Bringing Baby Home

Before you bring the little bundle of joy home "puppy proof" your home. Harmful cleansers, plants, electrical cords, and breakable objects should be kept out of reach. (I speak from experience when I say protect all the computer cords.) There should be no dangling electric cords, loose nails, plastic bags or other tempting objects that will be in puppy's reach. If there are, be sure to put them away immediately. Keep buttons, string, sewing needles, pins and other sharp objects out of your puppy's reach.

Do your shopping in advance. You'll need a collar and leash, a crate (a great aid in housebreaking - more on that later), brush or hand mitt for grooming, toys that will be safe for the puppy, a bed for the puppy, and non-tippable, easy-to-clean food and water bowls.

When your puppy comes to your house, everything is new, different, and possibly frightening for the puppy. Introduce new experiences slowly, do not overwhelm your puppy, and do not rush your puppy into accepting its new life all at once. A special place should be designated for it to eat, sleep, and eliminate. A crate also keeps your pup safe and gives him a place all his own. A crate is a combined sleeping area, housebreaker, and preventer of bad habits and it's one of the best investments you'll ever make for your puppy. To make the crate a friendly place, appropriate chews and toys (choose carefully and consult your veterinarian) can be placed within it and the puppy can be fed inside of it. This also provides for their need to chew and helps eliminate boredom. Puppies should only be left in their crates for short periods initially, so that they learn that they will not be confined in them permanently.

According to Purina's website, the following should be taken into consideration when chosing toys for your new puppy.
Your puppy's Toy Chest should be free from the following items:
Sponge toys or items with hard, sharp points or attachments, such as squeakers, which can break off and be dangerous if swallowed.
Shoes or other personal clothing. Giving your puppy these items will only teach him that it's okay to chew your shoes and rip holes in your shirts.
Balls of string, yarn, cellophane, twist ties, plastic baggies and other household goods that could get lodged in your puppy's throat causing him to choke or suffocate.
Children's toys made of soft rubber, fur, wool, sponge or plastic. If your puppy swallows a small particle of any of these materials, it could cause digestive problems.