Selecting Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself is frustrating. You need a dog that is going to fit in  very well with your way of life. Your life in Lincoln, Massachusetts is hectic, you may have a full time profession, maybe you’re raising a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. We provide a anxiety free experience to add in that  amazing dog to your life.

The Process Starts With a Assessment
We think it is important that you know who you will be working with. Building a rapport is exceptionally important to our team in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Our chat starts with straightforward questions and leads into an thorough discussion, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your ideal dog might be. We like to have a fantastic working relationship with you. It begins the journey to decide on, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Perfect Breed For Your Home
Once you have decided you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Lincoln, Massachusetts. You have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our pups that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to think about such as the type of house you live in, your schedule, maybe you are raising a  little family, you love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. This information will not reduce your choices, but instead help shed light on your daily life in Lincoln, MA. We will help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can aid you decide what you want and which breed will best suit your lifestyle.

Finding The Right Breeder in Lincoln, Massachusetts
We team up with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new pups life are as vital as to what comes after. A good breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have developed a relationship with many exquisite breeders. We particularly seek breeders who know 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 fantastic life.  It’s extremely important to work closely with the breeder. We count on the breeder’s input in addition to our years of knowledge to choose the puppy with the best temperament for the prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Lincoln, Massachusetts
Training your new puppy is a mixture of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, and also exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments. For instance, we may have the pup stay overnight with different people in different settings; which in turn produces a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your way of life. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily bonds with you and your family.

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

Training starts the minute a new puppy is in our hands in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Once we select the pup 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 while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we begin exposing the puppy to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over logs, and maybe even get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while boosting our bond. We are huge dog lovers, but still significantly 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 company of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
In the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no restriction as to what we may incorporate into our approaches. Typically we use particular spots or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Our choices and imagination are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we very closely supervise the puppy. We never restrict ourselves to stiff rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make use of activities that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes down to teaching the puppy.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We like to 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 Lincoln, 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 encounter will have a significant impact on their future personalities and decide a number of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting phase, every experience is crucial. It is important to build their 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 fun with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained puppy is far more than just obedient. Knowing how to sit, stay or walk nicely on a loose leash are important things to learn. Good manners, great social skills and a healthy relationship with his or her family are very important. Furthermore, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, as well as having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Lincoln, 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 carries on 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 regular request in our daily routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We move from shaping to formalizing commands and proofing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center of our philosophy. Being clear and consistent is key. We restrict 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 immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Lincoln, 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 animal shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice pup 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 permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more challenging.

Working in the Real World in Lincoln, Massachusetts
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted maybe 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 dog moves through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting him or her in various scenarios. We consider each situation as a picture. What does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture differ from day to day or location to location. We are working to teach a dog how to cope in each new and various environment or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t depending on constant commands that control what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we want a dog that can make good decisions. Our top goal is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to reinforce and fine-tune good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been residing with the trainer in their own home. Throughout this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or close friend. Providing the dog with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new settings. This ensures those habits and good manners will remain when he/she goes on to your home in Lincoln, MA.