If you are expecting the arrival of a new puppy into your household, you will know that there is a lot to organise. Preparing to welcome a dog requires more preparation than you might initially have thought, however, with a little advice and some good planning skills, you will find that getting everything done is not too difficult to manage.

To begin with, you will need to focus your attention on administrative tasks. Call your insurance company and investigate the possibility of purchasing cheap pet insurance for dogs. This kind of cover will save you money on vet bills in the long run and is generally a very worthwhile addition to your list of monthly payments.

Next, pay a visit to your local vet. While you may want to choose one specialist in particular to be your dog's regular practitioner, it is a good idea to register the puppy with all the surrounding veterinary practices. This will ensure that if he or she gets lost and is handed in at the vet's surgery, the staff will be able to identify the dog as yours and call you.

Finally, your dog will need a comfortable bed or basket, a couple of water bowls, a food bowl and a grooming kit. In addition, you might want to pick up a few toys for him or her to play with; this may help to discourage the furniture-chewing behaviour that is inevitable in young dogs.

Welcoming a new puppy into your home can be nerve-wracking. It is important that you are well-prepared for his or her arrival and that you have things like insurance sorted out from the very beginning.