Choosing Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new pup on your own may be stressful. You need a puppy that is going to match  very well with your way of life. Your life in Arlington, Massachusetts may be hectic, you’ve got a full-time schedule, maybe you’re raising a young family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a worry free experience to add in that  remarkable dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Consultation
We know it’s crucial that you know who you will be dealing with. Building a rapport is incredibly important to our team in Arlington, Massachusetts. Our conversation begins with straightforward questions and leads into an in detail discussion, which will provide us a better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog will be. We like to have a great working relationship with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your pup.

Picking The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have made a decision you want to add that amazing dog to your life in Arlington, Massachusetts. You 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. There certainly are things to think about like the type of house you live in, how much you work, are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. This information will not reduce your choices, yet help clarify your lifestyle in Arlington, MA. We will help guide you in this decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can assist you decide what you want and which breed will best suit your lifestyle.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in Arlington, Massachusetts
We work 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 critical as to what happens after. A great breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many exquisite breeders. We particularly seek breeders who are aware of 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 great life.  It is extremely important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge in addition to our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Arlington, Massachusetts
Training your new puppy is a combination of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, as well as exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments.Such as, we have the pup stay overnight with various people in different settings; which in turn produces 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 factors your dog easily connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our hands in Arlington, Massachusetts. Once we select the puppy from the litter, the first thing we wish to achieve is building 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 start exposing the pup to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, climb stairs, walk over logs, and maybe even get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while at the same time strengthening our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet significantly 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 the presence of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
During the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no restriction as to what we will incorporate into our techniques. Frequently we utilize certain areas or objects to create an encounter for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Arlington, Massachusetts. Our decisions and vision are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we closely observe the puppy. We don’t restrict ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and benefit from occasions that manifest before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes to teaching the dog.

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 living with us in Arlington, 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 any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they encounter will have a substantial impact on their future personalities and determine many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is vital. It is essential to build their self-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 fun with our new dog.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained dog is a lot 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 critical. In addition, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Arlington, MA  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a puppy with impeccable 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 stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a normal request in our regular routine as well as 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 very clear and consistent is key. We limit our words when providing 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 Arlington, MA
6 months to young adult

Enter the teenage years– adolescence. This is the typical age when many dogs are re-homed or surrendered to animal shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup turning into a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever envision. Many owners hope their puppy will grow out of unfavorable 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 difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Arlington, Massachusetts
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted perhaps chasing something like a squirrel. We test 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 imagine each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the dog? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to adapt in each new and various environment or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on constant commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we want a dog that can make good decisions. Our main goal is to have a well-balanced dog, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been staying with the dog trainer in his or her own home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another relative or close friend. Offering this opportunity, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This makes sure those habits and good manners will stay when he or she goes on to your house in Arlington, MA.