Picking Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new puppy on your own can be frustrating. You really want a dog that will match  nicely with your daily life. Your life in Newtown, Connecticut possible is chaotic, you’ve got a full time schedule, maybe you’re raising a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  outstanding dog to your life.

The Experience Starts With a Consultation
We know it’s very important that you know who you will be teaming up with. Establishing a rapport is very important to our team in Newtown, Connecticut. Our conversation begins with straightforward questions and leads into an detailed discussion, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your perfect dog might be. We would like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It starts the journey to select, teach and raise your pup.

Picking The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have decided you want to add that perfect dog to your life in Newtown, Connecticut. You may have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to consider for example, where you live, how much you work, are raising a  little family, you you may love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. This information will not limit your options, yet help shed light on your life-style in Newtown, CT. We will help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly help you choose what you want and which puppy will best accommodate your lifestyle.

Selecting The Best Breeder in Newtown, Connecticut
We collaborate with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as crucial as to what comes after. A great breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many great breeders. We specifically find breeders who are aware of the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their pups grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a terrific life.  It is really important to work closely with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s feedback together with our years of expertise to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Newtown, Connecticut
Training your pup is a combo of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, and also exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.Such as, we may have the puppy stay overnight with various people in different settings; which creates a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other factors your dog easily bonds with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our hands in Newtown, Connecticut. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the very first thing we wish to accomplish is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We begin our relationship having fun even though we’re always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over various things, and maybe even get somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while reinforcing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet incredibly aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without having the companionship of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial 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 may integrate into our strategies. Often we utilize specific locations or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Newtown, Connecticut. Our choices and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully monitor the puppy. We do not restrict ourselves to stiff rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of events that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the pup.

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 dog. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Newtown, 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 time than any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a substantial influence on their future personalities and decide much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting phase, every experience is vital. It is important to build their self-confidence. The phrase ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ does not apply to their early interactions. Because puppies are taking in every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new pup.

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 critical. In addition, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Newtown, CT  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a puppy with impeccable manners and social skills. We begin by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which carries on as we refine 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 in addition to 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 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 Newtown, CT
6 months to young adult

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

Testing in the Real World in Newtown, 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 very distracted perhaps chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic places, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the dog goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various situations. We think of each situation as a picture. How 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 every new and different setting or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on ongoing commands that control what he or she should and should not do. In fact, we prefer a dog that can make good choices. Our top priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and improve good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been residing with the trainer in his/her individual home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or close friend. Providing them with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he/she goes on to your house in Newtown, CT.