Get ready for your English Shepherd puppy before you bring him home, to make sure the transition will be as smooth as possible. Buy food, treats, a collar and leash, toys, grooming tools and other necessities in advance so your English Shepherd will have everything he needs.

You and your family members should decide who will be responsible for food, water, walking, exercise, clean-up and grooming. Post a schedule of tasks in a visible area of the house to remind everyone of their responsibilities.

Puppy-Proof Your Home. Prepare your home before your new English shepherd arrives. Move breakables or "chewables" to higher ground. Make electrical cords inaccessible to curious paws and noses. Block off any area of the house that you want off-limits to the dog. Put the lid down on your toilet and your shoes up in your closet. Block access to any house or garden plants that may be toxic to dogs.

It is important that you have a secure method of keeping your English Shepherd on your property. Check your fence for spots vulnerable to chewing or digging. If your yard is not fenced, consider a large dog run. If your property is not fenced in some way, stress to family members that the dog must be leashed at all times when taken outdoors.

Every dog needs a quiet place to call his own. Create a comfortable area, whether a crate, a mat or a pile of blankets, for your English Shepherd to go to when he needs rest or privacy. Teach children to be safe around dogs. See Kids and Dogs for parenting tips.

You should choose a veterinarian for your English Shepherd as soon as possible. Have your dog examined by the vet within a few days of his arrival. Give your vet copies of the dog's health records, and set up a vaccination and check-up schedule.

Find a trainer who uses Positive and humane training methods. Sign up for puppy class. Search APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) for a qualified trainer in your area. Learn more about the fun activities like, Obedience, Agility, Herding and Conformation to name a few.

Send the completed, signed registration application to the UKC (United Kennel Club). Your dog will then become part of one of the nation's largest registry of purebred dogs and as well as being eligible for a variety of competitive events If you rescue an English Shepherd, consider applying for an Indefinite Listing Privilege (ILP) number. This number will allow your English Shepherd to participate in some performance events.

PUPPY COMES HOME.

At last! You've made all the preparations, and it's finally time to bring your English Shepherd puppy home. Give him the best welcome possible. With love, patience and mutual respect, he will feel like part of the family in no time.

Give the puppy time to adjust to his new home. The puppy is bound to feel insecure and frightened by a change in environment, and a pup may be homesick for his mother or littermates. Show him to his crate or bed, and where to find food and water. Then leave him alone to explore the new surroundings.

Introduce your English Shepherd to your household slowly. Many pairs of hands petting him at once will only frighten him. Later, introduce him to neighbors, regular visitors and other family members. Give your dog a sense of who your - and your dog's - friends are.

Other companion animals in your home should also be properly introduced to your new dog or puppy. Don't expect them to get along right away, and don't try to force them to play together. Give them time to adjust to one another.

Whichever method of house training you have chosen - crate training, paper training or litter box - make sure that all members of the family enforce it consistently. Accidents happen, so have a procedure for clean-up.

Try leaving the radio or television on when you leave your puppy alone. The noise will keep him company.

Don't let your puppy down You aren't a dog owner just at Christmas, or on the weekends, or in the afternoon, or when you have spare time. You aren't a dog owner just when the dog is behaving, or when he's a cute fuzzy puppy, or when he's winning awards. When you bring a dog into your family, that dog is yours for life. If you can't keep that commitment, don't make it. And once you've made it, don't break it. Your dog's life depends on you.