Introducing a dog to a new home and family is a big deal for everyone involved, especially the dog. If you can take puppy-leave from work to settle the dog into his new home, you have a better chance of starting him off on the right paw regarding housetraining and learning house rules. A week is ideal, but even a long weekend will help you place this new relationship on a solid foundation.

If you're planning to bring your pug home during the holiday season because you'll have time off, think again. Most breeders and rescue groups prefer not to send dogs to new homes during that period. Any hectic holiday season or birthday celebration is the last time you want to bring a new dog into the home. There's just too much going on — food preparation, relatives visiting, and packages and decorations just waiting to be attacked by an excited dog.

The time to bring the dog home is when the excitement is over. That way you can focus on supervising and teaching him from day one. If you must bring your new dog home during the holidays because it's the only time you can take off, keep things low-key. Try to schedule family get-togethers at someone else's house or at a restaurant, and let the puppy watch any gift-unwrapping from the calm vantage point of his crate.