Your Puppy's Firsts
Adopting a puppy often fills us with such tremendous hope and joy that we want to immediately introduce the new pet to everything and everyone, including friends, the dog park and even the family car. But not so fast! "All of these things are stimulating to puppies and can overwhelm them," says Sarah Wilson, leading dog trainer and author of My Smart Puppy (Grand Central Publishing 2006). She adds that if you're not careful, some puppies could get frightened.

Puppy Gift Tote
L.L. Bean's classic boat and tote bag just received a dog-inspired makeover. Decorated with a paw print, this sturdy, iconic bag comes packed with a variety of fun toys and tasty treats. It makes a perfect gift for someone who is welcoming a new puppy into his or her life, or as a gift to your own dog. After the treats are gone, you can still use the tote to store some of your pup's favorite toys. $29.95 at L.L. Bean.

Changing Your Dog's Diet
Dogs are creatures of habit, and usually prefer to stick with their current food. But sometimes it's necessary to disrupt the routine, and transition to a new food. Here are some smart strategies for giving your pup a brand new menu without much resistance.

Support Your Puppy's Growth With Proper Nutrition
When Daisy Lehman of Cleveland brought home her pug puppy last summer, it was with explicit feeding instructions from the breeder. "He told me to transition slowly from the food he'd been giving her to the puppy formula I was planning to give her," says Lehman. The advice was sound, but Lehman was still not sure what this new puppy food should be.