Puppy Head-Start Program
Does your life style make it difficult to raise a 7-8 week old puppy? Do you want a young enough puppy to bond with, socialize, etc., but would like one that has a head start on their training? Ask us about matching your lifestyle to a litter and puppy for our headstart program.
Our headstart puppies range in training depending on they ages. 3-4 month old puppies are crate trained, name recognition, Basic puppy obedience sit, here, place, down, leash walking. 5+ months have more advanced obedience skills. Some puppies are in programs with a gun dog focus and being collar conditioned and force fetch training. Details are below, but we would love to help you find the perfect pairing for your lifestyle.
We have been training puppies for potential service dogs for K9s For Warriors. Some of the dogs we have been training have too high of a drive for the service dog program and those dogs are now available for career changes.
Our headstart puppies range in training depending on they ages. 3-4 month old puppies are crate trained, name recognition, Basic puppy obedience sit, here, place, down, leash walking. 5+ months have more advanced obedience skills. Some puppies are in programs with a gun dog focus and being collar conditioned and force fetch training. Details are below, but we would love to help you find the perfect pairing for your lifestyle.
We have been training puppies for potential service dogs for K9s For Warriors. Some of the dogs we have been training have too high of a drive for the service dog program and those dogs are now available for career changes.
From ages 7 weeks to 20 weeks of age
~Our program is specifically designed to maximize the first few months of your puppy’s life, when they are at their most critical period of development and learning.
~During this critical stage of rapid development, we lay the foundation for a great family member, hunting companion and competition dog.
~This is accomplished with the Introduction to: name recognition, crate training, potty training, doggy doors, water, birds, bumpers, whistles, check cords, leashes, gunfire (training pistol), and riding in vehicles or whatever you would like us to focus on.
~Your puppy will also be exposed to an introduction to obedience.
~ Retriever puppy work is based on praise, fun and treats and more treats.
~Puppies are exposed to a variety of sights and sounds, socialization in addition to capturing the earliest learning time in a dog’s life.
~Our program will build on the natural retriever desire.
~This exposure is for developing your dog’s natural ability, instincts and involves no corrections.
~ Vaccinations and health related expenses are the responsibility of the puppy owner.
~$1,400 Per Month and or $350/week (Includes food)
~ Select the number of months that fits your needs or bring your puppy back for a month.
Training Location and goals
7-11 weeks of age: - At DPR location: Basics: sit, place training, down, loose leash walking, crate training, introduction to water, nature walks, car rides and interaction with older dogs.
12-16 weeks of age - At Susan & Billy Crout. Continued training on all above and adding stay, healing on the leash, potty training in the home, introduction to cats, other dogs. (Country Living Life-style)
17-20 weeks of age: - At Amber & David Phillips. Continued training on all above. Going to public places, riding in a golf cart, living in the home with 3 other dogs. (Residential / Neighborhood Life-style)
~During this critical stage of rapid development, we lay the foundation for a great family member, hunting companion and competition dog.
~This is accomplished with the Introduction to: name recognition, crate training, potty training, doggy doors, water, birds, bumpers, whistles, check cords, leashes, gunfire (training pistol), and riding in vehicles or whatever you would like us to focus on.
~Your puppy will also be exposed to an introduction to obedience.
~ Retriever puppy work is based on praise, fun and treats and more treats.
~Puppies are exposed to a variety of sights and sounds, socialization in addition to capturing the earliest learning time in a dog’s life.
~Our program will build on the natural retriever desire.
~This exposure is for developing your dog’s natural ability, instincts and involves no corrections.
~ Vaccinations and health related expenses are the responsibility of the puppy owner.
~$1,400 Per Month and or $350/week (Includes food)
~ Select the number of months that fits your needs or bring your puppy back for a month.
Training Location and goals
7-11 weeks of age: - At DPR location: Basics: sit, place training, down, loose leash walking, crate training, introduction to water, nature walks, car rides and interaction with older dogs.
