So many people get a new puppy (or rescue dog) and quickly find themselves in over their heads.
Or they adopt a rescue dog that may not have received any training and they don’t know how to get started building a relationship with the new dog.
Raising a puppy to be a well-adjusted, confident and well-behaved dog takes much more than teaching him to potty outside! A puppy comes into our world knowing nothing about how to fit in with our lives. There are so many things a puppy needs to learn!
How to live in our homes: not dart out the door every time it’s opened, greet visitors politely without jumping up on them, not eat the furniture, what a crate is and that it is a good place to be, potty outside and not inside, how to be petted without biting or nipping our hands, not to steal food off the table or counter, etc., etc., etc. ...
How to be cared for: be calm in the waiting room at the vet, how to be handled by the vet staff for shots and other medical procedures, how to willingly accept being brushed and bathed at home, how to behave calmly at the groomer while being bathed and clipped and blow dried, how to be calm while his nails are being clipped or grounded with a dremel, how to accept a muzzle in the event of an emergency, how to rest calmly in the crate after surgery or to recover from an injury, etc., etc., etc. ...
How to behave in public: be comfortable in all sorts of situations with all sorts of people (old, young, male, female, people with facial hair, people wearing hats or glasses, people in wheel chairs or walking with crutches, a cane or a walker), not eat everything that he comes across, sit politely when having the leash or harness put on, walk nicely on leash, pass other dogs calmly without pulling the leash or barking or lunging, ride quietly in the car, not jump out of the car as soon as the door is opened, etc., etc., etc. ...
Puppy Challenges will teach you how to raise a puppy that you’ll love spending time with, and one that you’ll be proud to have as a member of your family!
At Puppy Challenges we believe one of the most important aspects to raising a puppy is to nurture and preserve the emotional health and well-being of that puppy. That means we move forward at the puppy’s pace and always use positive, force-free and fear-free methods. We don’t use or endorse the use of intimidation, punishment or any training technique or tool that would threaten the well-being of a puppy, or any dog for that matter. A puppy that is afraid of you won’t want to come to you when you call him, and will find other, more enjoyable things to do that don’t involve you.
A puppy that is raised with the use of these positive methods and taught without force or intimidation thrives and you can see the proof in the attitude of the adult dog he grows to be. He will listen to you and be willing to respond to your cues. This means he will come the first time you call him, he will willingly go into his crate and not just at bedtime, you’ll be able to take him for walks or on other outings without being embarrassed by or frustrated at his behavior. Wouldn’t that be awesome?
We would love you to join us on this journey so you can learn how amazing your dog can be and how you will feel when you have the dog of your dreams!