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About PuppyInTraining.com
Welcome to PuppyInTraining.com! The premiere website for new puppy owners, answering all your puppy raising and training questions.
PuppyInTraining.com is best known for its award winning blog and YouTube channel where Colby shares his puppy training tips and experiences raising guide and service dog puppies.
Bringing home a new puppy can be one of the most exciting things you experience in your life. There’s nothing better than a cute, adorable, cuddly puppy sleeping on your lap.
However, what do you do when your puppy starts chewing your valuables (I literally had a puppy chew up $500 in cash), biting your hands, barking in the crate, or peeing and pooping in the house?
If you’ve run into any of these problems then you’re in luck, because here at PuppyInTraining.com we have the answers.
Our Story
In October 2006 I applied to raise a puppy for Guide Dogs of America and a few months later in February 2007 I brought home my first guide dog puppy in training, Stetson.
From day one my plan was to document the journey raising and training a guide dog puppy by writing to a blog.
…6 months later…
I clicked the publish button and PuppyInTraining.com was officially launched on August 1st, 2007.
Since our launch over 13 years ago we’ve helped thousands of new puppy owners with their puppy training and behavior problems, reached over 10 million readers through our blog, and started a successful Facebook page and YouTube channel chronicling the journey of puppy in training #3, Dublin from 8 week old puppy to working guide dog.
We also have over 10,000 subscribers to our FREE Resource Library giving our readers access to all of our printable Puppy In Training PDF’s.
PuppyInTraining.com has been awarded as a top dog blog and featured in many print and online publications including:
- The Orange County Register
- America’s Family Pet Expo
- PetSafe
- Orange County Transportation Authority
- Labrador Training HQ
- That Mutt
About Colby Morita
Colby Morita is a service dog puppy raiser/trainer and founder of PuppyInTraining.com, a blog that has been visited by tens of millions of people since it’s inception on August 1st, 2007.
My Work Story
As a working I.T. professional I always gave back to my community by volunteering at various organizations including the Special Olympics, Working Wardrobes, and Habitat for Humanity.
In 2005 I rescued my first puppy, Linus from the Carson Animal Shelter starting my journey as a new puppy owner.
Shortly after rescuing Linus I decided to merge my love for dogs with my enthusiasm for giving back to the community.
At a local Pet Expo I inquired about the various volunteer opportunities with rescue organizations, therapy dog schools, and guide dog schools.
While I was intrigued by the idea of raising a guide dog puppy I decided a 2 year commitment might be more than I could handle. So, I decided a short term assignment like fostering dogs and puppies would be a better test of my dedication.
I ended up fostering 11 dogs for local rescue including a litter of German Shepherd mix and Chihuahua mix puppies.
After my adventures fostering rescue and shelter dogs I decided I was ready to commit to raising a guide dog and on February 2007 I brought home my first guide dog puppy, Stetson.
This started my journey to learn all I could about training dogs, specifically service dogs.
Since February 2007 I’ve raised and trained 15 guide and service dog puppies in training.
In 2016 I raised my first litter of puppies and donated three pups to service dog schools.
I’ve worked with several service and guide dog schools over the years including:
- Guide Dogs of America
- Canine Support Teams
- Tender Loving Canine Assistance Dogs
- Cascade Service Dogs
- Brigadoon Service Dogs
As a lifelong learner I continue to attend classes, seminars, and conferences about training dogs.
Recognition & Awards
Here are a few of my accomplishments over the years:
- B.S. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona – I never thought I’d use my degree, but courses in genetics and animal behavior have proved helpful when training puppies.
- Dog Trainer Apprenticeship, Wags And Wiggles
- Dog Trainer Course, TLCAD
- Suzanne Clothier Dog Training Seminar
- Clicker Expo Training
The Puppies
I’m most proud of all the puppies I’ve trained over the years whether they became working service dogs, therapy dogs, or career changed into family pets.
| Name | Breed | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Linus | Aussie Lab Mix | We said goodbye to Linus on 5/7/18, RIP. |
| Stetson | Black Lab | We said goodbye to Stetson on 6/23/19, RIP. |
| Derby | Yellow Lab | Career changed Guide Dog placed through GDA adoption program |
| Dublin | Yellow Lab | Retired Guide Dog living in Arizona |
| Apache | Golden Retriever | PTSD Service Dog living in Oklahoma |
| Adelle | Yellow Lab | Mobility Service Dog living in California |
| Archer | Yellow Lab | TBI Service Dog living in Washington |
| Raven | Golden Retriever | Breeder for future Service Dogs |
| Buster | Golden Retriever | Autism Service Dog |
| Berlin | Golden Retriever | Breeder for future Service Dogs |
| Bear | Golden Retriever | Career changed from Service Dog to family pet |
| Charlie | Golden Retriever | Career changed from Service Dog to family pet |
| Downey | Golden Retriever | Mobility Service Dog |
| Doni | Golden Retriever | Career changed from Service Dog to family pet |
| Elsa | Black Lab | Potential breeder for future service dogs |
| Sandy | Golden Retriever | Service Dog Puppy In Training |
My Personal Story
I’m the quiet guy in the back of the room. The wallflower at a party. I was the shy kid in high school.
