Congratulations on your new puppy! As you set off on your life together with your new best friend, I wish both of you many happy years of love, joy and togetherness.

But in between all the fun and excitement, there is work to do. There’s puppy shopping, setting up sleeping arrangements, puppy training, and the less desirable jobs, like picking up puppy poop.

In this article, we’ll discuss the five things you absolutely must dog to ensure that your dog is a happy and well-adjusted.

1. Crate Training Tips

Hopefully you’ve done some forward planning and have already bought a crate before you bring your dog home. A dog crate is just about the most useful dog accessory you can buy. It can be used as a kennel, a carrier and a house training device.

Training your pup to remain calmly in the crate should be your first priority. It will keep him calm while he settles into his new home, and later you will use the crate as an important part of house training.

2. Puppy Shots

All puppies need to be vaccinated. Generally this will be in the form of a 5-in-1 vaccine protecting against common canine diseases. Follow your vet’s instructions strictly on this, as most of these diseases are fatal to a puppy.

3. Potty Training

A common piece of advice is to start house training right away, but normally this won’t work. A puppy coming into a new environment where he is bewildered and frightened by his surroundings is hardly going to be open to learning.

For the first couple of weeks you should be crate training your puppy instead. He should pick this up quickly, as it is natural dog behavior to seek out a “den”.

Within two weeks, the pup will have settled in nicely, and you can now begin house training him. The good news is, that if he is used to the crate, he’ll practically be house trained already.

4. Socialization Training

Socializing your dog will reduce the likelihood of him becoming timid or aggressive. Allow him to meet a broad spectrum of people and animals both inside and outside the family. Just be sure to keep him leashed while introducing him to other animals. Puppies can be quite boisterous and he’s likely to be bitten or scratched if he gets out of hand.

5. Bonding With Your Dog

By now you’re probably thinking that this sounds like quite a bit of work. But it really isn’t. Raising a pup is a whole lot of fun, and you should definitely take time out to play with the pup. This is great for building a bond and also for correcting any signs of aggression or biting.

Puppies can be a lot of work and responsibility, but they’re also a joy to have in your life. You’ll want to enjoy these early weeks and months you spend with your pup because, before you know it, he’ll be all grown up. And if you followed the suggestions above, chances are he’ll be a happy, well-adjusted adult.

To find out more about dog training tips, types of dogs, dog health and other interesting dog advice visit Dogs and Dog Training.com