Recently I joined an online group to participate in a "holiday" of sorts, known as Positive Monday. The premise behind it is for one day only, you'll focus on the positive - no griping, whining, or feeling sorry for yourself - just smile, spread the joy, and think about the positive things in your life!  I thought that it's a great idea; I know i have a lot that I can be positive about!  Even when focusing on the positive tings in life - I'm not one who is prone to over emotional "Disney moments", but every once in a while (as the focus of this holiday), they are good for the soul.  So grab a tissue and hang on, or feel free to skip my soap box.

For those of you who know me well, the first 2 years or so with Igo had been a bit of rough go.  In March of 2011 I was shipped the BEST Malinois, or dog for that matter, that anyone could ask for.  From the very beginning Vyper was special - and I bonded to him harder than I ever thought I could.  He was the PERFECT dog for Schutzhund, Agility, Obedience, Dock Diving - anything I could imagine.  So when, at 9 months of age, we discovered he had bad hips I was devastated.  But thanks to an amazing breeder, and now a great friend, I was promised a new puppy to take his place.  It was bittersweet, but I was still excited.  

In July of 2012, my new puppy was ready to come home, but it was too hot for him to fly.  That wouldn't delay his arrival though, it's never too hot to road trip across five states to pick out a puppy!  So despite driving 22 hours in a 48 hour period, it was a blast; and after two sessions of puppy selection tests, I had narrowed my choices down to one of two little 8 week old male maligators.  They tested the same, the only difference between the two was that they came from two different litters.  Naturally, I chose the pup who shared Vyper's dad - I wanted another Vyper.  So now that I'd made my decision, I had to name the little monster - out of the "I" litter, he would be called "Inigo vom Logan Haus", "Igo" for short.  I had high hopes for my little monster, and no sooner did we get home, then training began!  

It didn't take long for me to see, that another Vyper - he was not.  He was healthy, strong, good looking, and full of drive - a picture perfect Malinois puppy - but he wasn't Vyper, and I had a really hard time accepting him because of it.  Where Vyper was focused, Igo was not.  Where Vyper was driven to work with me, Igo was not.  Where Vyper was quick, and eager to learn, Igo most definitely was not.  Vyper was uncanny in his ability to learn new things with minimal training (it was a continual joke, that I left training articles in his kennel at night for him to read and learn while he was put away), Igo quickly learned some rather choice nicknames thanks to his apparent lack of aptitude (it wasn't uncommon for him to show a behavior very well in one training session, only to act completely dumbfounded by the same behavior in the very next session).  If it could be possible for a dog could have a learning disability - there were times that I would say Igo had one.  

It wasn't just in training that Igo was a challenge.  On a daily basis, Igo drove me crazy.  "Watch your face, he headbutts" is something all of my friends have heard as we struggled with his social skills when greeting people.  He was overly exuberant in everything he did - my family wanted nothing to do with him, and I felt I needed people to sign a waiver before letting him interact with them.  There was never any ill intent in anything he did, but he was like a bull in a china shop - he even accidentally broke my nose one time after training!  

Thus he grew, in the shadow of his brother, doing everything in his own way, and driving me crazy in the process.  As 2 years old quickly approached, it became harder and harder not to compare him to Vyper - who at that age already had his BH, was showing in Agility and had titled in CPE Agility, and was competing and titled in Dock Diving.  As best we could, Igo and I kept working and trucking along.  We trained 3 times a week with our local IPO Club (Riverfront Working Dog Club), we trained 2-3 times a week in Agility, and (weather permitting) we trained 2-3 times a week at the lake for Dock Diving.  I wasn't sure if we would ever be ready, but I had to give competition a try - after all, Vyper was a seasoned competitor at this age, and I was chomping at the bit.

In February of 2014, I entered him in the Dock Dogs competition at the Progressive St. Louis Boat and Sport Show.  We tried for 3 days, without success, to get him to jump off of the dock.  He loved to swim (I'd introduced him to the lake when he was 8 weeks old) and he loved to chase toys out into the water - but ask him to jump off a dock?  Surely there was molten lava down below!

