Adjusting to new puppy

[Ottos_owner]

Hi!

My husband and I are getting used to our third puppy, the second German Shepherd. Otto is 9 weeks old, extremely cute (aren't they all), and quite a handful. I joined the community hoping to get advice from all you experienced owners (it's been 10 yrs since we had a puppy) and to share my joys and concerns. I would love to join a puppy socialization class, but here in rural Vermont, I haven't seen any available. Everyone here works with their dogs by the seat of their pants (probably literally).

[k9mania]

If there are no classes to take the puppy, it is good to take it to places like the hardware store, pet store, and other places where it is exposed to different experiences, people, and dogs. Of course, you need to make sure it has it's shots. You also want the older dogs to feel as though their spaces are still their spaces. Crating is the best training strategy for any puppy. It becomes the dog's own place (it's safety blanket). It is a safe place for the dog to ride in the car. When you travel, it becomes a place that makes traveling much easier because it is a familiar spot in unfamiliar surroundings.