Selecting Your Pup
The thought of raising a new puppy by yourself can be stressful. You hope for a doggy that will fit in  perfectly with your lifestyle. Your life in Kentfield, California possible is stressful, you may have a full time job, you may be raising a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a worry free experience to add in that  awesome dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Assessment
We know it is important that you know who you will be working with. Establishing a rapport is incredibly important to our company in Kentfield, California. Our chat begins with straightforward questions and leads into an detailed conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog will be. We would like to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It begins the journey to decide on, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have determined you are ready to add that perfect dog to your life in Kentfield, California. You may have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are presently in our puppy raising program. There are things to think of including where you live, how much you work, maybe you are raising a young family, you you may love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not limit your options, but instead help shed light on your way of life in Kentfield, CA. We will help guide you in your decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can help you choose what you want and which puppy will best match your life-style.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in Kentfield, California
We work with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their puppies. The first eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as critical as to what follows. A excellent breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many amazing breeders. We particularly pursue breeders who comprehend 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 great life.  It’s very important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s knowledge together with our years of expertise to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Kentfield, California
Training your puppy is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, promoting healthy relationships, as well as exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.For example, we may have the puppy stay overnight with different people in various settings; which develops a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your lifestyle. As a result of this and exposures to other variables 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 care in Kentfield, California. Once we select the pup from the litter, the first thing we want to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We begin our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over logs, and maybe even get somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still very aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate 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.

Most important time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we will incorporate into our techniques. Typically we take advantage of certain places or objects to create an experience for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Kentfield, California. Our options and creativity are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we thoroughly observe the puppy. We do not confine ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes down to teaching the puppy.

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 their littermates and living with us in Kentfield, 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 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 a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is vital. 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 a good time with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained dog is so much 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 critical. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Kentfield, 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 carries on 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 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 core of our philosophy. Being clear and consistent is key. We restrict 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 Kentfield, CA
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 animal shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever think of. Many owners hope their dog will grow out of undesirable 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 difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Kentfield, California 
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted possibly chasing something like a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic spots, 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 situations. We imagine 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 striving to teach a dog how to adapt in each new and different environment or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t reliant on constant commands that determine what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we want a dog that can make good choices. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, 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 staying with the dog trainer in his or her individual home. Throughout this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or friend. Providing them with this opportunity, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in different settings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he or she moves on to your home in Kentfield, CA.