When you choose a new puppy, you need to meet six developmental deadlines before your puppy is just five months old. If your puppy fails to meet any of these deadlines, he will never achieve his full potential and will be playing "behavioral catch-up" for the rest of his life. BEFORE You Get Your Puppy covers the first three developmental deadlines covering the period from puppy selection to your puppy's first week at home: 1. Before you search for a puppy, you need to complete your education about puppy education. 2. Before you choose your puppy, you need to know how to assess your prospective puppy's current socialization and educational status. 3. An errorless housetraining and chewtoy-training program should be instituted from the very first day your puppy comes home.

Veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and author Dr. Ian Dunbar is Director of the Center for Applied Animal Behavior, Founder of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, and host of the British TV series "Dogs with Dunbar." Dr. Dunbar is the author of numerous books and videos, including "SIRIUS Puppy Training" and "How To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks." Ian lives in Berkeley, California, with little brown dog Oliver, large brown dog Claude, and a kitty called Mitty.