Choosing Your Pup
The thought of raising a new pup on your own is overwhelming. You need a pup that can fit  wonderfully with your way of life. Your life in Lighthouse Point, Florida is fast paced, you’ve got a full time schedule, a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provides a worry free experience to add in that  awesome dog to your life.

The Program Starts With a Consultation
We think it is essential that you know who you will be working with. Establishing a relationship is very important to our team in Lighthouse Point, Florida. Our discussion starts with basic questions and leads into an thorough conversation, which will give us a better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog might be. We want to have a great working relationship with you. It begins the journey to pick, teach and raise your pup.

Selecting The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you are ready to add that amazing dog to your life in Lighthouse Point, Florida. You have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. There certainly are things to consider for example, the type of house you live in, your schedule, are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not limit your choices, yet help shed light on your everyday life in Lighthouse Point, FL. 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 puppy will best suit your life-style.

Picking The Perfect Breeder in Lighthouse Point, Florida
We collaborate with responsible breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as essential as to what comes after. A great breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a relationship with many fine breeders. We specifically find breeders who know the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a fantastic life.  It is quite important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s input along with our years of knowledge to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Lighthouse Point, Florida
Training your puppy is a mixture of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, along with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.For example, we have the pup sleep overnight with different people in various environments; which produces a dog for you who is relaxed 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 easily connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our care in Lighthouse Point, Florida. Once we choose the pup from the litter, the first thing we want to accomplish is developing 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 begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over branches, and even get relatively 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, yet extremely 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.

Crucial time for learning
During the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no restriction as to what we will incorporate into our approaches. Often we utilize specific locations or objects to create an encounter for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Lighthouse Point, Florida. Our choices and imagination are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we very closely observe the puppy. We don’t restrict ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and benefit from events that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We often 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 living with us in Lighthouse Point, 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 period than any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a substantial impact on their future personalities and decide much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting phase, every experience is important. It is essential to build their self-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 fun with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup 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 important. In addition, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, along with having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Lighthouse Point, FL is equally important.

Our focus is to raise 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 strong foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a standard request in our everyday routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go from shaping to formalizing commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being very clear and consistent is key. We restrict 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 Lighthouse Point, FL
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 developing into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever think of. Many owners hope their canine 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 undesirable behavior more difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Lighthouse Point, Florida 
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 test and proof obedience in high traffic locations, 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 him or her in various situations. We imagine each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to cope in every new and various setting or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t reliant on continual commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we desire a dog that can make great choices. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into 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 their own home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or friend. Providing the dog with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in different environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he or she goes on to your house in Lighthouse Point, FL.