Any time you bring home a new puppy, there are certain things you need to do in order to prepare for your new visitor. One of the things you have to consider is where to put your Belgian Sheepdog puppy if everyone is out of the house during the day for work and school. Remember, this breed does not do well on its own, and with everyone gone and nothing to do, he will become bored and make a mess of things. In order to prevent that, you may want to have a cage or blocked off area for your puppy so that he cannot cause any damage. This may also be necessary when it grows older as well, depending upon how long it is necessary for everyone to be out of the house. Since this breed trains better with positive reinforcement, you do not want to use the cage as a means for punishment, although you may routinely use it for your dog when you are out of the house.
If you live in an apartment and still want a Belgian Sheepdog, before you bring your puppy home, you want to make sure you know where you can take him for plenty of exercise. If you have neighbors with whom you are friendly, perhaps you can make an arrangement to pay them to exercise your dog while you are at work. If you have a house with at least a medium size yard, you may want to set aside an area for agility exercise later. This breed is not content to simply walk or play fetch, so as your puppy grows, he will need more activities to exercise both his mind and body. Don't leave him to entertain himself or you may have more of a mess than you expected.
As soon as possible, enroll your puppy in obedience training as well as agility training. The Belgian Sheepdog is very easy to train, and he thrives on pleasing his owner. Use a reward system for positive behavior rather than punishment for negative behavior with this breed. Whether you use him for herding, as a therapy dog, or just a family pet, it's important to make sure he also has plenty to do. You should develop activities for your Belgian before you even bring him home.
Even if you buy your dog from a breeder who gives you documentation of veterinary care, you want to arrange a vet visit for your dog shortly after you bring him home. You want to take him to his own special doctor so that he can begin his medical treatment early and avoid any problems farther down the line. Finally, you want to have his sleeping quarters, food, and some toys ready for him when you come in the door with him. Make sure your children don't pounce on him but give your new dog a chance to get to know the family. Belgians are not usually timid, but you want to make sure his initial surroundings are calm so that he doesn't become fearful.
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