Adding a puppy to your family can be a fun and exciting event. But puppies are also a lot of work, and giving proper dog care comes with a lot of responsibilities. When you get a puppy, you need to be prepared to invest both time and money to ensure that your new dog is happy and healthy. If you plan on getting a new puppy in the near future, use the following tips:

Find a Vet in Advance

Before you bring a puppy home, it is important to already have a veterinarian lined up. Puppies will need several rounds of shots in the first several months of life to prevent very dangerous canine diseases, and your dog's vet will also be able to examine your puppy to check for any congenital problems, such as hip dysplasia, and test your dog to make sure that it does not have worms or any other parasites. In addition to regular veterinary care, you may also want to consider having your new puppy spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted litters of puppies.

Consider Crate Training

Housebreaking is a very important part of your puppy's training. Without proper housebreaking, it is not uncommon for puppies to chew up household items and urinate and have bowel movements anywhere that they please. Crate training is a very valuable tool when it comes to housebreaking a puppy. Dogs are den animals, and they do not urinate or have bowel movements in their home. It doesn't take long for most puppies to adjust to their crate and view it as their den. A crate is also very useful to help keep a dog contained for short periods of time when it can't be supervised. Remember, puppies have small bladders and limited bowel control, so it is not a good idea to leave a young puppy in a crate all day if no one is home. 

Invest in Obedience Training

Dogs can be extremely loyal and loving companions, but it can be very frustrating to live with a dog that misbehaves, jumps on people, or is generally out of control. Puppies respond well to obedience training, so if you want a well-behaved dog it is a good idea to either invest your time or money to ensure that your new puppy is properly trained. Many dog owners are capable of doing the training themselves if they have the time and patience, but there are also many places that offer comprehensive obedience training for puppies.