Barn hunt, on the other hand, came naturally to him - he's a feisty red tornado, and who doesn't want to try and kill a rat?!  He qualified in one of his 2 attempts and received a leg (out of three needed) to earn his Novice title.

In May of 2014 we entered our first CPE Agility trial.  I entered him in a trial hosted by a local club, whose members I knew, to take some of the pressure off of me.  I purposely chose our first venue at an indoor soccer park - that way he couldn't get out of the solid walls surrounding the ring - unless of course you fine the ONE exit in the entire place.  Our first attempt at an agility trial was almost an un-salvageable disaster.  Thank god Taco and Vyper decided to have great days, so I looked like I did in fact belong in the ring as a competitor.  But for Igo, clearly we didn't remember what Agility was.      

Needless to say, I was a bit discouraged.  Of all my dogs, not one of them was quite like my Igo.  He was a knucklehead, a bull, a total goof, and really hard for me to get along with.  I needed a break - and he needed someone more understanding to his quirks and motivations - together, we both needed to grow. 

And then, seemingly overnight, things started to change.  I don't know why, or what caused it - maybe there was a part of me that realized that I needed to try harder with him, to love him more, and accept him no matter what; maybe there was a part of him that realized I needed a team mate and not a sparring partner.

On a whim, I entered him in Gateway Dock Dogs Camp Bow Wow Splash for Rescues Dock Dogs competition, held at Eckert's Orchard in Belleville, IL.  It was a pretty crowded venue, lots of people and dogs (competitors, adoptable pets, volunteers, spectators, and press).  There were a lot of choices for Igo to make - and he chose to shine.  Waiting in line we practiced obedience - he worked like a pro despite the distractions.  Off leash on the dock, he was all work and ready to go - his first Big Air jumps were a respectable 11'6" and 12'3", ranking him overall 8th place in the Junior division for the weekend - not bad for a dog who wouldn't even jump off of the dock just a few weeks before.  In Extreme Vertical, he really made me proud.  I introduced him to the sport 6 days prior - so on a new dock, with lots of distractions, he didn't perform as well as he had in practice - but I have no complaints, and couldn't be more proud.  He started the competition at 5' and had no trouble grabbing 5'2", 5'4", 5'6" and 5'8" - he missed 5'10", but it was close enough to set the bumper swaying while he fell empty mouthed.  His effort though was good enough to land him 2nd Place over all for Extreme Vertical.

We continued to Dock Dive throughout the summer and into the fall.  He attended various outdoor competitions and really started to find his groove on the dock.  By the end of the season, he had earned his Senior Division Big Air Title and achieved a personal best jump of 19'7".  In Extreme Vertical he surpassed 6' of height.  He figured out Speed Retrieve on his first try, and in one competition he even had an improvement of one whole second between his first and second attempt!  He competed as an Iron Dog (meaning he competed in Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve all in one competition) and even took Third Place overall.

He continued his forward movement in Barn Hunt, finishing off his Novice Title and earning 2 out of 3 legs towards his Open title, and even adding a few "High In Trial" recognition ribbons to his achievements.
  
His successes in Dock Diving and Barn Hunt were very encouraging for the both of us; but it was his Agility and his Obedience that we really noteworthy accomplishments.  Each good run, and even some of his bad runs, made me appreciate him all the more - silly quirks and all! 

We decided to enter out second Agility trial in October.  While he was still his goofball, puppy self, there was so much more dog than I had just six months before.   The few mistakes he made were sheer lack of experience , but mistakes or not - he was really with me, and trying his best!  We qualified in two of our four runs that day, and gained a great experience in the ring.  November brought another Agility trial, and three out of four qualifying runs, as well as a new title, were earned that day.  He worked harder than I could have asked for, and I was prouder than ever at my special, silly guy.  

