Our Socialization And Training Program
Featuring Puppy Culture Protocols
Since 2004, Okefeild Acres has had the exciting opportunity of developing an excellent puppy socialization and training program. So that transitioning to a new home would be more successful, we saw that there was a need for puppies to receive something above the norm that would get them off to the best start possible. Our team of experienced trainers provides this great foundation, featuring Puppy Culture protocols, to develop puppies with intelligent and eager to please temperaments, little minds that learn quickly and that are prepared to settle in with their new families seamlessly or move right into therapy or service work training.
Check out our puppy socialization and training program below, you will appreciate the daily individual sessions that are included with each of our puppies, lessons that will last a lifetime! All of our puppies receive this training, free of charge to get you and your little one off to the best start possible.
Early Neurological
Stimulation
The "Bio Sensor" program is concerned with early neurological stimulation in order to give the dog a superior advantage. Its development utilized six exercises which were designed to stimulate the neurological system.
Improved cardio vascular performance
Stronger heart beats
Stronger adrenal glands
More tolerance to stress
Greater resistance to disease
Okefeild Acres has been performing Early Neurological Stimulation exercises with each of our litters for many years now and the results have truly proven to produce puppies that are easier to train and more able to handle stress!
Temperament Testing
Each puppy is born with a set of instinctive behaviors that he inherited from his parents. These behaviors can be grouped into three broad categories - prey, pack and defense - called drives. How many behaviors a puppy has in each drive will determine his future temperament, his personality and how he perceives the world.
To help understand puppy/dog behavior, Jack and Wendy Volhard cataloged ten behaviors and created the Canine Personality Profile. The ten behaviors chosen are the ones that most closely represent the strengths of the puppy in each of the drives. The Profile does not pretend to include all behaviors seen in a puppy but will give us a good starting point for understanding why he does what he does.
This profile is invaluable in helping us to match the correct puppy to each adopting family, based on what their particular needs are. Clients love having the ability to see each puppy's score. This information, along with our guidance, gives new puppy owners the confidence that they need to choose the best puppy for years of future enjoyment.
Conditioned
Emotional Response
Did you know that the four to five week stage is when we have the ability to shape each puppies’ future life? We use this time to introduce gentle cuddling, holding while walking around and body/mouth examination. We also start conditioned emotional response exercises such as pulling ears, hugging around the neck, squeezing paws, clipping nails, etc. Offering greek yoghurt during each manipulation conditions them to have a positive response, instead of a negative one, preparing them for their future with possible bumps and tugs that they might encounter with young children or as special needs companions. This is a relatively short investment of time and training that will last a lifetime!
Sound Conditioning
Research has shown that puppies begin hearing at around 21 days. During the first week of hearing there is very little startle response to loud noises. We take advantage of this time to begin conditioning our puppies to accept these noises while they are eating, doing something pleasant while they hear, startle and recover.
High fidelity DVD with noises such as thunder, wind storm, alarm clock, lawn mower, power saw, buzzers, bells, children playing, thumps, bumps and much more
Enrichment With
Toys & Obstacles
Exposing our puppies to different toys, places to explore and obstacles to climb over or on encourages independence and resilience towards the new things that they will experience in their future life!
Outdoor Playtime
Our puppies love the opportunity to explore, play with one another and also become familiar and friendly with our cats!
Playtime With
Children!
Brushing, Nail Clipping
Clipper And Blow Dryer Acceptance
Climbing Up
And Down Steps
Manding
Teaching Sit For Attention
Encouraging No Jumping Up
Recall In Response To Food Or Treats
Beginning Leash Work
On Left Side
Beginning Sit
Release With “OK!”
