Deciding on Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy on your own is stressful. You need a dog that is going to fit in  beautifully with your life style. Your life in Wilton, Connecticut can be busy, you’ve got a full-time job, maybe you’re raising a young family, you may like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a worry free experience to add that  awesome dog to your life.

The Experience Starts With a Assessment
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be coordinating with. Developing a rapport is incredibly important to our team in Wilton, Connecticut. Our talk 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 might be. We want to have a great working partnership with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your pup.

Finding The Perfect Breed For Your Home
Once you have made a decision you want to include that amazing dog to your life in Wilton, Connecticut. You have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to take into consideration including the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to travel or you’ve recently retired. All this will not limit your options, but instead help shed light on your life-style in Wilton, CT. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can assist you choose what you want and which puppy will best accommodate your life-style.

Choosing The Perfect Breeder in Wilton, Connecticut
We work with responsible breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as important as to what comes after. A great breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a relationship with many outstanding breeders. We specifically search out breeders who are aware of the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their pups goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It’s incredibly important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s feedback together with our years of knowledge to pick out the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Wilton, Connecticut
Training your puppy is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, as well as exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments. For instance, we have the puppy sleep overnight with different people in various environments; which in turn produces a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other factors your dog easily connects with you and your family.

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

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our hands in Wilton, Connecticut. Once we select the pup from the litter, the very 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 start exposing the pup to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over branches, and even get somewhat close 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 very aware in those moments it is imperative to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy discovers this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial time for learning
During the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we will integrate into our techniques. Often we make use of specific spots or objects to create an experience for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Wilton, Connecticut. Our options and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we closely supervise the puppy. We do not restrict ourselves to rigid rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of activities 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 often consider it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Wilton, 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 effect on their future personalities and decide a number 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 soaking up every experience like a sponge, we must stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Friend
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 important things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are critical. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Wilton, CT  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog 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 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 day-to-day routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go from shaping to defining commands and proofing 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 giving 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 Wilton, CT
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 pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever envision. Many owners hope their canine will outgrow unwanted 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 challenging.

Working in the Real World in Wilton, Connecticut
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted maybe chasing something like a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic locations, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various situations. We consider each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture shift from day to day or location to location. We are working to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and various environment or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t dependent on ongoing commands that determine what he or she should and should not do. Instead, we desire a dog that can make great decisions. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to reinforce and improve manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the puppy has been living with the trainer in their own home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another family member or friend. Giving this chance, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in different settings. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he moves in to your house in Wilton, CT.