One of the decisions you will have to make is what kind of food your new puppy will eat. Puppies just like people need a balanced diet.  Don’t buy puppy food because the advertisements say that pets deserve gourmet food.  Your new puppy won’t be sitting at the table with a bib around his neck, at least I hope not A simple bag of puppy formula food will do.

Dry food is recommended for puppies and when we get to house breaking your puppy you will understand why. The brand that you choose is based on nutritious ingredients.  Buying the generic doggie kibble is not always the best choice.  If you need help, ask your vet for suggestions. Most vets will suggest something they sell in their offices, buyer beware rules apply here.

Bowls for water and food are needed for feedings.  One set will do and they don’t have to be fancy, just durable.  Place them in the area where puppy will regularly chow down on his meals. This is good basic puppy training technique.
You little guy will also need somewhere to sleep.  It may be cute the first few weeks to have puppy in the bed with you, but that will get real old real quick.  Puppy can toss and turn as he likes in his own bed.  Puppy may go through several beds before it’s all said and done so spending a lot on the first one is not advised.

A crate is where puppy will stay when traveling and when he needs to stay in one area of the house.  The crate should allow for growth but not be so large that puppy is scared of it.  Later, we will show puppy how to make nice with his second home. Crate training your puppy will be worth the effort

When you puppy needs to go outdoors, he will need to wear a leash.  Leashes come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.  Puppy’s leash should allow room for growth.  It just needs to keep him from getting away, not necessarily make a fashion statement.  Besides most puppies will probably chew on his leash the first few times you put it on him anyway, so spending a fortune on one, is not always a good choice.
To satisfy his chewing habits, give your puppy some chew toys.  Ones made for dogs are safer than giving him a real bone to gnaw on.  Pieces of the bone could chip off and cause a choking hazard for puppy.  Chew toys like bouncing balls could pose a choking hazard as well if they are smaller than puppy’s jaws.  So, be conscious about puppies play toys to make them fun, but more importantly, safe for puppy. Remember this, all puppies chew on anything they can get their teeth on, so provide him with lots of options and make sure he understands early on the house rules of chewing. For instance giving him a rawhide shoe to chew on, just told him its ok to chew shoes, even your expensive Gucci High Heels , Use discretion on items he is allowed to chew on

Puppies need a lot of attention, love and care.  He incurs expenses even before his arrival.  To make sure that your puppy’s first day with you is an enjoyable one for everyone involved, stock up on everything that he needs before bringing him home.

There is a reason you see pet shops in malls and strip shopping centers. These outlets are structured to take advantage of you emotions and try to prompt a impulse buy. While that may be good for the store owner and I might add the cute puppy at hand, it may not serve you best in the long run.
Pet shops are usually supplied by puppy mills. Puppy mills are interested solely in making money and have no regard for the puppies they supply or the well being of the animal. As long as it has four paws and a heart beat then they can make money. In some cases, they are ignorant of any knowledge about the dogs they breed.  The frequency in which they breed their dogs can sometimes make for very unhealthy puppies. This could spell doom for your puppy if he is predisposed to any life-threatening diseases.

One place to consider purchasing your puppy from is a dog breeder.  Reputable breeders make a point of giving their dogs the utmost care. Most not only care for their puppies, they give them love and attention they need Confirm with the breeder that vaccinations and other preventive care measures have been taken and that puppy has papers.  Papers certify his breed as what the breeder claims him to be, although a puppy neeed not be a pure bred to make a great pet. I will go so far as to say , some of the best dogs I have ever known were not pure bred. You can find breeders through referrals from friends and family.  If they are happy with the puppy they have, many will happily recommend their breeder to you.  The breeder may not carry the breed of puppy you are looking for, but they, in turn, can recommend the appropriate puppy breeder or a purebred rescue group looking for owners,

Local Humane Societies offer another option. Many puppies end up at humane societies because their previous owner didn’t take their decision to have a pet seriously.  Many times it’s something as simple as the previous owner got sick and could no longer care for the animal properly, but otherwise the animal is healthy and was well cared for and loved prior being taken to the humane society. The humane society shelters puppies that are waiting for you to give them a good home.  You may even find a purebred amongst the group.  Still choose carefully. Ask lots of questions and beware almost any puppy locked up in a small cage will look like the puupy of your dreams. Been there , done that.

Knowing where to buy a puppy is as important as what breed of puppy to buy.  Take advice from trusted friends about reputable breeders.  If in doubt, visit the humane society or dog rescue groups.  They will be glad to help in your search for the perfect puppy companion

If you are an active, gregarious person, you’ll want a puppy who is the same way. Most people make this choice quite naturally Choosing a breed of dog that is, for lack of a better word, lazy or likes to stay in the house , laying around watching TV would be a mismatched decision.  A few good choices for an active person are breeds like Golden Retrievers or Labs These breeds of dog are loyal, like to run, and are friendly around other people. My retriever loves people, frankly he loves anything that moves, but that is what makes him fun

If your looking for a family friendly puppy, you may not want to start out with a large breed puppy if you have small children.  Large dogs can unintentionally injure children during play.  If the dog is territorial, like an Akita or a German Shepherd, they may make good guard dogs for your family, but will more than likely not be the best play companions for younger children.
Small breed puppies are more compatible with children and small living spaces.  They remain indoor dogs for the most part and as long as they get lots of love, attention and exercise, these smaller puppies do well.  Choose a breed like Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, or Beagle,. They love the attention they get from people and are overall friendly companions. These breeds give the name lapdog a new meaning as they constantly seek and need attention

Many people want a puppy buddy, but don’t have the time or don’t want a puppy that will require lots of upkeep. Most dogs shed to some degree.  If you or someone in your house has allergies to pet dander a longhaired dog is probably not a good choice.  The puppy for you will have short or smooth body hair that only sheds less which will leave your home cleaner.  If you want a long-haired breed of puppy, be prepared for vacuuming often, maybe even every day in order to keep the hair under control.

You’ll also want to determine the sex of your new puppy.  While in most breeds, the male is more aggressive; this is not true of all breeds.  Males are thought to be more protective of the home and females as well as children, but both genders can have these characteristics.  The gender of your puppy is a choice that is up to you..

Finally, when choosing a new puppy make sure you think the process through and not jump at the first cute face you see. Making a hasty decision you spell disater for you and your new puppy. So take your time and choose wisely