Picking Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy on your own is frustrating. You want a doggy that can fit in  wonderfully with your life style. Your life in Dover, Massachusetts may be chaotic, you’ve got a full-time job, you may be raising a new family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a worry free experience to add that  incredible dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Consultation
We know it’s vital that you know who you will be teaming up with. Establishing a rapport is extremely important to our team in Dover, Massachusetts. Our discussion starts with basic questions and leads into an detailed conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog might be. We would like to have a great working relationship with you. It starts the journey to choose, teach and raise your puppy.

Selecting The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have made a decision you want to include that amazing dog to your life in Dover, Massachusetts. You have your heart set on a specific 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 like the type of house you live in, maybe you work full time, are raising a young family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not restrict your options, but instead help clarify your lifestyle in Dover, MA. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can certainly assist you decide what you want and which breed will best match your life-style.

Finding The Right Breeder in Dover, Massachusetts
We partner with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and exceptional temperament of their pups. The first 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 relationship with many amazing breeders. We particularly find breeders who recognize the early part 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 good life.  It’s incredibly important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge along with our years of experience to pick the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Dover, Massachusetts
Training your new puppy is a combination of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, along with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.For example, we may have the puppy sleep overnight with various people in various settings; which develops a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your lifestyle. 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
Picking up your puppy from the breeder

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our hands in Dover, Massachusetts. Once we pick the puppy from the litter, the very first thing we wish to achieve 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 start exposing the pup to its new world. For instance, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over branches, and also get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while enhancing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still very aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup learns about this new world without the companionship of its litter mates or mom.

Most important time for learning
In the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no restriction as to what we may integrate into our methods. Frequently we make use of particular places or objects to create an experience for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Dover, Massachusetts. Our options and imagination are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds upon the prior one. Through all of this, we closely observe the puppy. We do not restrict ourselves to rigid rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of events that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes to teaching the puppy.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We often think of it as an early investment in the life of this puppy. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Dover, 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 time than any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a huge effect on their future personalities and decide much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout 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 soaking up 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 Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is much 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 paramount. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, along with having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Dover, MA  is equally important.

Our focus is to create 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 fine-tune 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 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 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 right away.

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

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

Working in the Real World in Dover, Massachusetts
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 highly distracted perhaps chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic places, around barking dogs, around playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy moves through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various situations. We imagine each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the dog? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are striving to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and different setting or situation. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on ongoing commands that determine what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we desire a dog that can make good decisions. Our main priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and improve good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the puppy has been residing with the dog trainer in his/her individual home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another loved one or friend. Offering this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he moves in to your home in Dover, MA.