First, check out our recommend reading page and start reading all you can about raising a puppy.

Next: take a good look around your home to see the potential hazards to an inquisitive puppy.

Consider toxins such as household plants and cleaning supplies and make sure you are keeping them out of reach. Will you need to use baby gates to block off access to stairs to prevent falls and to limit access to rooms that are not “puppy safe”?   Will you need to screen off the fireplace?  If you have young children, are the small toys within reach of puppy that could cause harm if swallowed?
 

Don’t wait until the last minute to start collecting the things you need for puppy.

Pre-puppy preparations fall into three categories:

Supplies and equipment 

Crates, beds, exercise pens, toys, bowls, collar, leash, shampoo, grooming tools, cleansers…………there are so many things you are going to need.  Make sure you get an identification tag and put it on your puppy as soon as you bring him home.
 

Service providers

Who will be your vet, groomer, trainer, pet sitter, dog walker?   Start researching what’s available in your area so you will be ready.
House rules and routines.

Some things to consider...

Where will your puppy sleep?

We highly recommend crate training.   In our modern society, even if we are home, other things distract us from the attention an uncrated puppy must have. The only real solution is to crate the dog when you aren’t around. The dog may be happier in its den than loose in the house. It relaxes, it feels safe in its den. It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving itself.
 

Will she be allowed on the furniture?

Make a decision from the start and stick to it.  If the puppy is not going to be allowed on furniture, then everyone in the house needs to stick to that rule.  It is very confusing and stressful to a young puppy to be told No sometimes and other times it’s ok.  Have a family meeting before you pick up your puppy so everyone knows the rules about pets on furniture- including beds.
If puppy is allowed on the furniture, do not leave her there unattended.  Puppies can hurt themselves jumping from high places at such a young age.
 

Where will she be during the day?

If she is going to be alone for more than a couple of hours, she will need a place that is secure but has access to a pee pad or litter box in case she needs to relieve herself.  Do you have a laundry or mud room?  Can you partition off part of the kitchen?  Will you use an exercise pen?  These are the types of things you need to be thinking about.
 

What games will she be allowed to play?

Playing tug of way with your shirt sleeve may not be the best kind of play.  But, teaching a tugging game with the appropriate toys is lots of fun.  Set you rules and boundaries from the start.
 

Who will feed her; when, and what?

Dog typically bond closer with the one that feeds them.  Perhaps you should take turns.
 

Who will train her, how, and for what?

How will you correct her for making mistakes?

Throw A Puppy Shower

If you have young children, a great way to have some fun and collect the things you need is to throw a puppy shower.