Deciding on Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new young puppy by yourself is frustrating. You want a puppy that will fit  perfectly with your daily life. Your life in Andover, Massachusetts is stressful, you’ve got a full-time profession, a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a worry free experience to add in that  amazing dog to your life.

The Experience Begins With a Assessment
We know it is vital that you know who you will be teaming up with. Developing a rapport is extremely important to us in Andover, Massachusetts. Our talk starts with simple questions and leads into an in detail discussion, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog might be. We want to have a wonderful working relationship with you. It begins the journey to decide on, teach and raise your pup.

Finding The Best Breed For Your Family
Once you have made a decision you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Andover, Massachusetts. You may have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to take into account for example, the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, maybe you are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not limit your choices, yet help shed light on your life-style in Andover, MA. We help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can help you decide what you want and which dog will best fit your life-style.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in Andover, Massachusetts
We collaborate with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their puppies. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as crucial as to what follows. A great breeder recognizes this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many exceptional breeders. We specifically search out breeders who understand the early role they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their pups grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a terrific life.  It’s very important to work carefully with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s feedback together with our years of experience to pick the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Andover, Massachusetts
Training your puppy is a mixture of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, together with 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 different people in different environments; which develops 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 bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in Andover, Massachusetts. Once we pick the puppy from the litter, the first thing we would like to accomplish is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin exposing the pup to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over various things, and even get relatively near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup learns about this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we will integrate into our techniques. Often we make use of particular areas or objects to create an experience for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Andover, Massachusetts. Our choices and creativity are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the last one. Through all of this, we carefully monitor the puppy. We never confine ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of events that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the pup.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We often think about it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Andover, Massachusetts. 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 huge impact on their future personalities and decide many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is important. It is essential to build their confidence. The expression ‘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 a good time with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Friend
4 to 6 months 

A trained pup is far 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 very important. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, along with being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Andover, MA  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a puppy with remarkable manners and social skills. We start by teaching obedience the day we bring them home from the breeder; which continues as we improve the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a solid foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a standard request in our regular routine in addition to within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go from shaping to formalizing commands and testing 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 immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Andover, MA
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the usual 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 imagine. Many owners hope their puppy will outgrow undesirable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more challenging.

Testing in the Real World in Andover, Massachusetts
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic spots, around barking dogs, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy moves 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. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are aiming to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and various setting or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on constant commands that determine what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we prefer a dog that can make good choices. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and fine-tune manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in his/her individual home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another loved one or close friend. Providing the puppy with this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new settings. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he or she moves in to your home in Andover, MA.