Selecting Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new young puppy by yourself might be stressful. You really want a puppy that can fit  nicely with your way of life. Your life in Duxbury, Massachusetts can be fast paced, you’ve got a full time job, maybe you’re raising a young 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  amazing dog to your life.

The Program Starts With a Consultation
We know it is crucial that you know who you will be partnering with. Establishing a relationship is tremendously important to us in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Our chat begins with straightforward questions and leads into an in depth discussion, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your ideal dog will be. We like to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to decide on, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you are ready to include that perfect dog to your life in Duxbury, Massachusetts. You may have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to consider such as the type of house you live in, how much you work, are raising a  little family, you you may love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. All this will not reduce your choices, yet help shed light on your daily life in Duxbury, MA. We help guide you in your decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can assist you decide what you want and which puppy will best suit your lifestyle.

Choosing The Best Breeder in Duxbury, Massachusetts
We work with amazing breeders who are genuinely 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 critical as to what follows. A great breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many fine breeders. We specifically search out breeders who know the early part they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their pups goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a terrific life.  It is very important to work carefully with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s input as well as our years of knowledge to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Duxbury, Massachusetts
Training your new puppy is a combination of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, together with exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments. For instance, we have the pup stay overnight with different people in different settings; which produces 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 variables your dog easily bonds with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our care in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Once we decide on the pup from the litter, the first thing we wish to accomplish 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 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 puppy to the world while at the same time enhancing our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still incredibly aware in those moments it is imperative 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.

The Essential time for learning
In the first few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limit as to what we may incorporate into our methods. Typically we make use of particular locations or objects to create an experience for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Duxbury, Massachusetts. Our choices and vision are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds on the prior one. Through all of this, we carefully monitor the puppy. We never confine ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and take advantage of occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the pup.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We often consider it as an early investment in the life of this dog. This is the first time away from his or her littermates and staying with us in Duxbury, 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 encounter will have a huge effect on their future personalities and determine a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting stage, every experience is critical. It is important to build their self-confidence. The phrase ‘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 Pup
4 to 6 months 

A trained dog 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 extremely important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Duxbury, MA  is equally important.

Our focus is to create 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, making it a standard request in our regular 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 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 Duxbury, 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 pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever envision. Many owners hope their puppy will outgrow unwanted behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more challenging.

Testing in the Real World in Duxbury, Massachusetts
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted maybe chasing something like a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic spots, 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 imagine 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 cope in each new and various environment or scenario. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on continuous commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. In fact, we want a dog that can make great decisions. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable 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 staying with the dog trainer in their personal home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another family member or friend. Providing them with this chance, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new areas. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he/she moves in to your home in Duxbury, MA.