It may seem different when you read one of my blog posts, watch one of my YouTube videos, or see our latest post on Facebook, but make no mistake I am an introvert.
However, even as an introvert I can talk about three things for days: My three little girls, training puppies, and hockey.
I grew up in Fountain Valley, California and went to college at the University of Arizona earning my degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
My freshman year I remember seeing a shirt that read “University of Arizona, the best 5 or 6 years of your life.” I laughed at that t-shirt, but 6 years later I was still living the college life in Tucson, AZ!
And yes they were the best 5 or 6 years of my life!
That was a long time ago, now my life revolves around my wife, 3 year old daughter, 2 year old twin girls, 6 year old Golden Retriever, and 7 month old black Labrador Retriever.
Yep, the days of staying up until 3am with my college buddies are long gone.
Now I marvel at every remarkable new accomplishment my kids make in life. I’m loving every minute of it!
Outside of my family and raising puppies I love playing sports. I played tennis in college and I’ve been playing ice hockey for over 30 years.
In more recent years I started playing pickleball, a cross between tennis, ping-pong and badminton.
Life is great!
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out through our contact form.
All the best,
Colby
Top Picks For Our Puppies
- BEST PUPPY TOY
We Like: Snuggle Puppy w/ Heart Beat & Heat Pack - Perfect for new puppies. We get all of our Service Dog pups a Snuggle Puppy. - BEST DOG CHEW
We Like: Best Bully Sticks - All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. - BEST DOG TREATS
We Like: Wellness Soft Puppy Bites - One of our favorite treats for training our service dog puppies.
Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist.
Jeanine says
We have a 4-month-old Goldendoodle. He is doing very well with potty training and will sit and stay. The problem we can’t seem to get a handle on is that when excited he will bite, either your skin or clothes. I just don’t know what to do. HELP!
Colby says
Take a look at this article when you have a moment: puppy biting and nipping
Sarah says
I have an almost 9 week old puppy that I am hoping to train to be my service dog. Is he allowed to come with me every where for exposure or can he be denied access? We obviously don’t want him on the floor yet because all his shots aren’t done, so we want to put him in a shopping cart.
Colby says
Different states have different laws for service dogs and service dogs in training. In California, where we live, a Service Dog in Training is not automatically allowed into public places and can be denied access.
Unfortunately, because people often claim their pet dog is a service dog, the ADA created a special Q&A addressing shopping carts.
From the ADA website:
Q: Are stores required to allow service animals to be placed in a shopping cart?
A: Generally, the dog must stay on the floor, or the person must carry the dog. For example, if a person with diabetes has a glucose alert dog, he may carry the dog in a chest pack so it can be close to his face to allow the dog to smell his breath to alert him of a change in glucose levels.
It’s advisable that you don’t let your service dog or service dog in training ride in the shopping cart.
Regarding letting your puppy walk on the floor. Here’s AVSAB’s recommendation for when you should be socializing your puppy.
I hope this is helpful. Good luck with your training!
Sharon says
Im trying to get a service dog recommended by my psychiatrist do you know where I can start looking I live in NYC and I’m on disability I love dogs more than ppl lol and I don’t know where to start the price which I hope is not expensive and any dog would be loved and welcomed and much needed for my disorders can you help?
Colby says
A good place to start is the Assistance Dogs International website. They have a list of service dogs by state. Hopefully you can find an organization there that can help you. Good luck with your search.
Kim Cherrix says
I like your site. I have a four month old Golden retriever puppy that I would like to train as my service dog. I have trained dogs before but not a service dog. This big guy “Loco” is the smartest dog I’ve ever worked with. He knows all the basics, he is potty trained, knows sit, down, stay, come, no, off, heel. I have problems with mobility and would like to train LOCO to help me. Is there a state test he will have to pass to get registered as a service dog and can I put “In Training” tags on him while out working with him.? Is there a book on this and where do I get real training equipment.
Colby says
This is from my personal experience. As far as I know there is no test required for service dogs. You can put “in training” tags on your puppy while you are working on his training. I don’t have a referral for a book or where to get real training equipment, the schools I partner with have a lot of custom equipment they use. I’ll see if I can find more information on service dog equipment. Here’s a post on some of the commands we teach our service dog puppies that you might find helpful: https://puppyintraining.com/what-commands-do-you-teach-a-service-dog/ Of course you can tailor training to your specific needs. Good luck with your puppy!