Selecting Your Pup
The thought of raising a new young puppy by yourself is stressful. You hope for a puppy that can match  beautifully with your daily life. Your life in Buffalo Grove, Illinois is fast paced, you’ve got a full-time profession, a new family, you may like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a stress and anxiety free experience to add that  remarkable dog to your life.

The Experience Begins With a Consultation
We know it is very important that you know who you will be partnering with. Establishing a rapport is tremendously important to our team in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Our chat begins with basic questions and leads into an in depth conversation, which will provide us a better idea of who you are and what your dream dog will be. We want to have a excellent working relationship with you. It begins the journey to decide on, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Home
Once you have decided you want to add that amazing dog to your life in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. You have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. There are things to think about like the type of house you live in, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or you’ve recently retired. All this will not reduce your options, but instead help clarify your way of life in Buffalo Grove, IL. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly aid you choose what you want and which dog will best match your life-style.

Picking The Right Breeder in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
We team up with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and great temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as important as to what comes after. A good breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a relationship with many fine breeders. We specifically search out breeders who comprehend the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It is really important to work closely with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s knowledge along with our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Training your dog is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, promoting healthy relationships, in addition to exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments. For instance, we may have the puppy stay 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 adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other factors your dog readily connects with you and your family members.

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 Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Once we pick the pup from the litter, the very first thing we would like to accomplish is building 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 logs, and maybe even get somewhat close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still significantly aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without the companionship 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 limitation as to what we will integrate into our methods. Typically we use certain areas or objects to create an experience for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Our options and imagination are endless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the last one. Through all of this, we very closely observe the puppy. We do not restrict ourselves to stiff rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and make use of activities that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes down 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 dog. This is the first time away from their littermates and staying with us in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. 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 experience will have a massive impact on their future personalities and decide many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting period, every experience is vital. 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 need to stay very aware of all interactions and yet still have fun with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Friend
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained puppy is so much 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. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, in addition to having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Buffalo Grove, IL  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 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 regular request in our day-to-day 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 very clear and consistent is key. We restrict our words when providing 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 Buffalo Grove, IL
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 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 rehearsing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more difficult.

Working in the Real World in Buffalo Grove, Illinois
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted perhaps chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic areas, 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 him or her in various scenarios. 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 striving to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and various environment or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on constant commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make great decisions. Our main goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and fine-tune manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the puppy has been living with the dog trainer in their personal home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or close friend. Providing the dog with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in different surroundings. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he moves in to your home in Buffalo Grove, IL.