Our Puppy imprinting Program is a full service in-home positive reinforcement based board and train program for residents of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and now serving the Greater Toronto Area!

Ever wish you could just get a pre-trained puppy? In today's world of busy schedules and often-times long workdays, many people simply don't have the time or energy to commit to training an 8 week old puppy. I can't count the number of times an owner has jokingly (or maybe not!) asked me if I could just take their puppy for a few weeks or months and send it back when it's house-broken, crate-trained, well-socialized and better behaved in general. While I can't give you a dog that won't still need rules and structure, I do now offer the Puppy Imprinting Program that takes a lot of the effort (and sleepless nights!) out of puppy ownership. I no longer offer board & train options for older dogs, sorry! Puppies must be under 16 weeks when they start this program.

Space is very limited so it is recommended that you reserve your space as soon as you know you will be getting your puppy. We are currently booking 2-3 months out, so you will need to reserve as soon as you know your pup will be coming home and not once your pup has already been home for some time. Email [email protected] for availability and pricing.

PLUS! Check out our Facebook and Instagram for pics & videos of the pups currently in our program.

What is the Puppy Imprinting Program?

Think of it as Puppy Boarding School. Your pup comes to me at 8 weeks of age and stays in my home for 4, 8 or 12 weeks. I take care of the crate-training, house-training and socialization during those critical first few weeks. We also cover their basic puppy manners and obedience skills, as well as learning social skills from my own dogs, who are not only fun playmates but also great teachers. You'll get free phone/email support, lifetime access to Puppy Power's exclusive video playlist for step by step instructions on teaching everything your pup has learned with me.

For local clients, your pup stays with us from Monday-Friday, and goes home on weekends so you can practice with it on weekends. Each weekend when you pick up your puppy there will be a Family Dog lesson with a skill and its applications to practice over the weekend. Your final lesson will be at dropoff and we will go over any additional questions/concerns at that time.

Not local? No problem, it’s possible for them to stay on weekends in lieu of going home with a private lesson. The cost is the same either way!

The Result?

You bring home a well-mannered puppy who already has a jump-start to training and socialization. Like all of my clients, you'll get unlimited phone and e-mail support throughout the life of your dog. You'll also get weekly updates with pictures and/or videos to see how your puppy is progressing. Last but not least, you'll get a personalized training video along with our training manual that shows you not only how well your dog responds to verbal cues and hand-signals but also how I shape the behaviours in the first place.

See below for an example of a 16 week old puppy who recently graduated our 2 month imprinting program:

See below for an example of a 16 week old puppy who recently graduated our 2 month imprinting program:

Here's what Ginny, the adorable Havanese x Cocker Spaniel, thinks of her Imprinting video:

And a lovely note from her mom:

"Ginny really watches the video and follows your commands. Lol. Of course we as a family are also following through too. ;)

Cocoa and Ginny are having more and more really good interactions together as time goes by. There are still times when Cocoa's tolerance for the puppy energy wears thin but we separate them at those times. The fights used to be several times daily. Now usually only one a day and Ginny backs off quickly and gives Cocoa space.

Ginny continues to be a little clown. She is getting to be a very good jumper. I bought her the cat tunnel you see in the video. She runs through it and leaps over it and sometimes shakes it and carries it around. Awesome buy for $5.

I have told several people who also have dogs about puppy imprinting. They all say they wish they had known that such a thing exists because it is very difficult to have consistency when working 9 to 5. I really feel that because of your training we are miles and miles ahead of what would have been if we tried to do it on our own. Most of the skills learned transferred very easily into our home. 'Kennel up' worked perfectly from the day she came home. She also rings the bells almost every time she wants to go out. She also automatically offers sits and downs when she wants something.

