Deciding on Your New Puppy
The idea of raising a new young puppy by yourself may be frustrating. You want a pup that is going to match  very well with your life style. Your life in Westford, Massachusetts may be stressful, you’ve got a full time profession, maybe you’re raising a new family, you may like to travel or you’ve just retired. Peace of Mind Puppy provide s a anxiety free experience to add that  awesome dog to your life.

The Program Starts With a Assessment
We know it’s important that you know who you will be coordinating with. Developing a rapport is very important to our team in Westford, Massachusetts. Our discussion starts with simple questions and leads into an detailed discussion, which will give us a clearer idea of who you are and what your perfect dog will be. We want to have a wonderful working partnership with you. It starts the journey to choose, teach and raise your puppy.

Selecting The Best Breed For Your Household
Once you have made a decision you are ready to include that amazing dog to your life in Westford, Massachusetts. You may have your heart set on a specific breed or maybe you want one of our dogs that are presently in our puppy raising program. Certainly there are things to think about including the type of house you live in, how much you work, are raising a young family, you love to go on vacation or you’ve recently retired. All this will not limit your choices, but instead help clarify your everyday life in Westford, MA. We help guide you in this decision making process. As we learn more about you, we can assist you pick what you want and which puppy will best match your life-style.

Selecting The Perfect Breeder in Westford, Massachusetts
We team up with amazing breeders who are truly interested in improving their breed with good health and excellent temperament of their pups. The first eight weeks of a new puppy’s life are as significant as to what comes after. A good breeder is aware of this and helps get the puppy off to a great start.

We have built a rapport with many amazing breeders. We specifically pursue breeders who recognize the early part they play in a puppies life. They know when one of their puppies grows through our program, it ensures the puppy will end up having a excellent life.  It is extremely important to work closely with the breeder. We rely on the breeder’s knowledge and also our years of experience to select the puppy with the best temperament for the potential new family.

Your Puppy‘s Training in Westford, Massachusetts
Training your dog is a combination of teaching new skills including manners, setting boundaries, fostering healthy relationships, as well as exposing your dog successfully to people, other dogs and desensitizing him or her to all types of environments.Such as, we may have the puppy sleep overnight with different people in various settings; which in turn creates 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 factors 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 instant a new puppy is in our hands in Westford, Massachusetts. Once we select 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 while always teaching. Under our close guidance, we start exposing the pup to its new world. Such as, getting him or her to follow us, go up and down stairs, walk over logs, and maybe even get somewhat 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, yet extremely aware in those moments it is essential to focus more on being a leader and guide as the new puppy learns about this new world without having the presence 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 limit as to what we may incorporate into our techniques. Frequently we take advantage of particular locations or objects to create an encounter for the puppy. Occasionally a spur of the moment opportunity may present itself in Westford, Massachusetts. Our decisions and vision are limitless. Every exposure and experience builds upon the previous one. Through all of this, we closely monitor the puppy. We don’t confine ourselves to rigid rules. We try to be more creative, think outside the box, and make the most of occasions that manifest before us. Those opportunities are priceless when it comes to teaching the dog.

Every interaction with the new puppy is a teaching moment. We often think of it as an early investment in the life of this dog. This is the first time away from their littermates and staying with us in Westford, 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 influence on their future personalities and decide a lot of their “good” or “bad” behavior tendencies. Throughout the imprinting period, every experience is vital. 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 a good time with our new pup.

A Well-Mannered Pal
4 to 6 months 

A well-trained puppy 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. In addition, desensitization, exposure to many different distractions and situations, along with having the flexibility to fit into a lifestyle in Westford, MA  is equally important.

Our focus is to raise a dog with impeccable manners and social skills. We start 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 as well as within each new situation we expose your dog to. We move 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 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 Westford, 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 shelters. The adolescent stage can find your sweet pup becoming a monster. That nice puppy can be more mouthy and disobedient than you could ever imagine. Many owners hope their puppy will grow out of unwanted 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 difficult.

Testing in the Real World in Westford, Massachusetts
We work to reduce any unwanted behavior by instilling boundaries and practicing obedience in high distraction places. For example, we practice recalls when your dog is highly distracted possibly chasing something like a squirrel. We test and proof obedience in high traffic places, 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 situations. We think of 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 setting or situation. We are raising a dog that isn’t reliant on ongoing commands that determine what he or she should and should not do. In fact, we want a dog that can make good choices. Our number one priority is to have a well-balanced puppy, who will be comfortable your home.

We continue to strengthen and fine-tune good manners making good behavior a habit for the dog. During this time, the puppy has been residing with the dog trainer in their personal home. Throughout this time, your puppy will also spend a few days and nights staying with another loved one or friend. Offering this opportunity, encourages your dog to continue to be confident and comfortable in new environments. This ensures those habits and good manners will stay when he or she moves on to your home in Westford, MA.