1. A puppy is not a toy you can try out and then return. You must be ready to make a commitment to your puppy for the rest of its life.

2. All dogs shed. Some dogs shed more than others, but all dogs shed. (I have often witnessed doggy dust bunnies rolling across my floors.)

3. Rain or shine your puppy will need to eliminate outdoors and you will have to be with him.

4. Puppies, as well as adult dogs, have accidents (don’t be surprised if you discover a little present on your rug, it happens).

5. Puppies have sharp teeth until they are 6 months old.

6. Puppies will chew everything: toys, underwear, curtains, table legs, couches, you name it - they’ll chew it. (Be sure to have plenty of raw hide chewy bones handy while the puppy is growing out of its teething stage.)

7. Male dogs lift their legs to urinate unless they are neutered and even then they may lift their leg. They will urinate on bushes, tires, trees, furniture and even on someone’s leg.

8. Males that have not been neutered are more likely to bite than females.

9. Dogs' paws will get muddy at some point. Paws are not shoes that can be taken off at the door. Dogs will track mud through the house unless their paws are wiped, so you can’t get mad at the dog for that.

10. Dogs like to communicate with their tongues (a.k.a., lick you). If you find this behavior offensive, then maybe a dog is not for you.

11. Dogs will sometimes eat the smelliest, grossest stuff. Example: kitty litter treats.

12. Dogs enjoy rolling their bodies in smelly things on the ground, like deer scat, dead fish, and decaying matter, causing them to have an offensive smell.

13. Every dog has his or her own personality. A puppy from one breeder will not be the same as a puppy from another breeder.

14. Crates are not horrible, nasty cages. Crates were designed to keep a dog safe and to help house break a dog. That does not mean that a dog should spend most of his or her whole life in one.

15. Dogs are social animals. Which means they love to be with people, or in wolf terms, “They love to be part of the pack.” If that is not possible in your home then maybe a dog is not for you.

16. A dog is very uncomfortable when he is not sure who is boss. You must establish who is boss or the “Alfa Dog,” the minute the puppy is brought home.

17. Socializing your puppy, or introducing your puppy to new surroundings or new sounds, is singularly the most important part of training. Take your puppy with you as often as possible, introduce your puppy to as many new people or new experiences as you can.

18. Basic obedience commands - come, sit, stay and down - only require five minutes of training a day, do not over train your puppy.

19. Puppies and dogs get bored too, so keep them busy.

20. Dogs do not understand English, so don’t expect them to.

21. A dog needs routine check ups by an animal doctor or Veterinarian. To stay healthy, dogs need shots or vaccinations once a year.

22. You should spay or neuter your puppy if you are not going to breed.

23. Children must take part in the training process. Many times children are not given the opportunity to take part in the training and care of a puppy. Children who learn how to handle and raise a puppy will have a greater understanding of the way puppies develop and will learn first-hand how great dogs are produced. "Kids Training Puppies in 5 Minutes" is written just for children.

24. You will have to make arrangements for your pet when you go on vacation by either hiring a pet sitter to visit or by finding a good kennel.

25. Lastly, dogs make great pets if you can handle all the above.