New Puppy / Bringing home a new puppy

When you bring home your new puppy you want to make your puppy's new home as comfortable an environment as possible.  He/she has just been separated from his siblings and mother and is being introduced into a totally different environment - kind of scary for a baby.  So it is best to keep the number of guests to a minimum in the first week until your puppy has adjusted.  Items you should buy for your new puppy before he / she arrives are a leash and collar, safe toys, food and water bowls, a crate for when you cannot watch over him/her closely, and a pen for those short periods when you can supervise your puppy closely.  A good place for your new puppy to become acquainted would be the kitchen area if you have space or an adjacent utility room.  Be sure to remove items which could be dangerous to your puppy if chewed on or swallowed.  Also be sure that your children don't chase the puppy or play with it aggressively.  Rather, a game of fetch is a much safer alternative.