Deciding on Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new young puppy by yourself might be overwhelming. You really want a doggy that will match  perfectly with your life-style. Your life in Lake Forest, Illinois is chaotic, you’ve got a full time profession, you may be raising a young family, you like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  awesome dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Assessment
We think it is crucial that you know who you will be coordinating with. Developing a rapport is exceptionally important to us in Lake Forest, Illinois. Our chat begins with easy questions and leads into an detailed conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your dream dog might be. We would like to have a excellent working relationship with you. It starts the journey to decide on, teach and raise your pup.

Selecting The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have determined you want to add that amazing dog to your life in Lake Forest, Illinois. You may 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 take into consideration such as the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, are raising a  little family, you you may love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not restrict your choices, yet help shed light on your way of life in Lake Forest, IL. We will help guide you in this decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can help you decide what you want and which dog will best suit your lifestyle.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in Lake Forest, Illinois
We collaborate with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The initial eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as important as to what comes after. A excellent breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many amazing breeders. We specifically search out breeders who recognize 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 wonderful life.  It’s really important to work carefully with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s knowledge and also our years of expertise to select the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

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

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our care in Lake Forest, Illinois. 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 begin our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over logs, and even get relatively near 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 incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup learns about this new world without the company of its litter mates or mom.

Most important 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 may integrate into our strategies. Frequently we utilize certain places or objects to create an experience for the puppy. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Lake Forest, Illinois. Our options and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we thoroughly supervise the puppy. We do not limit ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the pup.

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 dog. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Lake Forest, 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 any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a significant effect on their future personalities and determine much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting stage, every experience is vital. It is important to build their self-confidence. The expression ‘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 pup.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is so 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 paramount. In addition, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Lake Forest, IL  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 refine the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a regular request in our regular routine in addition to within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We move from shaping to formalizing commands and testing 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 immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Lake Forest, IL
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 rescues. 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 rehearsing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more challenging.

Testing in the Real World in Lake Forest, Illinois
We work to prevent any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted perhaps chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, around 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 each new and various setting or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on constant commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Rather, 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 strengthen and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been residing with the dog trainer in his or her personal home. During this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another family member or close friend. Providing the dog with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new surroundings. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he moves in to your home in Lake Forest, IL.