Brilliant advice.

I'd also like to chip in aside from all the necessary health & breeder info, as a new puppy owner I can assure you that it is 100 times more hard work than you will ever think it is!!!

I wasn't under the impression that it was going to be easy but you do not realise how demanding they are, how much time they take up, and how much attention they need.

Put it this way, if you're reading this thinking of getting a new puppy, expect the first few weeks/months to be like having a human baby. Are you going to have the time to devote to him/her?? I had to put off all social arrangements let alone work (luckily i dont) and even having people over can be tiring as you are constantly having to watch your puppy in order to toilet train it and stop it chewing your whole house! I've read comments from the net of people taking a couple weeks off their full time jobs to "settle in" the puppy before going back to work all day leaving it alone. This just isn't good enough.

Be assured though, if you have made up your mind that you're ready for such a commitment, it is one of the most rewarding responsibilities you can imagine