Finally, December rolled around, and Riverfront Working Dog Club was having our annual Fall trial. This is something that the boys and I work hard all year for - it was going to be Igo's debut into the world of IPO competition.  It was exciting and nerve wracking all at once - an almost 10 minute obedience routine, both on and off leash, with another dog and a few people on the field, and no rewards -  but we both kept it together, we worked our butts off, and together we earned his BH title!  

2014 with Igo was better than I ever imagined.  He taught me why it can be detrimental to compare one dog to another, he taught me to be a better dog trainer, but most importantly he showed me what a wonderful boy he can be, as long as I give him the chance.  

Here's to you buddy - thanks for shining through and clearing out the stars in my eyes!   

Two are better than one!
Not!  I hear it all the time, what's one more puppy?  They can grow up together, keep each other busy, wear each other out...The list goes on and on.  Unfortunately, no one mentions that two puppies are really just double the trouble!  BOTH will need training, BOTH have no bladder control, BOTH of them need exercise and mental (not just physical) stimulation, and mischief making is more fun when you have a friend to join you.  Not only can raising two puppies together be double the work, but it can sometimes lead to what many animal experts refer to as "Littermate Syndrome".  Puppies raised together can miss out a lot on the animal/human bond, so caught up in each other, they have no reason to bond with their human family.  Littermates raised together can have a greater chance of being fearful to new experiences later in life.  Having never spent time alone, littermates raised togethercan often show severe stress or anxiety when separated, even for a short period of time.  Here's a link to a wonderful article talking more in depth about this:

• Don't Take Two Littermates  
  

Puppy's Homecoming
Nothing can beat the excitement of a new puppy - unfortunately this isn't something the puppy necessarily understands.  Leaving it's mother, littermates, and the place it has called home for the first 8-12 weeks of a puppy's life can be a pretty overwhelming experience.  Don't add to the excitement by inviting every member of your extended family and your entire work place over to meet the new puppy.  Family members living in the home with the puppy, and maybe a close friend are plenty to wear a puppy out.  Keep things simple, and keep things quiet - give the puppy a few days at least to acclimate to it's new home and family.

Puppies need structure, they need a routine.  A big mistake many new puppy owners make is bringing home a puppy while they are off work for a period of time on vacation.  While this seems like a great way to shower the puppy with love and attention, it can create a bit of anxiety when this new routine changes and you go back to work.  Planning homecoming for the weekend is totally fine, but be sure to give the puppy a bit of alone time, and keep your sleeping habits close to your normal, so that the puppy isn't shocked when you go back to work.

Crate Training and Confinement
As your puppy grows, crates and exercise pens will be your best friend!  New puppies are inquisitive, they are active, think of them as mouths on legs - ingesting, chomping, and shredding anything in their path.  There is only so much "Puppy proofing" you can do to your house, having a plan for confinement will give you little bits of peace, whether you are home or away.  

Crates come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and design.  Petmate is one of my favorite brands.  When selecting a crate, it's important to select an appropriate size - your puppy should be able to comfortably stand, sit, and lie down without any constriction of its body.

Crate training is one of the hardest things for new pet parents to follow through with.  It's not uncommon for a new puppy, alone from its family for the first time, to scream and wail when expected to stay in a crate.  Whatever you do, don't give in, and don't feel sorry for your pup - you'll be glad you toughed it out!  Some things you can do to ease introduction to a new crate include:

• Be sure the crate is located in a high traffic area - like a living room, or in a bed room at night; that way the pup doesn't feel alone or secluded. 
• You can feed your pup at least one of his (multiple) meals in the crate - this will give a positive association to being in the crate.
• Offer a special toy - such as a stuffed Kong or another safe chewing toy (I'll talk more about some of these below) - that the puppy only has access to while in the crate.
• Wear the puppy out prior to putting him or her in the crate - a tired puppy is more likely to be grateful for, and relax in the peace and quiet of the crate.  

