WAY OF THE PUPPY

"When is the best time to start a training program for my puppy?"

NOW.

Before purchasing or adopting a puppy, it is important to educate yourself about the breed(s), sex, activity level, size and compatibility to your family's lifestyle. This can be the first and most important step in achieving success.

Ideally, I would recommend beginning my program several weeks before your puppy comes home. This allows me to give you strategies for housebreaking, puppy-proofing your home, keeping your puppy safe, and other day-to-day challenges before they become problems.

I recommend starting counseling sessions with your puppy at 7 weeks of age. Puppies from 7 to 18 weeks of age go through a critical socialization imprinting period that I believe is equivalent to the first 5 years of a human's life. Everything that occurs during this time makes a profound effect on the puppy's development. This is an invaluable opportunity to mold and shape your puppy's future.

Most dogs have only played with 1 to 3 dogs off leash. This is why we have so many socially challenged dogs which can lead to aggression and other anti-social behaviors. To address this issue, included with my puppy program, are my famous Puppy Parties. Every few weeks 20 to 30 puppies and their owners gather in my backyard for a socialization session. This is where puppies have the opportunity to play, gain social confidence and experience in a supervised and controlled environment.

Be proactive. Not reactive. Start NOW.

This program will infinitely increase the quality of life for you and your dog.