New Puppy

So your getting a new puppy...and now what? There's a lot of information out there so I've decided to provide a brief breakdown of the process of getting a new dog/puppy. I'm going to use the term 'puppy' to mean either puppy or dog as this will help out anyone bringing a new 4 legged canine into their forever home.

Before you get the puppy...
Research your sources. Are you wanting to adopt a dog? Get a puppy from a breeder? There's no right or wrong way to acquire a pet, just
whatever way you do make sure you are doing your research.
Adopting...
If you are adopting, please ensure the puppy/dog has had all their vet work done(spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip, flea/tick preventative, heartworm test and treatment if necessary and then put on preventative). Most adoption groups charge around $200.00 for their 'adoption fee' and all vet work is included.
Puppy from a breeder...
If you are going to a breeder...Are the parents on site? Does the breeder have a contract saying they will take the dog back if you can no longer care for it? Are the parents tested for any genetic diseases that the breed may carry? Has the puppy had a vaccination/de-worming protocol? How old is the puppy? It is illegal in the state of Indiana to sell a puppy before the age of 8 weeks, it's also not in the puppies best interest either even if they are 'weaned'.
Overall...
There's many behavioral and social skills a puppy acquires with mom and littermates right up until the age of 8 weeks, so I know your excited but you'll thank yourself later. Now, as always there are exceptions to every rule and maybe mom no longer cared for them or became ill. These are extenuating circumstances where it really is in puppy's best interest to be taken away early. In that case, you and puppy will be a lot happier if they are enrolled in puppy classes as soon as they hit the age of 8-10 weeks so they can gain some of those very important social and behavioral skills that make dogs dogs and we don't end up with a dog that doesn't like other dogs or doesn't know how to communicate with their own species! Now, I know your waiting to go shopping for puppy so I'll provide a nice puppy checklist for you so you don't forget anything before Fido comes home!
Puppy Supplies
Puppy Food
*Blue Buffalo Puppy
*Authority Puppy.
These are my top 2 choices as I've had great success with both.
Chew toys...lots of variety
*Nylabones
*JW Bones
*Kong
*Everlasting Treat Balls
*Premier Busy Buddy Toys
*Hard femur/knuckle bones(under supervision of course!)
Collar
Leash
Accident clean up solution (Natures Miracle or something similar).
Bowls
Treats (small ones for training)!
Puppy Potty Pads(if you choose to use this route).
Crate
ID Tag
Grooming supplies (brush/comb for long haired breeds, nail clippers, shampoo)
Poop bags
Bedding...Now I go for old towels because puppies like to eat beds...
Vaccination Protocol
This is an approximate schedule, always defer to your veterinarian if it differs.
6-8wks...DHP
8-10wks...DHP & Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
10-12wks...DHLP
12-16wks...DHLP, Rabies
*Puppies must be up-to-date for their age to start class, as they will only be around other vaccinated dogs in a clean and sanitized environment that are also up-to-date for their age.

The First Few Days...
The excitement is very real! You went, signed all the paperwork and are bringing that bundle of joy home. It could be an adopted dog from the shelter or an 8 week old puppy from a breeder either way it's a new 4 legged addition to the family! All your supplies for puppy are at home and he's on his car ride. I recommend bringing a carrier or at least another person with you to help with any issues (car sickness anyone?) that may come up while your driving. Don't forget puppies collar and leash too so she/he can safely use the restroom if necessary! We'll go over a lot of the potty training, crate training, and other puppy issues that crop up in puppy class, so never fear your on your way to having a good dog! Determine where puppy will sleep...with you? In a crate? Think about socialization and puppy should be seeing 100 new people and 100 new dogs in the first 100 days of life so that's the main reason puppy classes are so important to a puppies development! Yes, training is important too but you can't get that socialization period back (birth-16weeks). You an only see it's effects when it's too late and then we have a dog that's got some behavioral issues. Starting the puppy on a good socialization program is no less important than a good vaccination program as your simply protecting them from behavioral issues later on due to lack of socialization (aggression, issues with other dogs, men with hats on, people, etc) no different that your protecting them from diseases with vaccinations! Congrats on the new addition and I'll be here to help you every step of the way as puppy grows into an adolescent and then into an adult! I'll also be here to help you through the frustrating times too, lend an ear and tell you everything will be okay!