Potty Training
Potty training can go quickly, or slowly, depending on how diligent and dedicated you are to the process.  There are a variety of different ways to potty train, including a yard, potty pads, litter boxes, and more - there's one to fit everyone's needs and living situations.

Emptying a full bladder is a wonderful feeling for a puppy - they don't care where they empty it - it's up to us to show them what we expect!  Too much freedom too fast is a big downfall when starting potty training - your puppy isn't pottying in another room to be sneaky, he or she just wants to be clean, why would they potty in the same room we are all hanging out in?  Some things to keep in mind to ease the potty training process include:

• Putting your puppy on a feeding schedule - no free feeding!  If you know when he or she has eaten, you will know when he or she needs to go outside.
• Offer water with meals, after play time, or any other time the puppy is supervised.  Pick up water a few hours before bed time - this will help the puppy to be able to empty their bladder before going to sleep, and increasing the likelihood that they sleep all night.
• Take your pup out the same door each time.
• Take your pup outside after meals, after waking up, and after a rigorous play session.
• Praise and reward your pup for any successful potty excursions outside.
• Accidents discovered after the fact should be corrected by swatting yourself with a rolled up newspaper - you weren't watching your puppy closely enough!
• Be sure to clean any accidents well with a cleaner designed for animals, such as Nature's Miracle or the pet specific products from Simple Green.  

Socializing
Not all socializing is created equal!  Puppy socialization should be introducing your puppy to a variety of people, animals, places, and things to help it deal with the variety of things it will encounter throughout his or her life.  These experiences should be POSITIVE, and stress free for your puppy.  A big mistake of socialization made by new puppy owners is throwing their puppy in a variety of uncontrolled and potentially scary situations.  Socialization is only productive if the puppy leaves feeling good about the situation.  Some Socialization tips include:

• Enroll in a puppy class, or a structured "Puppy Play Group"
• Take your puppy to pet friendly places and let them meet new people
• Be sure to bring tasty treats along to your outings so you can reward your pup and make sure they have a positive experience
• Visit your veterinarian's office just to say hi and to socialize, without needing shots 
• Dr. Sophia Yin has a wonderful list for Socialization

Exercise - both Physical and Mental
A tired puppy is a well behaved puppy!  Let them run, romp, play and expend all that puppy energy - but keep in mind that they are growing, and don't force things like long hikes, running along side a bike, mile long walks, jumping and climbing over obstacles, etc.  Forced exercise can do more harm than good to growing puppies and their still forming bones and open growth plates.  You can wear them out mentally with basic obedience, as well as trick training.  You can also use puzzle toys and food dispensers such as Kong Wobblers, stuffed Kongs, and Buster Cubes.


Early Training
While it is possible to teach an old dog new tricks - it's never too early to start working with and training your new puppy!  Starting early allows you to mold your pup into the dog you'd like him or her to become, and it insures that you prevent any bad behaviors from becoming habits.  When deciding on which behaviors are appropriate and which behaviors aren't, I like to remind new pet owners to think "will I like this if/when my pup weighs 80lbs?"  If you accept a behavior now, it's very difficult to change the rules later on.  Some behaviors that are great to teach your new puppy include:

• Sit
• Down (as in lay down on the ground)
• Come when called
• Walking on a leash
• Leave-it
• No jumping
• No puppy mouthing/play biting

Too Much Training
While it's great to start training as soon as possible - it's important to make sure you allow some "down time" to allow the puppy to just be a puppy.  This doesn't mean that it's a free for all, and to allow the rules go out the window, but remember that your puppy is just a baby and he or she needs time to relax in addition to train.  This mistake is made more often with puppies purchased with an intended purpose, or "job" in mind.  Don't push your pup too far too fast, teach them good behaviors, teach them to have fun, teach them to love training, and let them grow up to be happy and well adjusted dogs.  

Happy Training - and enjoy your puppy!

