If you could give any advice to a new dog owner...

[whogrewoutoftheterribletwos]

...what would it be? Our puppy was born yesterday and we'll be getting her home in a couple of months and I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible. Any recommendations for books/kit/toys etc? We're very excited but I know there are no bad dogs, only bad owners and I'm determined to avoid that!

100x what Norbert says! The streets round here are foul with dog mess and it is depressing to deal with every single day.

Also, as a non dog owner, I would say to remember that as much as you love your dog, a lot of people don't like them at all and please do be considerate that what seems to you like your dog being 'friendly' can be very scary and unwelcome to others.

Obviously, you don't need either of those pieces of advice because in your OP you say that you won't be a bad owner, I just wish all dog owners were as thoughtful!

Remember puppies have SHARP teeth! and will go thru a mouthing phase.......my DC's got quite scared when the puppy we got just wanted to nip them all the time.

Remember that, as with small children, many things are phases and they will pass. Your dog will be house trained one day and it won't chew everything in sight forever.

However, on that note I would defintely back up the users who say training classes! They will help the phases pass quicker :)

Don't be too surprised when the person me who once declared "he's a dog, he's not sitting on the sofa" is the person often sat snuggled with said dog on the sofa cooing "he's a beautiful boy"

I honestly would have got rid of my dog in the pup days if I hadn't had a carpet cleaner. It's a long hard process training, and be prepared for bad days.

Someone mentioned the mouthing stage. It is really important, during play, to mess about with prising open the jaws to extract toys etc and not to be scared of the teeth. It will help give them a 'soft' mouth which is very useful for vet visits extracting a baby sock it was about to swallow/inhale and all manner of tooth inspection and unsuitable object removal.

We're picking up our first puppy on Saturday - a Beagle.

I feel like we've purchased the entire pet store!

With regards to the Puppy Training classes - is there a UK wide company anyone would recommend or is it best to just look on the Kennel Club's site for local ones?

please dont let your dog bark outside and dont let it throw itself at the fence growling and snarling like my neighbour

10000x buggerlug!! we went to puppy playgroup last week and there were 2 different familys with tiny jrt and chihuahua type dogs. every time my giant breed went to say hello they hoiked them up in the air away from him!

drives me absolutely mad, most of the nasty dogs I know are tiny dogs- usually because their thick owners have hoiked them up and away from other dogs. for gods sake just let them meet!

I would really like to know how to stop a dog barking outside! If they keep barking (at screaming children, deliveries, squirrels, foxes) train them to come in on command, but dogs bark, that's what they do. Just not continuously I agree.

Under no circumstances allow your dog on to the sofa

Not leave it with access to your favourite mules.

Nor with access to the cupboard where the dog food is kept.

And don't leave the very tip of a full loaf of bread visible on the work surface.

And if you do any of the above, ensure you have pet insurance for the panicky visits to the emergency extortionate weekend vets that will follow

Oh, and lastly, don't inadvertently leave a giant sized toblerone wrapped up under your Christmas tree!