Stop! Don’t bring home that adorable pup until you are properly prepared.

By Pat Miller

Most people spend months preparing for the arrival of a new baby. They’re just as likely, however, to bring a baby dog home on a whim, without any preparation at all. Small wonder they find themselves playing catch-up for weeks, months, years, or even “getting rid of” the dog as they struggle to recover from the mistakes made in the pup’s formative months.

“You’re NOT taking me home today?” Don’t let that adorable little face make you do something rash; you should have everything in place before he comes home. A lack of a crate and baby gates, for example, may set back your housetraining efforts for weeks.

For example, a lack of a crate, puppy pen, or baby gates from day one makes housetraining “mistakes” inevitable. This can set back later housetraining efforts by weeks or even months, as the puppy is triggered to eliminate in spots where he smells remnants of…

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