*  Keep things quiet around the house for a while.  Sometimes there is just too much excitement going on and it's can be upsetting.  Some puppies aren't bothered by this at all, but that's not always the case.

*  Introduce other pets under quiet, controlled circumstances.  If need be, keep the puppy in a crate and let the older dogs smell them through the crate.  They can introduce themselves to each other with the safety of the crate between them.

*  Don't take your puppy to public places.  Not only is this a health hazard, but it's also too much excitement, too many smells, and even too much uncertainty for them.  Let your puppy just get used to being with you for a while.

*  Keep them on the food they were fed at the breeder's for about a week.  Changing food can be stressful and a rapid change can cause upset.  If you do decide to change to another good quality puppy food, do it gradually so that the puppy's system haas time to adjust to the new food.

*  Introduce new things one at a time.  Don't throw it all at the puppy at once.  Again, it could be too much for the senses.  Give the puppy a small part of the new home to explore and gradually broaden it out as the puppy becomes more comfortable and gets better with housebreaking.

*  No.  Not all puppies will develop these problems.  They may have some and not others.   And a few will show no signs of stress.  It's still a good idea to follow these suggestions to insure a good transition from our place to your's.  After all, all of us want you to have the best possible outcome when buying a new puppy.

*  Also, a puppy may become quiet or seem intimated.  This is also a normal response to a stressful situation.  This is why it's good to keep things quiet for a few days and allow the puppy to adjust to their new surroundings.  Do not cater to the fear, but encourage the puppy to come out and explore their new world.  Usually, it doesn't take long.

*  A normal puppy under normal stressful situations can have a loose stool.  If the puppy is otherwise acting normally (eating and playing normally), this is probably not a cause for concern.  However, if your puppy is lethargic, has a loss of appetite or is less playful than before and also has a watery, foul-smelling stool, it's time to see the vet.  When puppies are stress, the parasites can get ahold of them and cause all kinds of problems.   But with proper, and prompt treatment, this doesn't need to be anything other than a momentary set-back.

*  In the small breeds, a loss of appetite can be a serious thing.  Puppies can become hypoglycemic (low blood sugar).  It's always good to have some form of sweetener on hand for this.  Nutri-Cal (high calorie food supplement for dogs), maple syrup, even honey can help (do not use any corn syrup based product due to possible allergies).  Just a small amount offered to the puppy can help get that blood sugar back up.  Most puppies are active and a puppy that is not alert could have a low blood sugar problem developing.  Usually a puppy will outgrow this, but it is common in small breeds and a little bit of awareness and prevention can help you avoid disaster.

*  Some of the more common signs of stress in puppies are a loss of appetite, loose stool, and sometimes unusually quiet behavior.  Puppies can become stressed over anything new in their lives.  A new home, new people, new animals, new food, weaning from mom--any change in their environment.  Stress is most common in puppies, or adults that have been traumatized in some way (Hurricane Katrina survivors showed tremendous stress).  And the result of stress, especially in puppies, is a lowering of the immune system.  When that happens, puppies (and adults) can become vulnerable to infections and parasites.  These nasty things are opportunists and will take full advantage of an animal if their immune system is not strong.  The animal counts on that system to keep the parasites in check.  Puppies have an immature immune system which also leaves them vulnerable to those same problems.   Because of that, there are things we do here as breeders, but there are also things you can do as the new owner.  A little preventative goes a long way.  That, and awareness of what is normal for your dog.