1. How to Choose

A puppy is often hard to choose; be sure that the breed will fit in with your family before buying it. Terriers and Collies do not work well with people who cannot provide the proper exercise. German Shepherds are not good unless they are old or will be used as a guard-dog or other working dog. The ideal family dog is a Golden Retriever. They are middle-sized, very gentle, and normally do very well with children.
It is best if you can see the litter's parents. If the father is mean, at least one of his pups will be aggressive, because pups generally take their temperament from their father. If the father is gentle, his pups will be gentle. The mother's temperament matters a lot, also. If she is gentle and caring, the pups will see her as an example and will generally try and do as she does. If the mother is aggressive, her pups may take after her. The ideal pup will be chosen from a litter that has a kind and gentle mother and father.
Choose the pup that is most energetic. Generally pups like this will grow calmer as they age, whereas calm pups will grow more energetic and destructive as they age. Be sure to not choose one that is too energetic for your family, however. A happy middle works great.
As far as color, choose your own. Some people may say that black dogs are mean, but this is not true. Some black dogs are the gentlest dogs that you can find. If you plan to use the dog as a show-dog, however, you want the most beautiful you can aquire. You will also want one that meets the judge's eyes, for example, a Border Collie with dark brown eyes is more likely to win then one with orange eyes. You can normally find this information on the internet.
If you can, spend time playing with the pups before you decide on one. This will allow you to see what the pups are like, toward each other and toward you. Now you can properly decide. Be sure to use your common sense.

2. What you will need

You will need various accessories for your puppy. These include:

1. A nice-fitting collar. You should be able to place your first and middle fingers comfortably between the collar and the puppy's neck.
2. A leash. You can buy any leash. Some are nylon, and some are carried like a tape measure in a case. Buy one of good length, but not too long.
3. Food and water bowls. The best ones are non-slip, but you can place a towl or other material under them to be sure. Make sure your puppy can fit his head into them, even when he is a dog.
4. Food. This is obviously essential. Choose the best brand you can find, or follow this recipe:

6 cups water

1 pound ground turkey

2 cups brown rice

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/2 (16 ounce) package frozen broccoli

combination of carrots and cauliflower

Mix all ingredients. Place in pan, cook in oven for 25-30 minutes. Cut into nice-sized portions. Serve to your pooch.

5. Treats. You may or may not want these. These will be essential for training your puppy.

You can now bring your puppy home!

3. Training

See "training" on American Dog for proper potty training and command training.