Training Starts Today!
We believe that it is so much easier and better for you and your pet to establish good behavior and expectations right from the beginning, rather than having to undo and correct unwanted behavior down the road.
We do our best to give you the tools you need to be successful right from the beginning. Remember that whatever you allow from the beginning will become the expectation for your puppy. We will be sending you a Puppy Take Home Essentials Guide before you bring your baby home, but below you can find the video of our hand feeding training method that we discuss in that guide.
We get quick results from our puppies when we train due to the methods that we use, and one of our biggest "bangs for our buck" is hand feeding. It certainly isn't a necessity, but it allows you to give a lot of "treats" in a concentrated training session, to a dog that is food driven and hungry. Essentially, you are turning meal time into a concentrated and effective training time. Feeding by hand allows you to establish that you are the one that is meeting their needs, you are in charge, it offers a bonding experience for you and your puppy, and it allows you to work on important skills like patience, sitting, waiting etc.
The key is consistency. If you give the food when the dog is not sitting and waiting, then you have undermined the your training efforts.
Many families ask us when we stop hand feeding and transition them to a bowl. This is completely up to you. You don't have to ever feed by hand, or if you choose to optimize your training with this method, you may only have time to do it one feeding a day rather than 2. It also is a great reset if you need your puppy to remember that you are in charge and to focus on watching you and waiting for cues. Use it in whatever way works for you and your puppy. It is a great way to introduce new skills, reestablish authority, or just continue the bonding experience between you and your dog.