being clear and consistent is key. We limit 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 immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Hawthorn Woods, IL
6 months to young adult

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

Testing in the Real World in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted maybe chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic areas, around barking dogs, around 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 think of each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to cope in every new and various environment or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on constant commands that control what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make great decisions. Our number one goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been staying with the trainer in their individual home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or friend. Providing the dog with this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new settings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he/she goes on to your house in Hawthorn Woods, IL.