Picking Your Puppy
The idea of raising a new puppy on your own is stressful. You really want a dog that can match  nicely with your daily life. Your life in Sherborn, Massachusetts is busy, you may have a full time schedule, a young family, you may like to travel or may be you just retired. We provide a anxiety free experience to add that  amazing dog to your life.

The Program Begins With a Assessment
We know it’s crucial that you know who you will be working with. Developing a relationship is incredibly important to us in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Our discussion starts with basic questions and leads into an in detail conversation, which will provide us a clearer idea of who you are and what your ideal dog might be. We want to have a fantastic working partnership with you. It begins the journey to choose, teach and raise your puppy.

Selecting The Best Breed For Your Home
Once you have decided you want to add that amazing dog to your life in Sherborn, 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. There are things to think of for example, where you live, maybe you work full time, maybe you are raising a  little family, you you may love to travel or maybe you have recently retired. All this will not minimize your choices, but instead help clarify your life-style in Sherborn, MA. We help guide you in your decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can aid you pick what you want and which puppy will best accommodate your lifestyle.

Picking The Perfect Breeder in Sherborn, Massachusetts
We partner with amazing breeders who are genuinely interested in improving their breed with good health and fantastic temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as critical as to what follows. A great breeder knows this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have established a rapport with many fine breeders. We specifically search out breeders who understand the early role they play in a puppies life. They understand when one of their puppies grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a wonderful life.  It is really important to work closely with the breeder. We depend on the breeder’s knowledge together with our years of experience to choose the puppy with the best temperament for a prospective new family.

The Puppy‘s Training in Sherborn, Massachusetts
Training your puppy is a combo of teaching new skill-sets including manners, setting boundaries, nurturing healthy relationships, along with exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all different types of environments.For example, we have the puppy sleep overnight with different people in various environments; which produces a dog for you who is relaxed and easy to live with because he or she adapts|adjusts} to your lifestyle. Because of this and exposures to other variables your dog readily bonds 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 hands in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Once we decide on the puppy from the litter, the first thing we would like to achieve is building confidence and a bond with this new puppy. We begin our relationship having fun while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start 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 somewhat near to loud noises. By doing this, we are environmentally socializing your dog to the world while at the same time building up our bond. We are huge dog lovers, yet significantly aware in those moments it is essential to concentrate more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy learns about this new world without having the company of its litter mates or mom.

The Essential time for learning
During the initial few weeks we are teaching your new puppy boundaries, trust and focus. There is no limitation as to what we may incorporate into our methods. Often we use specific locations or objects to create an encounter for the pup. Sometimes a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Our choices and creativity are endless. Every exposure and experience builds on the previous one. Through all of this, we carefully supervise the puppy. We don’t limit ourselves to inflexible rules. We try to get more creative, think outside the box, and benefit from occasions that unfold before us. Those opportunities are invaluable when it comes to teaching the pup.

Every interaction with the new pup is a teaching moment. We often think of it as an early investment in the life of this pup. This is the first time away from their littermates and living with us in Sherborn, 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 any other period of time in their lives. The quality and quantity of what they experience will have a massive impact on their future personalities and decide many of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. During the imprinting phase, every experience is critical. 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 puppy.

A Well-Mannered Pup
4 to 6 months 

A trained pup is a lot 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 important. Additionally, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, along with being comfortable to fit into a lifestyle in Sherborn, MA  is equally important.

Our focus is to create a dog 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 solid 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 formalizing commands and testing 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 Sherborn, 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 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 dog will outgrow unfavorable behaviors. Their dog is testing what is permitted and what is not. Allowing a dog to continue practicing naughty acts makes changing undesirable behavior more difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Sherborn, Massachusetts
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. For instance, 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, near playgrounds and within public places.

As the puppy goes through the adolescent stage we continue to challenge the dog by putting it in various situations. We think of each situation as a picture. How does that look like to the puppy? How does that picture change from day to day or location to location. We are working to teach a dog how to adapt in every new and different 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 desire a dog that can make good choices. Our top priority is to have a well-balanced dog, who will fit into your home.

We continue to strengthen and fine-tune manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. Throughout this time, the dog has been staying with the trainer in his or her individual home. Throughout this time, your dog will also spend a few days and nights hanging out with another relative or friend. Offering this opportunity, encourages your puppy to continue to be confident and comfortable in new areas. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he/she goes on to your house in Sherborn, MA.