12-16 weeks of age - At Susan & Billy Crout. Continued training on all above and adding stay, healing on the leash, potty training in the home, introduction to cats, other dogs. (Country Living Life-style)
17-20 weeks of age: - At Amber & David Phillips. Continued training on all above. Going to public places, riding in a golf cart, living in the home with 3 other dogs. (Residential / Neighborhood Life-style)
Testimonials from Puppy Headstart Owners
HONEY - As a retirement gift for Sabrina, our adult kids surprised us with a seven-week old Dry Pond Kennel female chocolate lab puppy. She became our fourth lab puppy - dating back to our “first child” (pre-kids) in 1986 - and earned her name “Honey” since she was so cute and eager for attention.
Now in our sixties, we were quickly reminded how much energy a puppy can require. After four weeks together, a previously scheduled family trip necessitated a decision about where Honey would board. Dry Pond’s Headstart program was suggested and Beth was willing to welcome Honey back to her Johnston, SC birthplace for the four week program.
Just as Beth predicted, Honey remembered us and was a better trained puppy after the program. Honey understands more commands, especially SIT and HERE, and no longer nips us while playing. We wholeheartedly recommend the Headstart program at Dry Pond! Beth and her staff have given two empty nesters a jump start on a loving, obedient lab pup that brings joy to our entire family of three grown kids and two grandkids.
Sabrina and George Rush
Augusta, GA - 2021
KONA - “We were looking to purchase a chocolate lab for quite a while but our biggest hurdle was finding the right breeder. When we found Dry Pond Kennel’s, we were immediately interested based on the top-notch pedigree of dogs and the superb quality of the kennel itself. Our initial call with Beth sealed the deal as her professionalism and overall knowledge on labradors made us beyond comfortable. We decided to take advantage of DPR’s head-start program and left our puppy, Kona, to receive 30 days of training before we brought her home. I highly suggest future owners consider this for their puppy as it’s a great way for them to learn how to be around larger dogs and get semi house broken. Thank you to Beth and her entire team for all of their help and continued support!
- Amanda and Stu Foutz” 2020 litter
PIPER - I enrolled my Chocolate Lab, Piper in Dry Pond Kennel’s Puppy Head Start program in the spring of 2019. I liked the idea of bringing my puppy home 1 month older than normal with some training. My hope was that it would make the transition to my house easier. The Head Start program was awesome! Piper learned lots of things including: name recognition, crate training and moving to “ place”. I think the program gave her an extra boost that she would not have received if I took her home at her original date go home date. She learns so fast. Since I brought her home, she has only had about 6 “ accidents” in our home. I think the program really did help Piper. She is very social, eager to learn and at 10 months old, she is better trained than any dog that I’ve owned. So I received the benefit of bringing home a puppy that was 1 month older than normal and one that had begun learning some pretty important training elements. I would definitely recommend the program to all new puppy owners. It was well worth the investment. I have an awesome dog and I give the credit to Dry Pond Kennels.
Darrell Boykin
Columbia, SC
Piper - Briggs X Bella 2019 Litter
WINK - A great breeder who takes wonderful care to get the pups well on their way to great companions or sports dogs. I left my pup with Beth for an extra month so my puppy could participate in her puppy program. Even though I am a dog trainer she was able to provide the puppy with many aspects of training and socializing a new pup that I could not provide. Lots of good mat training, learning to work around other dogs, extra exposure to noise, dogs, environment and people that visit. He even got an introduction to water lead by his mom Luna. He got and opportunity to get his little paws wet and when I brought him home to a lake he went right in and swam at 16 weeks. All of these little life lessons and exposures provided him with a great start.
Diana Boos
Florida
Wink – Luna X Cuda Litter Fall 2018.
IZZO - My wife and I have used and loved several breeders in the past. Due to a recent move to South Carolina, those breeders were not available to us. After researching several lab breeders, we chose Dry Pond Kennel, and it has been the best choice we have made. We couldn't be happier with our puppy and the headstart training Beth offers. What an amazing dog, and an amazing kennel. We know they love our puppy as much as we do, and that makes it so reassuring when we use their boarding service. We have found our breeder from here on out. If you are considering a lab, check out Dry Pond Retrievers. You will be glad you did.
