Deciding on Your Young puppy
The idea of raising a new pup by yourself may be frustrating. You really want a dog that is going to fit in  wonderfully with your life style. Your life in Needham, Massachusetts possible is stressful, you’ve got a full-time job, maybe you’re raising a young family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a stress and anxiety free experience to add in that  remarkable dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Consultation
We know it is essential that you know who you will be teaming up with. Building a rapport is exceptionally important to our team in Needham, Massachusetts. Our conversation begins with straightforward questions and leads into an detailed discussion, which will give us a much better idea of who you are and what your perfect dog would be. We like to have a great working partnership with you. It begins the journey to select, teach and raise your pup.

Finding The Best Breed For Your Household
Once you have decided you want to include that perfect dog to your life in Needham, Massachusetts. You may have your heart set on a particular breed or maybe you’re interested in one of our dogs that are currently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to consider like where you live, how much you work, maybe you are raising a young family, you love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. This information will not minimize your options, yet help shed light on your lifestyle in Needham, MA. We will help guide you in the decision making process. As we get to know you better, we can certainly aid you pick what you want and which dog will best suit your lifestyle.

Choosing The Right Breeder in Needham, 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 vital as to what comes after. A great breeder understands this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many outstanding 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 goes through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a terrific life.  It’s really important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge as well as our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a potential new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Needham, Massachusetts
Training your new puppy is a combo of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, encouraging healthy relationships, and also exposing your puppy successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all various environments.Such as, we have the puppy stay overnight with different people in different environments; which produces a dog for you who is comfortable and easy to live with because he or she can easily adapt|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily connects with you and your family members.

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

Training starts the moment a new puppy is in our care in Needham, Massachusetts. Once we choose the pup from the litter, the very first thing we wish to accomplish is developing confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We start 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 even get somewhat 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, yet extremely aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new pup discovers this new world without the company of its litter mates or mom.

Crucial 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 will incorporate into our approaches. Typically we use certain places or objects to create an encounter for the pup. In some cases a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Needham, Massachusetts. Our decisions and creativity are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds on the last one. Through all of this, we thoroughly observe the puppy. We don’t limit ourselves to stiff rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of events 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 dog. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Needham, 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 huge effect on their future personalities and decide much of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the course of the imprinting stage, every experience is important. It is important to build their 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 pup.

A Well-Mannered Friend
4 to 6 months 

A trained dog is so much 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 paramount. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to various distractions and situations, as well as being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Needham, 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 fine-tune the dog’s behavior. The goal is to have a stable foundation by about 4 to 6 months. We practice obedience, making it a regular request in our everyday routine as well as within each new situation we expose your puppy to. We go from shaping to defining commands and testing them with distractions, duration and distance. Communication is at the center of our philosophy. Being 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 immediately.

Proofing Behavior in a Social World in Needham, 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 picture. Many owners hope their puppy 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 challenging.

Working in the Real World in Needham, Massachusetts
We work to prevent any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction areas. For instance, we practice recalls when your dog is very distracted possibly chasing something as common as a squirrel. We practice and proof obedience in high traffic locations, 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 it in various scenarios. We consider each situation as a picture. How 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 every new and various environment or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t depending on constant commands that control what he or she should and should not do. Rather, we desire a dog that can make great choices. Our top priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

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