Selecting Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new young puppy by yourself might be stressful. You really want a dog that will fit in  wonderfully with your life-style. Your life in La Grange, Illinois is hectic, you may have a full-time profession, maybe you’re raising a new 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  outstanding dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Consultation
We know it’s very important that you know who you will be teaming up with. Establishing a relationship is very important to us in La Grange, Illinois. Our conversation starts with basic questions and leads into an detailed discussion, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your dream dog would be. We would like to have a excellent working partnership with you. It starts the journey to pick, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you want to add that perfect dog to your life in La Grange, Illinois. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. There are things to think about such as where you live, how much you work, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. All this will not reduce your choices, yet help shed light on your everyday life in La Grange, IL. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can assist you choose what you want and which puppy will best suit your life-style.

Choosing The Right Breeder in La Grange, Illinois
We collaborate with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and great temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new pups life are as important as to what comes after. A excellent breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many outstanding breeders. We specifically pursue breeders who comprehend 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 excellent life.  It is extremely important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge along with our years of experience to pick the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in La Grange, Illinois
Training your dog is a combination of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, promoting healthy relationships, in addition to exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments. For instance, we may have the pup stay overnight with different people in different settings; which creates 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 factors 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 instant a new puppy is in our care in La Grange, Illinois. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the first thing we wish to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun even though we’re always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. Such as, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over logs, and also get somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time enhancing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without the company of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial time for learning
In the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no restriction as to what we may incorporate into our approaches. Typically we use certain spots or objects to create an experience for the pup. At times a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in La Grange, Illinois. Our choices and vision are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully monitor the puppy. We never restrict ourselves to rigid rules. We try to get 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 like to consider 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 La Grange, 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 time 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 many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting period, every experience is vital. It is essential to build their self-confidence. The expression ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are taking in every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained puppy is a lot 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. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, in addition to being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in La Grange, IL  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a puppy with remarkable manners and social skills. We begin 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, making it a standard request in our day-to-day routine as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We go from shaping to defining commands and testing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center 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 La Grange, IL
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the normal age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to shelters. 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 imagine. Many owners hope their canine will grow out of unfavorable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more challenging.

Working in the Real World in La Grange, Illinois
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted maybe chasing something like a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic places, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various scenarios. We think of each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to cope in each new and various environment or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t reliant on ongoing commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we desire a dog that can make great choices. Our number one goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and fine-tune manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in his or her own home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or close friend. Offering this opportunity, 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 moves on to your home in La Grange, IL.