Well, it's that time of year again, ice, snow, shorter days, and frigid temperatures.  Whether you have a dog with high or low energy, everyone suffers from less exercise, resulting in more behavior problems.  Sound familiar?  Don't give up hope!  There are things you can do to beat the weather, and maintain both you and your dog's sanity.

Obedience Training
In a class setting, reviewing behaviors from a previous class, or even self taught.  Obedience is a great way to work your dog's brain, as well as reinforce good habits, and to strengthen the bond between you and your dog.  Sit, Down, Stay, maintaining attention while distracted, Leave-it, you can even work on coming when called inside the house.  Be careful doing any running or other quick movements on tile, linoleum, laminate, or hardwood floor; slippery surfaces like these can lead to injury when dogs get over excited and try to run.  Carpeted areas, area rugs, runners, even foam tiles make a great, safe place to train.

Trick Training
Trick training is a wonderful way to engage your dog and wear them out mentally.  Tricks can be as simple, or as complex as you want them to be!  Do More With Your Dog has some great ideas for trick training, and even has a program where you can receive awards for the tricks you teach your dog.  

Indoor Games
Games can be a wonderful way to engage your dog, both physically and mentally, to strengthen your dog, and to prevent boredom.  Some great indoor games include:

• Hide and Seek - whether you hide a treat, a toy, or even hid yourself!  Your dog will love using their nose to find things!
• Tug of War - This is a wonderful game that not only strengthens hind leg muscles and core strength, it can also teach self control.  When playing tug with your dog, there should always be rules so the dog knows when he can and can't play tug - he should let the toy go on command, and never touch teeth to your skin (even on accident).
• Shaping Games - Using a clicker and high value treats, you can look for different offered behaviors to reward.  Dogs who frequently play shaping games love to try new things and experiment with what behaviors lead to a reward!

Want some more ideas?  Check out these books:

• Play with Your Dog by Pat Miller
• Play Together, Stay Together by Karen B. London and Patricia B. McConnell
• Super Fun Dog Games: Games for Dogs and Games to Play With Your Dog! by Dan White 

Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys can be a wonderful way to keep your dog occupied indoors when the weather is gloomy. It's been shown that interactive puzzle toys can have quite a few benefits for your pup!  They can exercise your dogs mind and body, prevent boredom and subsequent behavior problems, and help strengthen the relationship between you and your dog.  A few to check out include:

• Nina Ottosson 
• Dog Games

Kong Stuffing
While the Kong by itself may not be much entertainment for most dogs, use a bit of creativity to add something tasty, and you've got hours of entertainment for your dog!  Ideally you want to fill your Kongs with something healthy and enticing to your pup; I like to freeze mine before giving them to my dogs to increase the time it takes them to get all of the stuffing out!  Some great resources on recipes include:

• Fun Times With Dogs
• K9 Instinct Kong Recipes 
• KongStuffing.com
• ASPCA Kong Recipes
• LabMed Kong Recipes - This one even has a diagram!   

Enjoy - and keep those Bad Weather Blues away!

So you think you want a puppy!?

Really, who doesn't want a puppy?  They're cute, they're cuddly, they have puppy breath, the list goes on and on.  It isn't so much to consider do you want a puppy, but more so can you handle a puppy.  A puppy, or even a grown dog for that matter, is a living, breathing, dependent thing.  Some things to consider before diving in:

• Are you ready for a 10+ year commitment?  Depending on your breed of choice, some dogs can live a long and very involved life.  My first dog as an adult was a German Shepherd, she was active and in great shape, and lived to be 12 years old.  The dog I’d had growing up, who adopted my mom as his one and only, was an Australian Cattle Dog mix who lived to a ripe old age of 18 years!   
  
