Picking Your Young puppy
The thought of raising a new puppy by yourself might be frustrating. You want a puppy that is going to fit in  nicely with your daily life. Your life in Winnetka, Illinois may be busy, you may have a full-time job, you may be raising a young family, you may like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a anxiety free experience to add that  incredible dog to your life.

The Process Begins With a Assessment
We know it’s important that you know who you will be dealing with. Developing a rapport is tremendously important to our company in Winnetka, Illinois. Our chat begins with simple questions and leads into an in detail conversation, which will provide us a clearer idea of who you are and what your perfect dog will be. We would like to have a wonderful 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 decided you want to include that perfect dog to your life in Winnetka, Illinois. You may have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you want one of our pups that are presently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to think about like where you live, your schedule, are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not minimize your options, yet help clarify your lifestyle in Winnetka, IL. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly help you pick what you want and which dog will best match your life-style.

Finding The Perfect Breeder in Winnetka, Illinois
We coordinate with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their puppies. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as essential as to what follows. A excellent breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many amazing breeders. We particularly search out breeders who know the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their puppies goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a great life.  It is quite important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s input together with our years of expertise to select the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Winnetka, Illinois
Training your dog is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, and also exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments.Such as, we may have the pup stay overnight with various people in different settings; which in turn develops 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 easily bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in Winnetka, Illinois. Once we decide on the pup from the litter, the very first thing we would like to achieve is developing 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 example, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and even get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time reinforcing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still extremely 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
During the first 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. Often we utilize certain areas or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. At times a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Winnetka, Illinois. Our decisions and imagination are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we closely monitor the puppy. We don’t limit 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 invaluable when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new puppy 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 his or her littermates and staying with us in Winnetka, 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 they can learn in a lifetime. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a huge effect on their future personalities and decide much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting stage, every experience is important. It is important to build their confidence. The expression ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are absorbing every experience like a sponge, we need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Dog
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is far 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. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Winnetka, IL  is equally important.

Our focus is to create 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 improve the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a regular request in our regular routine as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We go from shaping to defining commands and proofing 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 providing 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 Winnetka, IL
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the typical age when many dogs are re-homed or given up to rescues. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever imagine. Many owners hope their puppy will outgrow unwanted behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Winnetka, Illinois
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted maybe chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic locations, around barking dogs, around playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various situations. We imagine 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 aiming to teach a dog how to adapt in each new and different setting or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on continuous commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we want a dog that can make good decisions. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and improve good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been residing with the dog trainer in his/her own home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or friend. Giving this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new areas. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he/she moves on to your home in Winnetka, IL.