Crate train, crate train, crate train 

Since dogs will not go to the bathroom where they sleep, a crate is invaluable in teaching your dog to hold his/her bladder and helps immensely in the housebreaking process.

Do not assign human rationale to your puppy 

So many of us see out pets as members of our family and actually as little “people” in animal form.  The mistake here, though, is to think that when she disobeys or doesn’t listen or has an accident in the house, she’s doing it on purpose or to push your buttons.  Your puppy is not reasoning things out, she’s just trying to learn.  Teach her.

Establish pack leadership early and often

You should be the first to walk out the door and the first to enter the house.  You should eat before your dog eats.  You should have a calm, dominant demeanor, and expect (not request) your dog’s calm submission.  Otherwise, your puppy will be running your house in no time.

Decide on commands, use them, and have every member of your family use them. 

Puppies seem to notice every detail, so you need to be a unified front when teaching.  This takes effort, time, and patience.  And more than anything else: consistency.

Get your puppy used to being handled 

Touch her ears, her eyes, her paws, her tail.  Everywhere and everyday.  Let her know that you have the right to touch and you will handle her responsibly and with respect.  This will help you when/if there is an issue later on.

Establish a relationship with a vet your trust 

Find a vet you can consult with, ask questions of, and who will work with you for your puppy’s well-being.

Provide your puppy with a VARIETY of chewing options. 

A puppy’s need to chew is insistent, and if you don’t want her heading to the 1890 piano legs, you need to invest in finding toys that will do the trick.  And when you think it is all over, think again, you get a second round of it when they lost their puppy teeth and the adult teeth start cutting.

Be as physically active as you can with your puppy 

Before your puppy is fully vaccinated or has her rabies shot, she may not be allowed in dog parks or even for long walks in your neighborhood.  Get her used to a collar and leash in your own yard, and run in circles if you can.

Connect with other puppy owners 

It will help you to ask other people questions, compare stories, and of course ooh and ahh at cute puppy pictures.

Last, but NOT LEAST: Have fun!!! 

Amid cleaning up the accidents and getting them to sleep through the night and teaching them what is expected, there’s a ton of fun to be had with owning a new puppy.