Deciding on Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new young puppy on your own can be overwhelming. You want a dog that can match  nicely with your everyday life. Your life in Burlington, Connecticut can be fast paced, you may have a full time profession, a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  incredible dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Consultation
We think it’s essential that you know who you will be teaming up with. Establishing a rapport is exceptionally important to us in Burlington, Connecticut. Our chat begins with basic questions and leads into an detailed conversation, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your ideal dog will be. We want to have a excellent working partnership with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your pup.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have determined you want to include that perfect dog to your life in Burlington, Connecticut. You have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to take into account for example, the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, maybe you are raising a young family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not restrict your options, but instead help clarify your daily life in Burlington, CT. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly help you choose what you want and which breed will best accommodate your lifestyle.

Choosing The Perfect Breeder in Burlington, Connecticut
We partner with responsible 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 vital as to what follows. A excellent breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a relationship with many amazing breeders. We specifically pursue breeders who comprehend the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a wonderful life.  It’s quite important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s feedback as well as our years of knowledge to select the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Burlington, Connecticut
Training your pup is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, as well as exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.Such as, we may have the puppy sleep overnight with various people in various settings; which produces a dog for you who is comfortable 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 connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our care in Burlington, Connecticut. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the first thing we wish to accomplish is building 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. For example, getting him or her to follow us, climb 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 enhancing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still incredibly aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without the presence 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 limitation as to what we will incorporate into our strategies. Frequently we utilize specific spots or objects to create an encounter for the pup. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Burlington, Connecticut. Our choices and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we closely observe the puppy. We do not confine ourselves to inflexible 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 like to think of it as an early investment in the life of this dog. This is the first time away from their littermates and staying with us in Burlington, Connecticut. 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 they can learn in a lifetime. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a significant influence on their future personalities and decide a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting period, every experience is crucial. It is essential to build their confidence. The expression ‘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 Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained dog 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 important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Burlington, CT  is equally important.

Our focus is to raise 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 fine-tune the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a solid foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a standard request in our regular routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We move from shaping to defining commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being very 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 Burlington, CT
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the typical age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered 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 imagine. Many owners hope their canine will outgrow undesirable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more difficult.

Working in the Real World in Burlington, Connecticut
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted possibly chasing something like a squirrel. We test 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 situations. We think of each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and different environment or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on ongoing commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we prefer a dog that can make great decisions. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, 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 puppy has been staying with the trainer in his/her personal home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another loved one or close friend. Providing them with this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he or she moves in to your home in Burlington, CT.