Recommendation #1 - Using a crate and water for your puppy
Here’s my first recommendation for you… Be ready to bring your puppy home. Have a dog crate ready for your puppy with a bed ready for them to call home. If we air shipped your puppy to you, the crate they arrived in will be perfect. Have a water bowl and a food bowl ready for them. These things may sound too simple to mention, but chances are you are very excited to finally be bringing your puppy home. I’ve been know to forget a few things when I’m excited and I think they are worth mentioning.
Now this is important. Have 1 gallon of DISTILLED water on hand.  Use it to water Your Puppy when he gets to you.  When it is half gone fill the jug up with the water you will be using for him normally.  Water him with this water until it is gone.  Then use the water you will use normally.  Doing this gives his gastro-intestinal system a chance to adjust to the new water gradually.  Right now he is used to drinking well water.  You & I both know that changing water can upset your digestive tract. This will help you avoid that happening in his.

Recommendation #2 - What type of food should I give my puppy?
OK, let’s talk about food – Your Puppy is eating Royal Canin Mini 33.  If you choose to feed something else you will need to mix the package of food I send with him, with an equal amount of the new food and feed that mixture until it is gone.  Then you can move to feeding him the new food alone.  Again digestive upset control.  Now for my dog food sermon:
Feed your dog the best food you can afford. It will save you in vet bills as your dog ages.  For the first 5 to 8 years you will see little difference in how your dog acts and develops.  However, after that time you will see a marked increase in diet related illness and a lesser quality of life. Older dogs have the same problems that older people do... obesity, diabetes, joint problems, heart problems etc.  However, if I could do it over again I would do things a lot differently.  When you buy premium dog food all you see is the money going out for the dog food, you don't see the savings you are getting from not having to visit the vet.  Also, the nutrition is readily available so they eat less making the bag last longer. The foods I recommend are: Royal Canin & Eukenuba.  These dog foods use quality protein sources that the puppy or dog can digest easily.  The cheaper the food is the less usable the nutrition.  Price is a very good indication of how good the food is for your dog.  Oh, one more point - The easier the food is to digest, the less filler there is and the less your dog will leave behind for you to clean up. You know what I mean!!!?

Recommendation #3 - Start reading!!
My next recommendation is for you to pick up a book and read! Not just any book. Picket Fence Kennels isn’t really interested in the New York Times best sellers! "My Smart Puppy" is the best book I have ever come across. OK, it’s the best book on puppies I’ve found. I can not say enough wonderful things about it.  It will help you learn how to teach your puppy to be a good "citizen".  It gives you something usable on every page if not every paragraph.  It covers the entire range of issues you encounter with puppies as they grow and develop.  It even comes with a DVD that demonstrates what they are describing for you to do.  Buy it.  You will only be sorry you bought it if you don't read and apply what you’ve read. I’m only sorry I didn’t write it! You can find it on Amazon or any major book seller.

Recommendation#4 - What are the best toys for my puppy?
Here’s my recommendation on toys - keep them to a minimum.  The free toys you have around your house are the best thing for now and possibly for always.  These are things my puppies have to play with:

• Empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes - these are quickly dismantled but thoroughly enjoyed
• The lids from liquid laundry detergent… yes, clean them first - they’re easily carried
• Yogurt cups – washed of course – and cottage cheese containers.
• Sock with a rattle ball tied in the toe
• An empty pop bottle (used on a hard surface floor it makes a lovely noise!)
• Swiffer Duster frames (with a dirty duster on it is even better) - it makes a good "stick"
• A stuffed animal
• Something made of "rubber"
• A ball - tennis or golf depending on the size and age of dog.
• A string "bone”

The object is to provide a variety of textures as they teethe. These toys will keep your puppy away from your shoes, furniture, draperies… oh yes; puppies will play with all sorts of things! My producer knows of a lab puppy who coughed up a pair of adult sized socks! And they weren’t at all chewed up!

Recommendation#5 - Make your puppies homecoming it's own special celebration.
It is every kid’s favorite dream gift – a cute little puppy under the tree (or in the Easter basket or for his birthday).  Let us explain what the puppy’s first days should be like so you will understand why this is usually not a good time to introduce a puppy to the family.
Holidays are for fun and games and excitement and joy.  Puppies are, too, but it takes special effort and planning for you to have the pleasure that owning a puppy brings.  To introduce a new puppy into your family and home, you need to plan ahead and provide the right environment.  He will need a consistant schedule and he will need a quiet place that makes him feel safe and comfortable.  He will need to be crated most of the time and you will need to be able to concentrate on his training from the moment he enters your home.  Please try to understand how important these are to his future and to your pleasure in owning a puppy.
From the moment he leaves me, he will need quiet and tender care.  He needs his regular food on a similar schedule that he is accustomed to.  He needs water from his home source to be mixed with your water so that he adjusts to the new water.  He needs constant watching (but not constant holding) and he needs few visitors for several days while he adjusts to his new surroundings.  Constant handling can make his young body sore, too much running around can be tough on immature muscles and bones and overeating can upset his tummy.  In fact, any foreign substance can be dangerous and that includes gift wraps, toy boxes, toy parts and leftovers from the table or food dropped on the floor.
Does this sound something like bringing a baby home from the hospital?  It should, because all young creatures, human or canine, have similar needs.  The best time for your puppy to join you is after the hubbub and hullabaloo is over and routine has returned.