Bringing home a new puppy is always an exciting time for a family, no matter if you have two people or ten people! Everyone will share in the delight and excitement that comes from selecting the new family member, purchasing the things he or she will need, and bringing him or her home. While it’s hopeful that you’re adopting your new puppy from a shelter, it’s always nice to find a family friend or relative that is giving away puppies as well – this way you know the person who is giving you the puppy, and can have a general idea of what the puppy’s mother was treated like while in that person’s care.
After you decide on a puppy to bring home, it’s important to have the things that a puppy will need. Where will the puppy sleep? Are you for or against crate training? What kind of food are you going to feed your puppy, and where will his or her bowls be placed? What types of toys are you going to purchase for your puppy? Doing some research online or in books is the best way to learn about what kinds of things puppies need, and what types of things are nice to have. For example, for a German Shepherd puppy, you might want to have plenty of chew toys lying around, or else he or she might decide to use your shoes or your couch for a chew toy when you aren’t around!
When you do bring your new puppy home, try to have everyone in the house be cautious around him or her. Small children can often make loud noises and startle puppies without meaning to, causing them to tense up or get aggressive. Make sure to teach children the proper way to behave around animals, and never allow children to be alone with an animal without proper supervision. If there are other pets in the home, introduce them to the new puppy gradually – don’t expect them to get along well at first, either. It can take great deals of time for animals to warm up to each other, and in some cases, that never occurs. This is especially true for the German Shepherd breed when dealing with two dogs of the same gender.
Allow your new puppy to inspect the new surroundings and get used to their new home. Make sure you show the puppy where the food and water dishes are, where their bed or crate is located, and what toys are theirs for playing with. Try to spend as much time as possible with your new puppy so it learns proper behavior, what is theirs, and house training. Be sure to restrain yourself from yelling or frightening your new puppy, as it will make it difficult for the animal to trust you and feel at home. It might take a while for the puppy to feel safe in the new environment, but with time, patience, and lots of love and encouragement, your new puppy should feel right at home in no time.