Marc Waite
Myrtle Beach, SC
Izzo - Luna X Cuda Litter Fall 2018.
Now in our sixties, we were quickly reminded how much energy a puppy can require. After four weeks together, a previously scheduled family trip necessitated a decision about where Honey would board. Dry Pond’s Headstart program was suggested and Beth was willing to welcome Honey back to her Johnston, SC birthplace for the four week program.
Just as Beth predicted, Honey remembered us and was a better trained puppy after the program. Honey understands more commands, especially SIT and HERE, and no longer nips us while playing. We wholeheartedly recommend the Headstart program at Dry Pond! Beth and her staff have given two empty nesters a jump start on a loving, obedient lab pup that brings joy to our entire family of three grown kids and two grandkids.
Sabrina and George Rush
Augusta, GA - 2021
KONA - “We were looking to purchase a chocolate lab for quite a while but our biggest hurdle was finding the right breeder. When we found Dry Pond Kennel’s, we were immediately interested based on the top-notch pedigree of dogs and the superb quality of the kennel itself. Our initial call with Beth sealed the deal as her professionalism and overall knowledge on labradors made us beyond comfortable. We decided to take advantage of DPR’s head-start program and left our puppy, Kona, to receive 30 days of training before we brought her home. I highly suggest future owners consider this for their puppy as it’s a great way for them to learn how to be around larger dogs and get semi house broken. Thank you to Beth and her entire team for all of their help and continued support!
- Amanda and Stu Foutz” 2020 litter
PIPER - I enrolled my Chocolate Lab, Piper in Dry Pond Kennel’s Puppy Head Start program in the spring of 2019. I liked the idea of bringing my puppy home 1 month older than normal with some training. My hope was that it would make the transition to my house easier. The Head Start program was awesome! Piper learned lots of things including: name recognition, crate training and moving to “ place”. I think the program gave her an extra boost that she would not have received if I took her home at her original date go home date. She learns so fast. Since I brought her home, she has only had about 6 “ accidents” in our home. I think the program really did help Piper. She is very social, eager to learn and at 10 months old, she is better trained than any dog that I’ve owned. So I received the benefit of bringing home a puppy that was 1 month older than normal and one that had begun learning some pretty important training elements. I would definitely recommend the program to all new puppy owners. It was well worth the investment. I have an awesome dog and I give the credit to Dry Pond Kennels.
Darrell Boykin
Columbia, SC
Piper - Briggs X Bella 2019 Litter
WINK - A great breeder who takes wonderful care to get the pups well on their way to great companions or sports dogs. I left my pup with Beth for an extra month so my puppy could participate in her puppy program. Even though I am a dog trainer she was able to provide the puppy with many aspects of training and socializing a new pup that I could not provide. Lots of good mat training, learning to work around other dogs, extra exposure to noise, dogs, environment and people that visit. He even got an introduction to water lead by his mom Luna. He got and opportunity to get his little paws wet and when I brought him home to a lake he went right in and swam at 16 weeks. All of these little life lessons and exposures provided him with a great start.
Diana Boos
Florida
Wink – Luna X Cuda Litter Fall 2018.
IZZO - My wife and I have used and loved several breeders in the past. Due to a recent move to South Carolina, those breeders were not available to us. After researching several lab breeders, we chose Dry Pond Kennel, and it has been the best choice we have made. We couldn't be happier with our puppy and the headstart training Beth offers. What an amazing dog, and an amazing kennel. We know they love our puppy as much as we do, and that makes it so reassuring when we use their boarding service. We have found our breeder from here on out. If you are considering a lab, check out Dry Pond Retrievers. You will be glad you did.
Marc Waite
Myrtle Beach, SC
Izzo - Luna X Cuda Litter Fall 2018.
