Deciding on Your Young puppy
The thought of raising a new pup by yourself might be stressful. You want a puppy that will fit in  wonderfully with your life. Your life in Emerald Lake Hills, California possible is stressful, you’ve got a full-time profession, a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a worry free experience to add in that  spectacular dog to your life.

The Experience Starts With a Assessment
We think it’s very important that you know who you will be partnering with. Building a relationship is tremendously important to us in Emerald Lake Hills, California. Our conversation starts with straightforward questions and leads into an in detail discussion, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog might be. We like to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It starts the journey to select, teach and raise your pup.

Selecting The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have made a decision you are ready to include that perfect dog to your life in Emerald Lake Hills, California. You have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. There are things to take into consideration including where you live, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not reduce your options, but instead help clarify your daily life in Emerald Lake Hills, CA. We will help guide you in your decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can help you choose what you want and which puppy will best match your lifestyle.

Finding The Right Breeder in Emerald Lake Hills, California
We partner with amazing breeders who are genuinely 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 critical as to what happens after. A good breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a relationship with many fine breeders. We specifically seek breeders who are aware of 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 excellent life.  It is very important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s feedback along with our years of experience to pick out the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Emerald Lake Hills, California
Training your puppy is a combination of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, and also exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments. For instance, we have the puppy sleep overnight with different people in different settings; which in turn produces a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. Because of this and exposures to other factors 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 minute a new puppy is in our hands in Emerald Lake Hills, California. Once we decide on the pup from the litter, the very first thing we want 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 puppy to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and also get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still remarkably aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
In the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we may incorporate into our techniques. Frequently we use particular spots or objects to create an experience for the pup. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Emerald Lake Hills, California. Our choices and vision are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we very closely observe the puppy. We do not confine ourselves to rigid rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and benefit from activities that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We like to think of 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 Emerald Lake Hills, 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 any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a huge effect on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, every experience is important. It is important to build their self-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 dog.

A Well-Mannered Friend
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 necessary things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are extremely important. In addition, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, along with having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Emerald Lake Hills, CA is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog 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 strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a standard request in our daily routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go 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 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 Emerald Lake Hills, CA
6 months to young adult

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

Working in the Real World in Emerald Lake Hills, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic places, around barking dogs, around playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog 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 dog? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are working to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and different environment or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on continuous commands that determine what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we prefer a dog that can make great decisions. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been staying with the trainer in their own home. Throughout 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 dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new areas. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he moves in to your house in Emerald Lake Hills, CA.