>> oh, somebody -- >> reporter: well, sort of. all the excitement was a bit too much for sheba, the puppies' mother, but her babies, now 5 1/2 months, were thrilled. >> does she know any tricks yet? >> she doesn't know she's doing it, but she does shake hands. >> reporter: in long beach, new york, sergeant caba's baby seems right at home after the first night. how'd she do overnight? >> she did well. she's a howler, so that was something we weren't expecting. >> reporter: during our interview, she was easily distracted by all the new sights and sounds. [ barking ] thinks she's still in afghanistan. for sergeant caba and the rest of his unit, these dogs managed to give them a bit of normalcy far from home. >> she has offered so much companionship, you know? just to see someone excited to see me when we were back there, her butt shaking and her tongue out it was fantastic, it was, and it means the world.