Thank you so much for the training video. This is not only helpful to Steve and I but also for other family members who will spend time watching our dogs (grandparents). I'd like to tell you more but need to run out for a bit now. Let me know if you can't see the video. You need the link to view it as it is unlisted/not searchable on YouTube. She still wags the whole bottom half of her body not just the tail. Lol. When she sees you again I'm sure she will completely lose it! But we may cut her some slack. ;)"
Pam :)

What other clients are saying:

I was introduced to Sam and Puppy Power through my brother and sister in law with 4 young children and a French Mastiff.
I was very happy with the impact the training had on their family so I kept it in mind for when I was about to add a new fur baby to my family.
As a single mother to a toddler and our new family member is a strong breed known as a Rottweiler, I decided to do the 4 week puppy imprinting course to help with this new member of our family.
During the imprinting Sam sent updates, photos, videos and lots of progress. I could not believe how obedient Zelda was at such young age!
Sam brought her for visits and I visited her during this time to continue with bonding.

After the imprinting was complete, I got Zelda back fully house broken and extremely motivated to continue exercising all her training. The word imprinted truly means that, Zelda now at 6 months still automatically defaults into all her training Sam did which is very important with children and my other pets.

I also use Sam for pet sitting because I trust her so much and the love and compassion she has for animals, it's light years beyond anyone I have met.
I am now taking Zelda to Level 2 classes and enjoyed how Puppy Power incorporated educating the owner as a class helping us understand the way our puppies think.

From just the results I have seen with my Rottweiler and my Brother's family's Mastiff, I will continue all my training, pet sitting and all needs with Sam, and most importantly share my amazing experience I have had so far.

Thank you sam xo,
Candy Marie

We had brought in our puppy Leo for Sam's imprinting program literally the second day we brought Leo home. Initially I did feel the cost was a little high but when I got Leo back I knew my money was well spent. Sam's imprinting program I honestly think was amazing. When Leo came home we had no accidents inside the house, he understood basic commands such as sit, stay, down and most importantly "leave it" (you have no idea how important these two words are). The socialization classes that Leo took part of during the month of imprinting was very beneficial as well as it provided great exposure for Leo, I have yet to see any issues when Leo is around dogs or people. I highly recommend Sam's imprinting program for new puppies! Especially for new dog owners.
Oliver

Kai is a yellow lab, and our last family dog. We took him over to Sam, at Puppy Power, the day after we got him. We wanted him to spend a couple months with her and other dogs to learn the most important things, manners, obedience, and just a calm attitude. During this time we would go to a class with Kai and other puppies on Sundays. Kai was always the most behaved dog in the class because of all the time Sam had spent with him during in the week. He followed instructions better and wasn't as aggressive as the other pups (although he played pretty aggressively when we first brought him to her). When we finally brought him home, he was a true joy to be around. He never jumped up on furniture or on people. He came when called, went to kennel when instructed, and was generally a calm, obedient dog. We continue to follow Sam's instructions, and believe Kai to be the best dog we've ever had and such a pleasure to be around because of Puppy Power.
Dr. Seagrist

I would like to thank Sam for the amazing job she did with my dog, Jemma! The imprinting training is incredible. It's so easy to train Jemma now and it's awesome to work and play with your dog knowing you don't have to yell at them. It has been a year since Jemma was at Sam's place but when she hears Sam's voice in the video her tail wags like crazy and she gets so excited. Sam has a way with dogs that far surpasses any other trainer I have dealt with in the past because she bonds with each and every dog she works with. Thanks so much Sam!!

Sam joined my team as a puppy imprinter in January 2015. She has trained over twenty puppies from my kennel over the last year and a half. Sam is a highly skilled trainer who is very knowledgeable. She is patient, dedicated, caring and knows exactly what she is doing when it comes to training puppies in a positive manner.
I always trust that when I send my puppies to Sam I will get back a happy, socialized, obedient puppy that my clients are happy with. I've seen Sam turn a puppy that was extremely fearful into a well-socialized and confident pup.

I'm very happy with the work Sam has done and she is a great trainer who loves dogs and is dedicated to every dog and client she works with.
Sherry Rupke - Owner of SwissRidge Kennels

Puppy Imprinting & Boarding Program

​What is the Puppy Imprinting Program?