Deciding on Your Pup
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself might be overwhelming. You want a dog that is going to fit  wonderfully with your life. Your life in Atlantic Beach, Florida might be chaotic, you’ve got a full-time job, you may be raising a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a anxiety free experience to add that  remarkable dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We think it’s very important that you know who you will be partnering with. Establishing a relationship is tremendously important to our team in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Our discussion starts with basic questions and leads into an thorough conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog would be. We like to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your pup.

Choosing The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have determined you are ready to include that perfect dog to your life in Atlantic Beach, Florida. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There are things to consider such as the type of house you live in, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. This information will not minimize your choices, yet help clarify your lifestyle in Atlantic Beach, FL. We will help guide you in this decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly help you pick what you want and which puppy will best suit your life-style.

Choosing The Best Breeder in Atlantic Beach, Florida
We work with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their puppies. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as crucial as to what happens after. A good breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many exceptional breeders. We particularly search out breeders who comprehend the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their puppies goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It is extremely important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s feedback along with our years of knowledge to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Atlantic Beach, Florida
Training your new puppy is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, in addition to exposing your puppy 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 different people in different environments; which creates a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other factors your dog readily bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Once we decide on the pup 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 while 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 maybe even get relatively 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, but still remarkably aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial time for learning
In the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we may incorporate into our methods. Typically we make use of particular spots or objects to create an experience for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Our options and creativity are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds upon the last one. Through all of this, we very closely monitor the puppy. We never confine ourselves to rigid rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and benefit from occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes down 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 pup. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Atlantic Beach, Florida. 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 huge influence on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting period, every experience is important. It is important 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 need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have a good time with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
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. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, in addition to having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Atlantic Beach, FL is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a dog with remarkable manners and social skills. We start by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which carries on as we improve the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a regular request in our everyday routine in addition to 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 center of our philosophy. Being 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 Atlantic Beach, FL
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the normal age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to 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 imagine. Many owners hope their dog will grow out of undesirable 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.

Testing in the Real World in Atlantic Beach, Florida 
We work to prevent any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, around 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 imagine each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture shift from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to cope in each new and different setting or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on ongoing commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make good choices. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced dog, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been living with the dog trainer in his/her own home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or close friend. Offering this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new surroundings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he moves on to your home in Atlantic Beach, FL.