Deciding on Your New Puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy by yourself can be overwhelming. You really want a dog that will match  perfectly with your daily life. Your life in West Hartford, Connecticut can be hectic, you’ve got a full time schedule, you may be raising a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a anxiety free experience to add in that  amazing dog to your life.

The Program Starts With a Assessment
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be working with. Developing a rapport is incredibly important to our team in West Hartford, Connecticut. Our discussion begins with easy questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will provide us a clearer idea of who you are and what your ideal dog might be. We want to have a excellent working relationship with you. It starts the journey to select, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have made a decision you want to add that amazing dog to your life in West Hartford, Connecticut. You 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 including where you live, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you you may love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. All this will not reduce your choices, but instead help clarify your everyday life in West Hartford, CT. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly assist you decide what you want and which breed will best fit your life-style.

Selecting The Right Breeder in West Hartford, Connecticut
We coordinate with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as critical as to what happens after. A great breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many exquisite breeders. We specifically find breeders who understand the early part they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their puppies goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a good life.  It is really important to work carefully with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s input together with our years of knowledge to select the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in West Hartford, Connecticut
Training your puppy is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging 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 pup stay overnight with various people in various environments; which in turn develops 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 readily connects with you and your family.

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

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our care in West Hartford, Connecticut. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the first thing we want to achieve is developing 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 begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, climb 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 building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet extremely 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 having the presence of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential 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 incorporate into our techniques. Often we make use of certain spots or objects to create an experience for the puppy. At times a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in West Hartford, Connecticut. Our choices and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we very closely observe the puppy. We do not limit ourselves to rigid rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of events that manifest before us. Those opportunities are invaluable 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 puppy. This is the first time away from their littermates and staying with us in West Hartford, 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 significant impact on their future personalities and decide a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting phase, every experience is important. It is essential to build their 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 need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is 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. In addition, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, along with being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in West Hartford, CT  is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a puppy with remarkable 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 strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a regular request in our daily routine in addition to within each new situation we expose your dog 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 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 right away.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in West Hartford, 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 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 outgrow unfavorable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more challenging.

Working in the Real World in West Hartford, Connecticut
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted perhaps chasing something like a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic areas, around barking dogs, near 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 scenarios. We imagine each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the dog? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to cope in each new and various environment or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on continuous commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we prefer a dog that can make great choices. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced dog, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and fine-tune good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been residing with the trainer in his/her personal home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another family member or close friend. Giving this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new surroundings. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he/she goes on to your house in West Hartford, CT.