Chances are that you’re pretty excited about picking up your new German Shepherd puppy, Of course, it will be a great day for you. However, you have to be aware that the same day is a very dramatic change for your puppy. For at least the past five weeks, your new puppy has been surrounded by his or her mother and siblings every day. Now you are about to remove the puppy from those surroundings forever. Take this fact into consideration and do your darndest to make this transition as smooth as possible. Here are 10 steps that can help make it a positive experience for both you and your new German Shepherd puppy.
1. Take Some Time Off
Choose a long weekend or vacation time as the ideal time to bring your German Shepherd puppy home. That way, the puppy and you can spend time getting to know each other. It also gives your puppy an extended amount of time to adjust to a new home without being left alone.
2. Bring Home the Scent of the Mother
Several days before you pick up your German Shepherd puppy, give the breeder a small blanket to place around his/her mother and the rest of the litter. Dogs have an acute sense of smell and rely less on vision than we do as humans, so the smell of “home” is very important for them. When you take your puppy home on the first day, make sure you bring that blanket back home with you. This will make your German Shepard puppy feel safer and more at home in the new surroundings.
3. Puppy Proof Your Home
Puppies are curious by nature and, like human babies, can wind up in dangerous situations if their surroundings are not made safe. Remove small objects from the floor, limit access to crawl spaces and in yards prevent access to the street or back alley.
4. Go as a Family
If you live with a family, bring everyone with you when you go to pick up your puppy. That way, the connections with individual family members will start immediately. Dogs in general are very social animals and German Shepherds are no exception. Having several people present at the point of pick-up can make your new puppy feel more secure.
5. Drive Carefully
Your new German Shepherd puppy most likely has never driven in a car before! Swerves and stops that the car makes on the way home, along with the natural disorientation of being pulled away from their familiar surroundings, can be overwhelming. So as you drive home, be mindful of this and drive slower and with caution. For added security, put your puppy in a secure container with soft walls to cushion any bumps or, ideally, make sure the puppy is being held securely in someone’s lap.
6. Pack for Poo and Pee
Humans and other mammals need to be potty trained. None of us are born with the etiquette of going to the bathroom hardwired into our brains. German Shepherd puppies are no exceptions! Be prepared in case the puppy has an accident by going to pick them up with the right supplies: small plastic bags, paper coverings for flooring and an odor neutralizer.
7. First stop: Home!
Once you pick up your puppy, go directly to your house. It’s important that your German Shepherd puppy recognizes the new place as home base, so stay there a while and let your new puppy get their bearings and become accustomed to the surroundings. After a few days, you can venture out to introduce new friends and places to your puppy.
8. Once You Get Home, Go Out Again!
There is one exception to the rule of not going out and that is to teach your puppy early on that he or she needs to poo and pee outside. Soon after you get home, go outside and walk around the puppy’s “bathroom area”, letting the puppy do his or her business in peace.
“Be prepared in case the puppy has an accident by going to pick them up with the right supplies: small plastic bags, paper coverings for flooring and odor neutralizer.”
9. Create a Chill Vibe
In your puppy’s new home, play soft music (or none at all) and avoid loud sounds. This minimizes anxiety and makes sure your puppy stays in a calm mood and is not startled or frightened on their first day.
10. Hold Off Introductions to Other Pets
The dynamic between domestic animals in a house can be complex. Certainly, bringing a cute new German Shepherd puppy into the mix can make current pets feel jealous. Introducing a new animal to your puppy can also be traumatic to the puppy. Best to hold off that introduction to the second day, so the puppy doesn’t feel overwhelmed right upon arrival to your home.
Get yours German Shepherd puppy today.
