Is there one site/a good book for a new puppy owner?

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We will be collecting a new puppy in a few weeks and I would appreciate suggestions of where to go for advice. Kind of like a mumsnet but for dogs rather than children. I don't know what I don't know yet to ask specific questions but it's a bit like learning that you don't need to buy everything new for a first baby and that the nappy bin won't be used and you don't have to buy a specially designed nappy bag... You become wise after the first baby and I'd like to have that wisdom now.

Obviously we need physical things like food, a crate, bedding, piddle (?) pads, toys, a collar but where do I look for those and where do I get advice re caring for a puppy? Thanks

Definitely don't bother with the puppy pads, they just prolong house training. The breeder should have made a start on house training the puppies anyway.

The Puppy Plan is an excellent website about socialisation. It gives you a breakdown of what should be done when, including what the breeder should already have been doing with the whole litter.

The Dog Training Advice & Support FB group has some excellent information in their files, including articles about toilet training, general puppy raising, crate training and dealing with puppy biting.

Food wise it's best to keep the puppy on whatever they've been weaned onto for a while then think about changing their food (if you want) when they're properly settled in. Normally the breeder will send you home with a decent supply of the food they've been using.

The basics (crate, first bed, collar/harness/leads, etc.) can just be picked up in pet shops like Pets At Home or from online stores like Zooplus.

The Doghouse IS Mumsnet for dogs! . Gwen Baileys Perfect Puppy is good to start you off. Pets at Home is fine for collar and lead to start with, until you get an idea of sizing and preferences. They'll also measure for harnesses.

Keep pup on breeders food to start with so that's sorted. You can research raw if you're into the idea, Nutriment do a good puppy complete. Big comfy cushion does as well as a bed . Vetbed just got chewed but is now good on the car seat. Lots of chew toys, ropes and Kongs for teething and entertainment.
Brushes etc if it's a pup that needs a groom. Shampoo, ditto, it's a muddy time of year. Little treats and a treat bag for training. Poo bags. Sorry to end on poo, also lots of kitchen towel and biological washing powder to clean the area, there will be accidents!

Good luck, very exciting for you!

The Happy Puppy Handbook by Pippa Mattinson is brilliant. Idiot proof step-by-step guide to everything you will need to think about.

I don't think, you should skip puppy training classes- after all, your children enjoying an education.

I'd recommend the KC website, find a dog club... your local club should run puppy training classes (open to ALL dogs). They run a program called Good Citizen Dog, where you and your dog can bond and learn some useful commands.

Depending on the breed there are a lot of good specific dog sites on fb. For example I'm in one for my beagles and one for my German shepherd. Helps to have people familiar with the particular breed - even though basic training and stuff is pretty much the same!

This is all really helpful - thank you.

Great advice re the puppy pads and the food - that's good to know. The Puppy Plan website and the Dog Training FB page look invaluable.

I'll be back on here asking questions I'm sure and I hadn't thought about chewing toys or about biological washing powder...!

I'll check out the Happy Puppy Handbook and look up classes. I'd like to get to meet some other new dog owners too and I'll check out the Facebook pages too.

Thanks again.