• Can you afford veterinary care? Both routine as well as the unexpected.  Puppies require a series of vaccines to boost their immunity to diseases and, depending on your veterinarian’s protocol, these vaccines tend to need boosters every few years or so.  There are a few health maintenance items, such as monthly heartworm, flea and tick, and intestinal parasite preventative that can’t be forgotten when planning for your puppy - and ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure can’t be stressed enough when it comes to some of the common parasites found in dogs. Spaying and neutering is a hot topic issue, one that is between you and your veterinarian, but it’s also a cost to consider when budgeting for your pup.  In addition to routine veterinary care, it’s also good to think about things that may not be planned - illness, injury, etc.  What about genetic defects?  I purchased a puppy from an amazing breeder - parents were health tested, well cared for, from exceptional bloodlines - I couldn't have asked for a better puppy; he was happy, smart, social, you name it!  It wasn't until he was nine months old that we discovered he had pretty severe hip dysplasia.  While we were lucky enough to be able to avoid surgery, his quality of life is maintained through daily supplements, exercise, physical therapy, 2 wonderful veterinarians, and monthly laser therapy - not something I would have ever considered when looking for a puppy.  
  
• Still have puppy fever?  What about food?  If there’s one thing that is certain when it comes to dog food, it’s that no two foods are created equal!  Should you get a food formulated specifically for puppies, or one designed for “all life stages”?  Kibble?  Canned food?  Raw food?  There are almost as many feeding options as there are individual dogs!  At the end of the day, you have to provide the best that you can, in a way that makes you feel comfortable.  Every year The Whole Dog Journal puts out a dog food review that is a great resource to help you select one that is right for your pet.  
  
• Don't forget training!  Great dogs are raised, not just born.  Look for someone using positive training methods, who helps you train your dog.  Avoid trainers using phrases such as “pack leader”, and “alpha dog”.
  

Ready to take the plunge - now what?  Research your breed - don't be influenced by Hollywood!  That calm and relaxed Jack Russell Terrier that you see on TV, his trainer is standing behind the camera cueing his behaviors.  Don’t be influence by looks alone, find a dog whose temperament matches your lifestyle.  Oh, and by the way - all dogs shed, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise,  The American Kennel Club’s website is a great start to finding out about the many different dog breeds that are out there - most of which have their own breed specific organization that can provide you with even more resources.  Animal Planet’s Dogs 101 is another wonderful resource to help you get to know which breed is right for you.  A lot of thought and planning went into me getting my first Malinois - I knew I wanted a high energy dog, I love dog sports, and I wanted a dog I could train and compete for everything.  I was well aware (and happy) that I would not be getting a couch potato.  Something else to consider when selecting your pup is where you are living - do you have a house?  A yard?  Do you own?  Or rent (in which case, can you have a dog)?  Are there any breed restrictions in your state, town, neighborhood?

So you’re still on board - and you know what you’re looking for!  Where do you go to acquire your pup - to a breeder or rescue?  There are good and bad to both of these options.  You've done your research this far, don’t stop now and settle for just anyone!  

• A good breeder has nothing to hide - they've health tested the parents (who may not both be on site, some breeders will breed to another breeder’s dogs to better their lines, and other reasons as well, so don’t be alarmed if both parents aren't on site), all animals in their care are well taken care of, they’re happy to let you come visit their kennel/home, they provide a guarantee (of some sort) to the health of their puppies (while no one can predict perfect health, a guarantee shows that they have done their research, and at least they stand behind their puppies), they may even have a waiting list, as most of the puppies are spoken for even before they are born.  
  
• When looking for a rescue, don’t be surprised when you have to fill out an adoption application, as well as pay an adoption fee.  Many rescues do background checks, some even require home visits before approving you as an adopter of one of their pets.  

This is it!  You’re going through with it, and puppy is on the way!  There are a few things you can do before you bring home your furry bundle of joy.  Decide where the pup will be allowed, and not allowed in your house.  Puppy proof the areas you’re going to allow your pup to play - this include removing/hiding all electrical cords, breakables, small ingestible objects, and anything that is easily chewable and within reach of the puppy.  Plan a routine that allows for potty training early on - if you work n 8-10 hour day this may mean enlisting the help of a friend, or a dog walker, to stop by to let the pup outside midday.  
If you've never had a puppy, or even it it’s been a long time, there are a few necessities you will want to add to your repertoire. 

