The business of being a new puppy owner is quite a serious one. Before you even go to the breeder to pick up your new pup you should sit down and make a list of questions about the puppies care. The list will look something like this:

What is the pup currently being fed and how often? when was the last time the pup was wormed? has the pup had any flea treatment eg: frontline? is the pup on any heartworm prevention yet? has the pup got his/her vaccination certificate?

Once you are armed with the list you should go shopping for the basic essentials like bowls, soft collar and lead, grooming tools including brush, comb, nail clippers, dog shampoo and a CRATE.

Most new puppy owners are not clued in about the crate. A crate is usually a steel mesh enclosure, sometimes powdercoated, designed especially for dogs.The crate should have wide mesh (not fine like bird mesh), have six sides to prevent escape and usually has a door in one end and a plastic tray in the bottom. You should also have a bowl of clean water available AT ALL TIMES. You can actually get bowls that clip to the side of the crate so as not to spill.

These crates are widely used by breeders and show people to contain dogs for their own well-being and safety. Training a puppy from the word go to adopt the crate as a safe-haven is one of the main advantages you can gain in the house-training process. Your pup ideally should be 8 weeks old when you get him home and the crate provides the pup with an area that is all his. He will feel safe and comfortable in there once he is used to it - which can take only a short time, sometimes only a day or two.

The idea is to only put the pup in the crate when you are not able to supervise him. This is usually at night, where the crate can be placed next to your bed so you can comfort him if he cries. Most pups will not cry if they are next to your bed and can hear you breathing. Some people like to lock the puppy in a room like the laundry or outside, I feel this is unkind and distressing for the pup. The pup wants to be near you at all times and pups do suffer from separation anxiety. Just like a very young child. Would you put your baby in the laundry and shut the door for the night? I hope not. The crate enables you to keep the pup near but without risk of an accident or having your Manolo Blahniks chewed. During the day you should only have the pup in the crate if you are unable to tend to him. Like a playpen for a child - the crate is an aid to training and safety - NOT A CAGE from which there is no respite. When the pup is older, the door can be left open and he will use this as a bed and refuge from the world IF he has been trained properly and not confined to the point of cruelty. As soon as puppy wakes, drinks, eats or plays he will need to toilet. He will not want to dirty in his crate unless he is desperate. So by using his own instincts you can have him more or less house broken in a week or so. If you work an 8 hour day then a crate IS NOT the place to confine the pup while you work. The crate should ONLY be used for short periods through the day, a couple of hours at the most in any one day. Night is different because the pup will naturally sleep at this time and will not be distressed to be in a crate for this period. (normally from about 10.00pm to 6.00am is fine) Sometimes, especially while he is young, you may need to take him out to toilet through the night. Don't play or feed him at this time, just go straight to his toilet area and once he has relieved himself take him straight back without too much fuss.

The dedicated breeder is the only type of breeder you should be picking a puppy up from. Dedication is displayed in a few ways: the pups are clean, shiny, bright eyed, not too thin, not too fat, happy, curious, comfortable being held or patted and their run is clean, has fresh water and shade etc. The parents of the pups or at least the mother should be available to view, and be healthy and cared for although after raising her litter she may be a little on the slim side and her coat will not look its best. It is obvious to see a breeder who cares for and loves their dogs as opposed to a breeder with dozens and dozens of dogs who is often breeding for the money rather than the enjoyment. Dedicated breeders are sometimes breeders who show their dogs but not always. The most important feature of a breeder is one who will spend some time with you to help you with all the information you need to make your new puppy feel safe, loved and cared for and make you feel confident with your new baby.

YOU SHOULD START AS YOU INTEND TO GO ON. This saying is very important in raising a puppy. If you let a pup do something when he is little then you must expect that the behaviour will continue into adulthood. So if you don't want your dog to chew your shoes then don't let your puppy chew them.

Don't EVER hit your dog. There is no reason to use hitting as a punishment. This type of behaviour from you will cause your dog to become mistrusting of you. Dogs don't hit each other. They don't understand hitting. If you need to discipline your puppy, all that is needed is a deep stern NO and try and show the pup what you wish him to do. For example: if the pup is eating your shoe, remove the shoe from the pup with a deep stern NO and quickly replace the shoe with a toy belonging to the pup. When he starts to chew the toy, PRAISE HIM. (have his toy ready before you take your shoe). If the puppy starts to make pee on the floor, immediately say no, pick up the pup and take him to his outside spot and repeat your word for toilet (key word) eg: hurry up or potty or bingo - whatever, as long as the word is only for the toilet process. Obviously if you work in a Bingo hall and take your dog to work you wouldn't use the word 'bingo'.

Never EVER put your pups face into his mistake. This is just stupid. The pup will have no idea why you are doing that and he will be afraid of you because you are crazy.

If you want a dog who is happy to travel in the car allot, then start by taking the pup for lots of rides in the car when very young. Your puppy should have lots of socializing before the 12 week mark. This can be tricky due to the pup not being fully vaccinated, but it has to be done as after 12 weeks the pups personality is fairly set. If he hasn't been well socialised by this age he may always be nervous in certain situations he hasn't encountered during this time. The best thing is to ask your local Vet or dog training club if they run 'Puppy Pre-School'. This is usually for pups of about 8 weeks who have had their first vaccine and need to be socialized with other dogs and people. If you cant go to puppy school then just take the pup with you out to pick up the kids, visit friends or just sit outside a busy shop and let people pat the pup. The only thing you have to be really careful about is making sure no other dogs frighten or injure your pup. Don't take the pup to a public park where strays or unvaccinated dogs may have been.

The more time, training and love you give to your puppy, the more you will enjoy owning your adult dog. Dogs are not people but they do have many similar emotions to ours. But they also have some instincts. Dogs are pack animals and you are the new pack. Your dog will look to you for leadership if he is well disciplined and loved. If your puppy grows up being treated like a human child and not taught his place in the hierarchy, then the grown dog will not respect you and may even become a nuisance, or worse still may bite. Even little dogs need you to be the leader, the boss, the one who they look up to. This is easily achieved with consistent,firm but fair and loving treatment of the pup. Don't make the mistake of letting the puppy get away with something until it makes you loose your temper. Angry people are rarely fair and never consistent. If you let your dog jump on you, lick your face, growl if you go near his food or sleep on your chair or bed, then this is putting the dog equal to you in his eyes. These things show a lack of respect. Sometimes you can get away with allowing some of these behaviours (not the growling one) - it depends on the breed of dog. What you might get away with for a Cavalier, could be a very different story with a Rottweiler. A Rotty with no respect is a dangerous dog waiting to happen.

Above all remember that the little pup you bring home today is going to be around for quite a few years, sometimes up to 16. If you don't think you can go the distance then DONT BUY THE PUP. How heartbreaking for dogs who grow to love their family and then find themselves with a new strange family or worse IN A POUND. Imagine giving your 8 year old child up for adoption! If in doubt - don't.