Picking Your Puppy
The thought of raising a new puppy by yourself can be frustrating. You hope for a dog that can fit in  perfectly with your lifestyle. Your life in Marblehead, Massachusetts can be busy, you may have a full time schedule, maybe you’re raising a young family, you like to travel or may be you just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a worry free experience to add that  amazing dog to your life.

The Process Begins With a Consultation
We know it is very important that you know who you will be coordinating with. Building a rapport is incredibly important to our company in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Our discussion begins with straightforward questions and leads into an detailed conversation, which will provide us a much better idea of who you are and what your dream dog will be. We would like to have a excellent working relationship with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your puppy.

Choosing The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have decided you are ready to include that perfect dog to your life in Marblehead, Massachusetts. You have your heart set on a certain breed or maybe you want one of our pups that are currently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to think of such as where you live, how much you work, are raising a  little family, you you may love to go on vacation or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not minimize your choices, yet help shed light on your life-style in Marblehead, MA. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can assist you pick what you want and which puppy will best suit your life-style.

Finding The Perfect Breeder in Marblehead, Massachusetts
We collaborate with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and great temperament of their puppies. The initial eight weeks of a new pups life are as essential as to what happens after. A great breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a relationship with many amazing breeders. We specifically pursue breeders who are aware of the early part 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 quite important to work closely with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s feedback in addition to our years of knowledge to pick the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Marblehead, Massachusetts
Training your dog is a combination of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, together with exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments. For instance, we may have the puppy stay 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 lifestyle. As a result of this and exposures to other variables your dog easily connects with you and your family.

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

Training starts the instant a new puppy is in our care in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Once we pick the pup from the litter, the very first thing we want to accomplish is building 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 pup to its new world. For example, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over branches, and even get relatively close to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your puppy to the world while strengthening our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet very aware in those moments it is imperative to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers 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 limitation as to what we will incorporate into our methods. Frequently we use certain areas or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. At times a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Our options and vision are unlimited. Every exposure and experience builds on the last one. Through all of this, we carefully monitor the puppy. We don’t restrict ourselves to stiff rules. We try to become more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes down to teaching the puppy.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We often think about it as an early investment in the life of this puppy. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Marblehead, 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 substantial effect on their future personalities and determine many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, 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 a good time with our new puppy.

A Well-Mannered Puppy
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained pup is a lot 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 vital. In addition, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, along with having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Marblehead, 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 continues as we refine the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, keeping it a regular request in our day-to-day routine in addition to within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We move from shaping to defining commands and testing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the core of our philosophy. Being clear and consistent is key. We restrict our words when giving 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 right away.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Marblehead, 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 rescues. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice pup can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever picture. Many owners hope their canine will outgrow undesirable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is allowed and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue rehearsing naughty acts makes changing unwanted behavior more difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Marblehead, Massachusetts
We work to stop any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction locations. Such as, we practice recalls when your dog is extremely distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice 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 it in various scenarios. We consider each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture shift from day to day or location to location. We are working to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and various setting or scenario. We are raising a puppy that isn’t dependent on ongoing commands that dictate what he or she should and shouldn’t do. Instead, we prefer a dog that can make great choices. Our main priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and refine manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the puppy has been living with the trainer in his or her personal home. During this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights staying with another relative or close friend. Providing the dog with this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in brand-new settings. This makes sure those habits and good manners will remain when he or she moves on to your house in Marblehead, MA.