Choosing Your Pup
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself might be stressful. You hope for a pup that is going to fit  nicely with your lifestyle. Your life in Darien, Connecticut might be stressful, you’ve got a full-time schedule, maybe you’re raising a young family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a anxiety free experience to add that  remarkable dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Assessment
We think it is crucial that you know who you will be partnering with. Establishing a relationship is extremely important to our team in Darien, Connecticut. Our talk starts with easy questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your dream dog will be. We like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your pup.

Picking The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have made a decision you want to add that amazing dog to your life in Darien, Connecticut. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to think about like the type of house you live in, how much you work, maybe you are raising a young family, you love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not restrict your choices, but instead help clarify your way of life in Darien, CT. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly aid you pick what you want and which puppy will best match your life-style.

Picking The Right Breeder in Darien, Connecticut
We coordinate with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new pups life are as significant as to what follows. A good breeder understands 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 are aware of the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a good life.  It’s quite important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge together with our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Darien, Connecticut
Training your pup is a mixture of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, promoting healthy relationships, along with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments. For instance, we have the pup stay overnight with different people in different settings; which 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 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 Darien, Connecticut. Once we select the puppy from the litter, the first thing we want to achieve is building 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 puppy to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over various things, and even get somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time enhancing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still remarkably aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy learns about 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 will integrate into our techniques. Frequently we take advantage of specific areas or objects to create an encounter for the pup. At times a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Darien, Connecticut. Our options and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we thoroughly observe the puppy. We do not limit ourselves to rigid rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the pup.

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 puppy. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and living with us in Darien, 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 encounter will have a substantial impact on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, every experience is critical. It is important to build their confidence. The phrase ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are absorbing every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Friend
4 to 6 months 

A trained dog is a lot 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 many different distractions and situations, along with being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Darien, CT  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog with remarkable manners and social skills. We start 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 stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a normal request in our everyday routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go from shaping to defining 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 want when we give them the command. When we say ‘come’ or ‘here’ we expect 100% response right away.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Darien, CT
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the normal 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 pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever envision. Many owners hope their puppy will outgrow unfavorable 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 challenging.

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

As the puppy 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. What does that look like to the dog? 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 setting or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t reliant on ongoing commands that control what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we desire a dog that can make great decisions. Our main goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been residing with the dog trainer in his/her individual home. Throughout this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights staying with another loved one or friend. Giving this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in different surroundings. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he/she moves on to your house in Darien, CT.