Your Briarlea Bouvier puppy has been selectively bred for superior intelligence and a highly trainable disposition. The combination of good socialization as a baby, loving care, and proper correction and training can result in a dog that is capable of going far beyond the "family pet". It produces the ideal intelligent companion that becomes a significant part of your lives for many years to come.
It is no accident that Bouviers are in demand as police investigative dogs, drug detection, customs, and search and rescue dogs. They are also being trained and used extensively as "service dogs" and "therapy dogs". And they make great dogs for doing obedience, agility and rally. But, more importantly to most of us, this breed is unsurpassed as an intelligent, loyal companion and family watchdog.
I am confident that, with a little conscientious effort, your new puppy will bring you many years of enjoyment and companionship. The more time your puppy can spend with you, the happier, calmer, and better behaved he will be ... even at a very young age. Talk to your puppy, raise him as you would a young child ... with love, kindness, consistency, and firmness when needed. If you do, you will see him attain that level of devotion and intelligence that exemplifies Bouvier des Flandres. Just like with children, training with positive reinforcement will accomplish much more than negative reprimands, and will be more pleasant. You are in control, so set up situations to allow your puppy to do the right thing, and avoid situations and conditions that will likely produce failures.
Your puppy will be adjusting to his new home for the first several days. Be patient and gentle if he is timid at first. He needs to get to know you and trust you and feel secure in his new home. Resist the temptation to have a 'puppy party' for the first week or so until he is secure with you. Be tolerant and understanding if he cries the first night or two ... he is simply feeling lonely. He will be happiest when he is near you. Remember, he's just been taken from his mother, siblings and familiar people and environment. Avoid excessive isolation, even with an older puppy or adult dog. Some time alone is good, and it's important for him to learn to accept being alone and trust that you will come back. But an ignored Bouvier may very well become destructive, simply out of boredom and unhappiness.
A young puppy, like a baby, takes lots of naps during the day. Let him sleep when he needs to and prevent young children from over-handling him for a while. Also, make sure to protect him from other animals in the family, who may be either over-friendly or under-friendly to the new arrival! His own crate is an ideal solution, both for giving the puppy a safe haven of his own as well as expediting the housebreaking process.
Although I hope that your puppy will happily live out his entire life span with you, circumstances sometimes arise where you must find another home for him. If this should ever occur, I ask that you call me first as I may have a home just waiting for a dog like yours. I do not ever want to see any of my puppies, young or old, left at a humane society shelter, nor dumped somewhere in the country, nor put into an unsuitable environment or with some unwilling relative or neighbor.