• A crate is great for potty training as well as containment - while your pup may not need a crate for their entire life, it’s nice to teach them it’s a positive place from the get go.
• Baby gates are another wonderful tool for containment of a pup, using them will allow you to give the pup access to a small, puppy proofed area, rather than your entire house.
  
• Exercise pens are another option if, say you have an open floor plan, or for other reasons baby gates just aren't an option.  An exercise pen is usually 3-4 feet tall and 3’x3’ - they can keep your puppy safe and contained if you can’t supervise 100% of the time.
  
• Bowls are a necessity for both food and water.  Stainless steel are your best option, as they are easiest to clean and are not as likely to hold bacteria and germs the way a plastic bowl can.
  
• Toys are also a must.  Puppies are busy, they like to chew and not just during teething.  It’s important to provide safe and appropriate toys that are made specifically for a puppy.  Old children's toys can have small and dangerous parts that can be swallowed and /or choked on.  Some good brands to look are are Kong, Nylabone, Orka/Petstages, Kyijen.  DogTuff is another great resource for finding durable supplies.  Be sure to provide a variety of different shapes, textures and toughness - these variances will keep the puppy interested and less likely to look for other things to chew.  Providing toys doesn't mean flooding the puppy with toys - 4 or 5 toys are appropriate - if you have more you can always keep some put away and rotate every week or so to add some variety.

There are some wonderful books and resources out there to help ease your new member of the family into their new home.    

• Perfect Puppy in 7 Days: How to Start Your Puppy off Right by Dr. Sohpia Yin
• Control Unleashed - The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt
• The Focused Puppy by Deborah Jones and Judy Keller

So you've brought your puppy home - now what?
While the first few days are so exciting, remember that it’s a huge change and adjustment for the puppy, give him or her time to adjust and settle, let them relax before inviting the entire neighborhood and every member of your extended family over to meet them.  Keep your initial routine as close to the normal as possible - if you get your puppy over the weekend, be sure to give him/her some alone time so he/she isn't completely in shock when you leave to go back to work on Monday.  Be sure to know what your expectations are for your pup - if they aren't allowed to jump on people and furniture when they are grown up, then don’t allow it from the get go.    

Potty training is another big deal, start your pup out right, put them on a schedule and stick with it!  Generally, a puppy will need to go outside to potty right after they wake up, soon after they eat or drink, and right after a good bout of playing.  As a general rule, they can hold it about an hour equal to their months in age. They will not know how to tell you that they need to go outside, so watch for signs such as sniffing the ground, wandering off, or suddenly getting distracted from what they are currently doing.  Even if you have a fenced in yard, stay outside with the pup to be sure they actually go potty, and reward them the instant it happens.  If accidents happen (and they will) never rub the puppy's nose in their accident for discipline.  

Manners are another thing to consider when raising your puppy.  Keep in mind that your puppy is going to grow - will their cute habits still be cute at 80lbs?  Some manners to consider teaching are: no jumping, mouthing/play biting, no climbing on furniture, and no barking.Don’t ever be forceful and rough with your puppy - don’t hesitate to seek the help of a professional if things seem a bit daunting.

Handling and Socialization are another critical aspect of raising a puppy.  Teach your pup to be handled and held, brushed, paws touched, ears touched, teeth checked, etc; it will make your life easier and your veterinarian and groomer with thank you for it!  While socialization doesn't mean throwing your pup headlong into every situation, it does mean exposing them to a variety of things they will see in daily life - and exposing them in a way that is positive and not frightening,  Dr. Sophia Yin has some great resources on socialization.

While it’s a lot to think about - so is adding a puppy to your life - it’s not something that should be taken lightly, it’s a lifestyle change that isn't for everyone.