VACCINATIONS
You should bring in your puppy as soon as you are able for an overall health exam. At this time, your veterinarian will help develop a vaccine program specific to your puppy's needs. In general, puppies need three puppy shots followed by an adult shot, each three weeks apart. Puppy shots increase protection against canine distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and coronavirus. Adult vaccinations are similar.
Rabies vaccine is required by law, must be given by a veterinarian, and should be given at 16 weeks of age. Rabies and adult boosters should be given yearly or every 3 years, depending on the type of vaccine that you and your veterinarian choose.
You may also consider vaccinating your dog for Lyme disease, kennel cough, or other contagious diseases. Discuss these options with your veterinarian.

PARASITES
Puppies are especially prone to contracting intestinal parasites, which they can get during gestation or from the environment into which they are born. Puppies should be dewormed at least twice, which usually coincides with their first two puppy shots. Do not be concerned if you see worms in your puppy's feces after this treatment - this just means that it's working!
All dogs should also be on a monthly heartworm preventative. Heartworms are easy and tasty to prevent, but dangerous, painful, and expensive to treat. Puppies should start preventative as soon as possible. Every animal over 6 months old must be tested yearly for heartworm disease before preventatives can be prescribed.
All dogs should also be on flea and tick preventative on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. Talk to your veterinarian about a plan for your unique situation.

BEHAVIOR
Training your puppy begins as soon as you bring him home. To make veterinary visits a less scary experience for the pet's entire life, you should train him by putting your fingers in your pet's mouth, ears, and nose often. You should also rub the puppy's paws and toenails often, and lay the puppy on his back and rub his belly. You should also train your dog to sit and to lie down, and perhaps even to 'flop' on his side.
House training is often a big challenge for new puppies and their owners. We suggest taking the puppy outside often (about every 2 hours to start), taking the puppy out as soon as he wakes up and right before going to sleep, and giving lots of praise when he successfully does his business outside.

PROTECT YOURSELF!
Puppies and dogs can carry some diseases that humans can get, too. Risks include various bacterial, parasitic, or fungal diseases. These problems can be spread through contact with or ingestion of urine and feces, bites and scratches, or even contamination of your environment. You or your family may suffer from gastrointestinal upset, urinary tract infection, local infection, ringworm, tetanus, pneumonia, internal or external parasites or inappropriate migration of parasites, or even paralysis. If you believe you may be suffering from a zoonotic (animal to human transmission) disease, contact your physician immediately.