Most breeders send you home with a puppy packet. This folder or envelope usually contains some or all of the following paperwork:

• Breed history

• Breed standard

• Pup's pedigree

• Feeding schedule (including the brand of food the puppy is used to eating)

• Recommendations on feeding and care for the first year of life

• Health certificate for the puppy from the breeder's veterinarian and copies of the parents' health certifications

• Vaccination and deworming records

• Tips on housetraining

• Grooming advice

• Copy of the PDCA code of ethics and educational guidelines

The breeder may also send you home with a sample bag of puppy food, a T-shirt or other piece of cloth that bears the scent of the pup's mother and littermates (to help comfort him in his new home), or a book on the breed. If you're picking up your puppy from a breeder who lives in another town or out-of-state, it's a good idea to bring back a supply of the water he's been drinking. You can mix it with the water at your home over several days so his stomach will have time to adjust to the change.

The vaccination and deworming records should note which vaccinations have been given, and when, as well as the dates the puppy was dewormed. Make an appointment to have the puppy examined by your own veterinarian within forty-eight hours of bringing him home. Take the pup's veterinary records with you so your veterinarian can plan a continuation of the vaccination schedule. You may also want to ask for a copy of the litter's growth record, something most reputable breeders can provide. This will help your veterinarian know if your puppy is growing normally.