Our Goals:

•Potty Training

•Crate Comfort

•Fun & safe play behaviors

•Socialization

•Teaching basic learning skills- clicker, luring, motivation, etc..

From eight weeks to twelve weeks, you can begin training your puppy while building a relationship of trust and love. This is a time when puppies can learn equally from their canine family and their human family. Puppies continue to learn bite inhibition and how to establish their place in their social structure while being around other puppies and older dogs.

Here we provide exposure to things that may otherwise be scary, we allow them to meet other things like household pets, vacuums, loud noises, and any other potentially scary things. We start to introduce appropriate play behaviors, along with our first steps of learning.

We make sure that all these experiences remain positive, by using plenty of praise and treats and going at the puppy’s pace. Peace of mind for you and your pup!

Our Goals:

•We will work with you to create a schedule that fits you and your puppy’s needs

•Continued -Potty training, crate comfort, safe play behaviors, and socialization

•Learning basic commands like -sit, down, stay, and starting to walk on a leash properly

•Teaching custom tasks that best fit your lifestyle as the puppy grows

We provide a secure and positive environment for a puppy during this time that can have a fear period.

We are consistent in learning new behaviors and positive, we don’t force your scared puppy to do something they don’t want to do, instead, we continue exposing your puppies to new experiences in a positive and encouraging manner and encourage your dog to look to us for guidance.

If you can guide your puppy through this frightening time with structure and a great training plan, they’ll be more likely to look to you for comfort and guidance in the future.

Our Goals:

•We will work with you to create a schedule that fits you and your puppy’s needs.

•Continued -Crate comfort, safe play behaviors, socialization, and proofing basic commands

•Leash walking, like a pro!

•Teaching custom tasks that best fit your lifestyle as the puppy grows

•Trialing overnight stays

•Graduating your pup from our program!

These can be the most challenging times of dog ownership. Dogs begin to come out of their fear period, replacing it with relentless curiosity and energy. This is also a time when your puppy develops more aspects of its adult personality. They’ll begin to figure out where they fit in your household and test you with new shows of independence and assertiveness.

It is essential to provide plenty of activities to positively occupy your dog’s active mind. Equally important is to maintain your rules and routine, so that your puppy doesn’t learn that they can run roughshod over your household. This does not mean that puppies should be punished.

This is an especially delicate time, during which a traumatic experience can scar your puppy for life. Provide calm, confident, and consistent leadership for your dog during this difficult time.

Our Goals:

•We will work with you to create a schedule that fits you and your puppy’s needs.

•Meeting for weekly or bi-weekly obedience training, if needed.

•Teaching custom tasks that best fit your lifestyle: Hiking manners, Agility, Obedience, Rally, etc..

•Overnight stays when needed

During this time, it is important to keep your dog’s safety in mind and avoid working on any off-leash behavior that can put your dog at risk. Remember that your dog may suddenly display uncharacteristic independence at any time. To keep your dog engaged, continue challenging them with new training and situations. Teach your dog that you can satisfy their instincts and provide them with more stimulation if they follow you, rather than if they go off on their own.

Some dogs may go through a second fear period at some point during this time, refusing to go places or do activities that they had been fine with up until this point. It is important that you remain a stable and consistent presence in your dog’s life, as they struggle to solidify themselves as a mature dog.

Goals:

•Meeting for weekly or bi-weekly obedience training or refresh, if needed.

•Overnight stays when needed

•Continuing the training learned over the past year, and growing your dog/handler relationship

Many dogs will still display “puppyish” behavior for two years or more, but by 18 months dogs will begin to develop self-control and the maturity to respond to more advanced training.

While personalities may continue to develop, in general, your dog’s personality will have solidified to some degree by 18 months. You will probably have a good idea of whether your dog is outgoing and fearless or shy and apprehensive.

Whatever your dog’s personality, you can continue to develop and expand it by training and exposing your dog to continuous new situations, but you also must be realistic about your dog’s personality at this stage.

AKC provides so many different opportunities for you to grow a closer bond with your dog, we suggest starting with the CGC title.

What is CGC?

Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program: a two-part course designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together.

Not only does CGC training create long-lasting trust between you and your pup, but also ensures you’ll be good neighbors and friends to everyone around you—and, if you’re interested in going beyond the basics, CGC also lays the foundation for other AKC sports and activities like obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events.

Denver Area - Prescription Pet Program

What makes a successful Therapy Dog?

Highly socialized and obedient in many different environments, such as parks, shopping areas, friends’ homes, dog parks and public patios

Quickly adaptable to new settings

Focused on and responsive to their owner

Great with people, especially kids

Obedience test

In order to become a prescription pet, your dog must pass an obedience test. Your dog is expected to:

Consistently obey commands including sit, stay, down, heel, and leave it

Follow loose-leash heeling without any harnesses, nose harnesses, pinch collars or choke chains

Remain calm and quickly recover from unexpected events including distractions, exuberant greetings, and being in crowded or unpredictable environments