ABOUT US
 

Puppy Prodigies is a unique program, located in San Diego county, but serving the entire United States.  Our program is designed to provide puppies with a long-term advantage at an early age in an effort to decrease the number of dogs that are released from training programs due to temperament or behavior issues.  In addition, our initiatives help reduce the number of pet dogs that are relinquished to animal shelters for behavior related problems. 

Our early learning program is based on concepts derived from animal behaviorists, researchers, and experts in the field.  We also incorporate our practical experience in assistance dog training, and puppy rearing.  Our program integrates early learning and selection screening to identify puppies who display the potential for assistance work.  Since our program is about quality, not quantity we retain a number of puppies for our intermediate and advanced service dog training, and the rest are provided to organizations who do not have their own breeding program, time or resources to effectuate early intervention.  We offer a valuable resource to organizations that are looking for puppies that are well bred, healthy, and have traits that are conducive to a career that demands excellence in ability and temperament.

When our puppies are 49 days old, they're temperament tested and provided to organizations throughout the United States that have their own training and/or puppy raising programs.  We focus on providing puppies to guide dog programs, hearing dog programs, and assistance dog programs that include mobility assistance, medical alert, autism, etc.  But, because of the early conditioning the puppies receive, they can be prepared for any number of endeavors in which they assist, such as social therapy, air scenting, tracking, explosive detection, search and rescue, etc.  

OUR APPROACH
Our approach is multi-faceted:

• We provide a comprehensive early learning and intervention program which is the first step to a puppy's training journey.  We focus on critical stages of development starting at birth by providing the puppy with structured exercises and experiences such as early stimulation, conditioning, imprinting, habituation, socialization, environment enrichment, and training.  This early intervention prepares the puppy for their future roles, and promotes more successful outcomes.  The purpose of our early learning program is to condition the puppies so they learn to learn!  Visit the Early Learning Focus page, and the Early Learning Program Highlights page for more information.
   
• We provide these early trained puppies to organizations and others who need them, which includes but is not limited to assistance dog programs for their puppy raising/training initiatives, medical alert programs, seizure alert/response programs, social therapy programs, scent detection programs, other career dog programs and individuals who are "owner training" their personal dog for assistance work.  We also have released puppies available for companion animal roles and pet dog homes.  For more information on acquiring a puppy, and eligibility requirements, please visit our Puppy Placement/Aquisition page.
   
• We have a breeder collaboration program in which we work closely with breeders in a effort to produce exceptional puppies who are destined for a future in assistance work.  Our breeder base places the utmost importance on breeding only those dogs who possess great temperaments and have excellent genetic health.  If you're a breeder and would like to be part of our program, please visit our Breeder Collaboration page.
   
• We whelp litters for other assistance dog programs, as well as breeders who are interested in our early learning program for their entire litter.  The dam spends her pre-natal period on our premises and we provide the same neo-natal and early learning activities that our own puppies receive.  We will also provide our program on site at your location for those that live in the San Diego area.
   
• We provide continued support once the puppy is placed so that the early learning that was fostered at Puppy Prodigies is built upon throughout the puppy's training journey.  Behavior never remains the same – it’s always changing.  So, we’ll be there to help if you need assistance. 
   
• We provide education and training opportunities to breeders, other assistance dog programs, trainers, etc, so they can provide the Puppy Prodigies Neo-natal & Early Learning Program to their litters of puppies. 
   
• We maintain records and data to chart the success of our efforts since our ultimate goal is to decrease the number of dogs who are released from programs due to temperament or behavior issues. This data also serves as a source of early canine behavior research for our work with other dog behavior professionals.

OUR PHILOSOPHY
The philosophy behind Puppy Prodigies is very simple… we're passionate about puppy development.  Education and training builds futures and we believe it's a great way to start a young puppy on his career path. We specialize in providing the education and resources that facilitate early learning which helps puppies prepare for life long success.

OUR MISSION
The mission of Puppy Prodigies is to build the foundation for future teamwork by providing puppies with early interventional learning opportunities and environmental influences at critical stages of development in an effort to positively affect behavioral tendencies which will ultimately enhance their life, as well as their human counterpart’s.  As a result of this effort, our objective is to provide our “prepped” puppies to owner-trainers, assistance dog, and other canine training organizations with the goal of decreasing the number of dogs that are released from programs due to temperament or behavior issues.  We also strive to reduce the number of pet dogs that are relinquished to animal shelters for behavior related problems. 

OUR STAFF
Our staff is comprised of a very talented team of volunteers that have a solid background in dog training and animal behavior experience.  This experience includes assistance dog training, puppy development, early learning and whelping.  We have advisory consultants with a wealth of knowledge in reproduction, breeding, animal behavior, veterinary medicine, law, business development, marketing and research.  We are committed to providing the expertise necessary to develop puppies to their fullest potential while enabling other organizations to maximize success in their placements.

OUR FOUNDER
My name is Judy, and I'm the founder and executive director of Puppy Prodigies.   I've been hanging out with, and training animals since I was a young girl.  I remember, when I was about 8 years old, teaching my first golden retriever to jump through a "hoop", which was actually an old bicycle tire (see picture below).  About this same time, a dear friend of our family's found out that her son was hearing impaired.  I marched over to their house holding my dog's leash with one hand, and my jar of pennies with the other... determined to make a difference.  I left the jar with them that day in hopes they could buy a hearing aid, but in retrospect, I should've left the dog! 

Shortly after that, I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and due to the pain and degenerative nature of my diagnosis, I wasn't able to partake in many of the extra curricular activities that my friends did.  So, I put my young heart and energy into charitable causes, finding great fulfillment and realizing I could do more than just save pennies!  I stayed on my volunteer course for many years and finally came upon the opportunity to combine my love for dogs with my desire to make a difference.  I started puppy raising for Canine Companions for Independence.  Later, I attended the Assistance Dog Institute's associate degree program, and explored the work of Bonnie Bergin.  After that I volunteered and trained dogs at several service dog organizations which has given me a well rounded perspective of different techniques for training and placing dogs within the industry.  In addition to Puppy Prodigies, I'm currently a service dog trainer for Pawsitive Teams, and active with my own service dog through their goal directed therapy program working with children.

I have a bachelor's degree and my previous corporate life included a career in healthcare administration/business development.  I've also received certificates from San Francisco's Hearing Dog Program and the Marin Humane Society's Canine Behavior Academy.  I'm a certified professional dog trainer, and know the value of education, so I stay current on the latest training techniques, and attend many seminars each year taught by some top professionals in the field of dog training.  I stay abreast on the research of puppy development, which includes interaction with animal behavior researchers so I can make adaptations to the program as necessary.

But, it's the puppies who have taught me the most!  I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with them and see first hand what they're capable of.  To see the outcome of early intervention.  To observe their young minds developing.  To watch them flourish.  To witness the transformation from young puppy to adult dog with a deep rooted quest to be of service.  It's this experience and passion, coupled with the desire to make a difference and the physical limitations of my childhood (that turned out to be limitless)... that I started Puppy Prodigies.  The puppies I have worked with have taught me more than I could ever teach them, and it's my wish that I can share my experiences... and my puppies with you! 

Me (on the left) at 8 years old teaching my dog to
"jump through a hoop" which was actually an old bicycle tire.
 

My cat Bailey, also jumping through a hoop!

"They've taught me more than I could ever teach them"
Me
 

4 1/2 week old puppy learning to "target"
 

4 1/2 week old puppy learning to "tug"