A happy chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy with a pink collar sitting on a pink and black place board in a grassy field with trees in the background.

Puppy Head Start Program

The Puppy Head Start Program is available for puppies between 8 and 24 weeks of age. While staying at Riptide Thunder Kennels, your dog becomes part of our family. They’ll be comfortably housed inside our home in a secure kennel and receive multiple individualized training sessions each day. Outside of training, your pup will enjoy plenty of playtime—both indoors and outdoors—and spend their downtime relaxing in comfort of our home, enjoying a calm, family-like environment. During their stay, puppies are introduced to basic obedience commands such as their name, sit, down, place, kennel, and here. The program also includes potty training and crate training to establish good habits early on. Socialization is a key component, with experiences that may include meeting other dogs, car and boat rides, nature walks, public outings, golf cart rides, exposure to various sounds, and time in the water. For those interested in developing a future hunting partner or preparing for hunt tests, Riptide Thunder Kennels offer introductions to bumpers, birds, whistles, leashes, wingers, holding blinds, decoys, and gunfire. Training can be customized to meet your specific goals, with a minimum four-week commitment required.

This program is not exclusive to retrievers. The Puppy Head Start Program is open to all dog breeds and sizes.

If your puppy hasn’t completed all of their vaccinations before starting the Puppy Head Start Program, we’ll arrange the remaining vet appointments with our veterinarian. All vaccinations and health related expenses are the responsibility of the puppy owner.

Puppy head start Request

Black Labrador Retriever puppy with purple collar sitting on green grass holding a fabric toy in its mouth outdoors.

A brown dog with floppy ears lying on a plush gray bed in front of a fireplace, surrounded by various colorful chew toys. The dog is holding a pink pacifier with a braided handle in its mouth.

Two chocolate Labrador puppies sitting on a concrete patio with their tongues out.

A happy yellow Labrador retriever sitting on a small outdoor dog bed, panting with tongue out, on grassy ground under bright sunlight.

A happy, chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy sitting on green grass with its mouth open and tongue out.

Black Labrador puppy sitting on green grass next to a decorative blue heron statue, with ducks and more grass in the background.

A yellow Labrador Retriever puppy sitting in the grass with its eyes closed.

A chocolate Labrador puppy lying on concrete ground next to a pink water bowl with some water inside, and water droplets scattered around.

A brown dachshund laying on a black raised dog bed in a grassy outdoor area with trees in the background.

A black Labrador Retriever puppy sitting on a gray small elevated bed outdoors near a tree, with its mouth open and tongue out, looking happy.

A brown dog with a pink collar and leash sitting on the floor in a liquor store, next to a blue mat and a social distancing floor sticker. Behind the dog, there are shelves filled with various alcohol bottles.

A playful yellow Labrador puppy running in a backyard with a toy in its mouth, under a bright blue sky with spring trees in the background.

A brown and black small puppy sitting on an elevated dog bed in a field.

A chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy sitting inside a pet crate or carrier with a metal door open.

A happy yellow Labrador retriever puppy sitting on the floor of a liquor store next to shelves filled with bottles of alcohol.

A black dog with upright ears running through tall green grass in a rural field with trees and wooden fences in the background.

A brown puppy is lying on a fluffy beige dog bed, surrounded by various dog toys on a hardwood floor.

A chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy lying flat on a wooden floor, gazing at the camera with a relaxed expression.

A cute yellow Labrador puppy sitting on a grassy patch with a blue and white chew toy in its mouth.

A black puppy with its tongue out standing on a black textured platform outdoors on green grass.

A brown puppy lying on a white surface next to a white locker, looking up with light-colored eyes, with a red collar and a rope leash.

A brown dog with a black face standing in a grassy field with other dogs in the distance and trees in the background.

Cute yellow Labrador puppy sitting on dry grass with some green patches, looking directly at the camera.

Black Labrador puppy sitting on a gray platform in a grassy field, smiling with its mouth open.

Happy brown puppy sitting on a black and red skateboard on green grass

Happy golden retriever puppy lying on green grass, mouth open, tongue out, wearing a black and pink collar.

A black puppy with a blue collar sitting on sandy ground surrounded by pine trees and dry grass in a forest.

A black puppy biting a plastic or rubber duck decoy on a grassy field.

A brown puppy sitting on a blue platform in a grassy outdoor area, with rubber decoys of ducks in the background.

A young brown puppy running through a patch of dirt and green plants, carrying a duck-shaped toy in its mouth.

A brown and black puppy sleeping curled up on a black and white checkered blanket.

A small green golf cart with a dog sitting on the front seat, parked in a grassy field with trees and a blue sky in the background.

Lying tan puppy with a toy in mouth on a grassy field under a blue sky.

A happy black puppy sitting in grass in a backyard on a sunny day, with trees and a house in the background.

A brown puppy with a pink collar sitting on green grass in a backyard.

A happy brown puppy sitting in tall grass in an open field with cloudy sky and distant trees in the background.

Black Labrador puppy sitting on outdoor concrete ground near a pink dog dish, with grassy yard and trees in the background.

A dog with a red collar and black harness sitting on a grassy field, looking into the distance at an open landscape with trees, hay bales, and farm structures on the horizon.

A brown puppy with a red collar lying on a wooden deck, holding an orange rubber chew toy.

A happy black Labrador puppy with a pink collar sitting in a grassy field with trees in the background and a partly cloudy sky.

A brown dog with a pink collar standing on a grassy field, holding a white cylindrical object in its mouth, under a blue sky with some clouds.

A cute brown puppy with blue eyes lying on a white surface, looking upward.

A happy brown Labrador puppy sitting on a red Cato Outdoors elevated puppy platform outdoors in a garden with red and green autumn leaves, a brick wall, and decorative yard figurines.

A black puppy lying inside a camouflage-patterned pet tent on grass, with a house and bushes in the background.

A black dog with a blue collar sitting in tall green grass on a sunny day, with a blue metal gate and a wooden fence in the background, alongside a tree and rolling green fields under a bright sky.

A brown puppy with blue eyes lying on green grass, holding a white chew stick in its mouth.

A happy brown puppy with a pink collar sitting on a pink and black platform outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background.

A brown and black dog with a pink collar lying inside a camouflage-colored camping tent on a wooden deck outside a house.

A cute yellow Labrador retriever puppy sitting on a portable dog bed outdoors, with a tree and grass in the background.

Black puppy with tongue out sitting among green leaves in a garden or farm setting.

A adorable brown and black puppy with long ears sitting on concrete next to a wooden staircase and some green bushes.

Yellow Labrador Retriever puppy sitting on grass with a harness, at an outdoor event with white tents and people in the background.

A brown puppy with floppy ears leaning over the side of a black metal trailer, with a green tractor in the background on a grassy field under a cloudy sky.