PUPPY FOUNDATION TRAINING
Your puppy will live in the home of our trainer ("The Puppy Social") for the training period. The following skills will be introduced, practiced, and developed:
-Preparation to be a "Canine Good Citizen" per AKC
-Potty training
-Crate training
-Leash walking
-Impulse control
-Polite play
-Recall
-Basic verbal commands
-Also tailored to meet individual needs, i.e. city introductions, etc.
Your puppy will receive all age-appropriate vaccinations and grooming during this time.
*This is not a "finished dog" program, overnight transformation, or behavior guarantee. Foundation training is the beginning of a lifelong learning process that requires consistency, patience, and continued reinforcement at home.
4 WEEK OPTION- $5550 (cost breakdown: $3000 puppy cost + $2550 training/care cost)
Puppy enters training at 8 weeks of age. Will complete training at 12 weeks of age.
6 WEEK OPTION- $6950 (cost breakdown: $3000 puppy cost + $3950 training/care cost)
Puppy enters training at 8 weeks of age. Will complete training at 14 weeks of age.
"Canine Good Citizen" Goals
We prepare your puppy to be a "Canine Good Citizen" per AKC.
-Allowing a Friendly Stranger to Approach
-Sitting Politely for Petting
-Accepting Grooming and an Examination
-Walking on a Loose Leash
-Walking Politely Through a Crowd
-Sitting and Lying Down on Cue and Staying in Place
-Coming When Called
-Reacting Politely to Other Dogs
-Reacting Calmly to a Distraction
-Reacting Calmly to Supervised Separation From the Owner
PUPPY TRAINING AT SUGARWOOD STARTS AT BIRTH to 8 WEEKS OF AGE
Here at Sugarwood, our Australian Labradoodle puppies begin their developmental journey from the very start through intentional early enrichment, handling, and positive exposures.
All puppies are raised in our home and thoughtfully introduced to the everyday sights, sounds, and experiences of a normal household environment. From an early age, our puppies are exposed to a variety of desensitization exercises including loud noises, fireworks, thunder, dropping pans, household activity, and other common environmental sounds in a safe and positive manner.
Our puppies are raised utilizing principles inspired by Puppy Culture along with Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) and Early Scent Introduction (ESI) which help support confidence, resilience, recovery, and adaptability during critical stages of development.
Every puppy receives:
- Early socialization with people of all ages
- Positive exposure to other household pets
- Daily handling, affection, and cuddling
- Early grooming and handling tolerance exercises
- Introduction to outside potty routines
- Afternoon and overnight crate training prior to going home
Because puppies learn so rapidly during early development, these experiences help begin shaping familiarity, confidence, and emotional resilience before they ever leave for their new homes.
A puppy's brain is highly adaptable during early development, constantly forming new neural connections based on daily experiences, environment, handling, and training. This period of rapid learning and development is often referred to as the CRITICAL SOCIALIZATION WINDOW, typically occurring between 3-14 weeks of age.
Because puppies learn so quickly during this stage, early experiences can have a significant impact on future confidence, stress responses, social skills, and overall behavior. Positive, intentional exposure during puppyhood helps create the foundation for a more resilient, well-adjusted companion dog.
Prioritizing Positive Exposure
Puppies are gradually introduced to a variety of sights, sounds, surfaces, environments, people, and handling exercises- including grooming preparation and nail trim desensitization- in a safe and supportive setting.
Building Familiarity Through Repetition
The puppy brain strengthens neural pathways through repeated experiences. Regular exposure to everyday sounds, textures, handling, and environments helps puppies begin to view these experiences as normal and manageable parts of life.
Emotional Associations Matter
Positive, low-stress experiences help build confidence and emotional resilience. Conversely, overwhelming or frightening experiences during early development may contribute to long-term fear or sensitivity, which is why thoughtful, age-appropriate exposure is so important.
PUPPY FOUNDATION TRAINING FOR 8 WEEK OLD PUPPIES- 4 WEEK OR 6 WEEK TRAINING OPTIONS
Our lives are busy with work, children, responsibilities, and the demands of everyday life - and dedicating intentional time during those early puppy weeks is often more challenging than we expect. When we bring home a newborn baby, the world naturally slows down to focus on development, routine, confidence, and care. Puppies require that same thoughtful investment during the critical 8-14 week developmental period. The time, consistency, and experiences introduced during these early weeks help set the stage for the companion and family dog your puppy is becoming. Our goal is to:
Introduce puppies to new experiences in a safe, structured way
Begin foundational manners and handling tolerance
Build confidence through positive exposure
Support owners with guidance and realistic expectations
Encourage calm engagement and appropriate social skills
PAST PUPPY FOUNDATION TRAINING GRADUATES
Pooh Bear
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