Give Your Puppy a Head Start in Training

We are pleased to offer foundational extended skills development and training opportunities for your puppy.  Participation in formal sessions of specific curriculum with outlined goals/objectives correlated with the puppy’s ability and attention span begins at 7 weeks of age.

Goal – Individualized program of desired duration gives your puppy a solid foundation.

Communication – Keeping you appraised throughout training of your puppy’s progress.

Written Report – Detailed summary of training procedures and puppy’s level of achievement for each skill/command.

Transition At Pickup – Directions given for your home environment for the absolute best transition results.

Ongoing Support – To assist with questions after puppy arrives at home.

Stepping Stones

3 Week Foundations Program

Trails

5 Week Foundations Program

Peaks

8 Week Intermediate Program

Summit

13 Week Advanced Program

The 3 Week Stepping stones Program :

Skills Development: Potty training basics, discourage biting/chewing/jumping, confidence with loud noise, car travel, ascending/descending stairs, relaxation during grooming and water play (as weather permits).

Socialization: Exposure/ playtime with children and adults, playtime with other dogs, exposure to cats, chickens, rabbits, horses and cows.

Obedience Commands: Sit, Off, Coming to name, sound of disapproval (Chhh) and introduction to Wait.

Crate Training: Introduction to daytime and 7 hours at night.

Other: Introduction  to harness/leash walking with skills of sitting and waiting while stoped.

The 5 Week Trails Program:

Skills Development: Building on the Stepping Stones program, puppy will continue to be instructed and practice in all areas.

Socialization: Exposures to children, other animals and locations will continue.

Added Obedience Commands:  Here (without name called), Kennel and introduction to Wait.

Crate Training:  Increasing daytime duration and 8 hours at night.

Other: Harness walking with a loose lead.

The 8 Week Peaks Intermediate Program:

Skills Development: Increased frequency in daily instruction and practice opportunities. Mastery of all areas continues.

Socialization: Challenges and exposure continues.

Added Obedience Commands:  Duration of previous commands increased with the addition of heel, Let’s Go, Back, Introduction to lie Down and Free.

Crate Training:  Your puppy will be comfortable with daytime crating and will sleep though the night.

Other: Harness walking at heel on a loose lead with appropriate sidewalk manners.

The 13 Week Summit Advanced Program:

Skills Development: Solidifying all areas.

Socialization: Continued confidence building in multiple settings.

Crate Training: Puppy will be fully crate trained and well on the way to being housebroken (once the adjustments to their new home are established). 

Other: Walking at heel on a loose lead as well as walking off leash.

An overall focus is progressing towards mastery od the ten AKC Canine Good Citizen goals.

  • Accepting a Stranger
  • Sitting politely
  • Appearance and Grooming
  • Walking at heel on a loose lead
  • Walking through a crowd
  • Sit and down command and staying at place
  • Coming when called
  • Appropriate reactions to unknown dogs
  • Appropriate Reaction to distraction.
a woman wearing eyeglass carrying two dogs

Our Trainer...

In addition to her background in working with animals that culminated in the pursuit of dog training, our trainer brings 15+ years of classroom experience as an autism specialist.  

Her enjoyment of dogs began early in life, and she says, “What makes my job so fulfilling is each puppy has their own distinct disposition.  I really enjoy getting to know them as individuals, discovering what makes each of them unique, and then developing a plan to unlock their full potential.  A real differentiation of this training program is that my close association and working relationship with  Cottage Garden allows me to be involved in a puppy’s life beginning at birth.  I assist with labor/delivery of the litters and help care for the puppies in the weeks leading up to the start of training.”    

General Information

Enrollment: In order to ensure the availability of the intensive time resources for each puppy, we accept a limited number of puppies per litter.

COST
  • Stepping Stones 3 Week Program: $2000. Puppy graduates at 10 weeks of age.
  • TRAILS 5 Week Program: $2750. Puppy graduates at 12 weeks of age.
  • PEAKS 8 Week Program: $3500. Puppy graduates at 15 weeks (almost 4 months) of age.
  • Summit 13 Week Program: $4500. Puppy graduates at 20 weeks (4.5 months) of age.
PAYMENTS
  • Balance of puppy price due at 7 weeks of age
  • Training enrollment deposit due by 4 weeks of age with installments (if desired) thereafter based on duration of training
  • Final training balance due at pickup