You could have knocked me over with a feather when, for my fortieth birthday, my husband surprised me with a puppy. I had been asking for a dog for quite a long time, but never expected him to actually relent. Yet there she was, snuggled into my lap: the best birthday present ever.

Once the cuddling and kissing were over, however, the realities of taking care of a puppy immediately started registering in my brain, and I began a running mental checklist of all the things that we would need to do (and purchase) in order to raise this newest member of our family.

Fortunately for me, I've owned many other dogs in my lifetime, so I was able to generate a list fairly quickly. For first-time pet dog owners, however, figuring out a "starter kit" for puppies can be a daunting task. It must be said as well that it is a task not best undertaken as a surprise (my recent experience notwithstanding): puppies take planning. Here are some of the basics you will need:

Equipment
Your puppy will need more equipment than you realize, but you should also be forewarned that it is tempting to indulge in many extras that you don't really need. Make a list of the bare essentials before entering the pet store, and stick to it.

What are the essentials? First, your puppy will need a collar. All collars are adjustable, but you still need to know the measurement of your puppy's neck to make sure you're buying the right size and style. By style, I am not referring to the amount of "bling", but rather whether it's a nylon collar; a gentle-lead collar (these have a loop that fits gently around the dog's muzzle without restricting its ability to open and close its mouth but which provide better control while training a puppy to walk on a leash); or a choke collar (unless your puppy is a direct descendant of Cujo, most experts would steer you away from those.)

It is also important for you to place some sort of identification tag on your puppy's collar and make sure the puppy wears it each and every time it leaves your home.

You can order these through veterinarians, pet stores, or pet supply websites. Some of the larger pet stores even have vending machines where you can engrave a tag right there in the store in about five minutes. You could also ask your veterinarian (yes, you'll need one of those, too) about computer chipping, wherein a chip is injected into the back of your dog's neck containing, among other things, your contact information. Should your puppy ever become lost, any vet or animal control facility could simply scan the puppy's neck and access the information to make sure you're reunited with your puppy.

You will also need a basic leash, and these, too, come in various sizes and lengths. Some dog owners favor retractable leashes. As a general rule, they're nice because they allow you to give your puppy an adjustable amount of lead while walking. They do require a little more caution while using, however: Just this morning, a companion's retractable leash snapped while she was out walking her dog, and suddenly, her dog was loose, something that is generally not a problem with a good, old-fashioned nylon or leather leash. If your puppy has never had a collar on or walked on a leash, be patient and gentle: it's a new sensation for them, and they do adjust quickly. (It must be said, however, that it was pretty funny pushing our leash-shy puppy around the pet store in a cart that first night.)

Other equipment you will need includes pet-safe food and water dishes (I recommend wide-based ones that are difficult to tip); basic grooming tools, including a coat-appropriate brush or comb; and clippers of some sort to manage your puppy's nails. If you're willing to invest in it, the Pedi-Paws nail system is vastly superior to clipping. It's basically a self-contained belt sander for dog nails which eliminates the pain and bleeding risk of conventional clippers. My puppy actually fell asleep while I was using it on her; using clippers on our previous dog required a crew of four to manage the same task.

The last item I recommend some new dog owners might not be comfortable using: a crate. Using a crate, at least until your puppy is completely housebroken, is a good idea for two reasons: 1) It gives the puppy a safe haven to which to retreat, especially if there is a lot of commotion (construction, parties, young children) in the home. 2) It's a safe way to confine the puppy during times when it cannot be supervised, such as when you're in the shower, sleeping, or running errands. Unsupervised puppies get into trouble quickly; a crate can reduce those occurrences. But be aware: crates should never be used for long periods of time, and they should never be used as punishment. Dogs are, by nature, social creatures, so depriving them of social interaction is very damaging to them. Crates are only good if used judiciously.

I bet you're thinking, "Gee, that's a lot of equipment. I'd better get started shopping." Not so fast; there are still things we haven't covered:

Food, Treats, and Toys
You will need to have dog food on hand. There are many brands out there, so you may have to look around a bit. Talk to the person from whom you're getting the puppy and ask what kind of food they use. If you decide to go with a different food, make the change gradually over a period of one to two weeks. You will need to make sure you're buying a food marked specifically for puppies (they usually stay on that food until twelve months of age) and specifically for your size of breed, if possible. After all, you wouldn't feed a teacup Yorkie the same food you'd give to a St. Bernard. Well, you could, but the results might not be pretty.

As far as treats and toys, these veer into the "optional" category of equipment, simply because there are so many different ways the pet stores try to tempt you into spoiling your pets, and most of us are right there with them. Just remember: treats do not have to be fancy - they can even be pieces of your puppy's normal dry food. The important thing to remember is not to overuse them: being overweight is just as bad for dogs as it is for humans.

Toys do not have to be fancy, either. Puppies can take anything and make a toy out of it - even pocket knives, your favorite Manolo Blahnik shoes, your laptop - and that is precisely why you need to have at least one or two things on hand that your puppy is allowed to chew on. Keep in mind your puppy's breed and size when choosing. Plush toys, for example, while adorable, don't last very long with a Rottweiler, and it is actually possible to find rawhide bones larger than a Shih Tzu. Kongs, Booda bones, and rawhides for healthy chewing are all good choices. For rawhides, try to purchase those produced within your country of origin to reduce the possibility of contamination.

"Okay," you're saying. "I've got the food, the dishes, the leash and dog collar, some toys and treats - I'm ready to go!" No, you're not.

Veterinarians, Vaccinations, and Licenses
Your puppy, just like a human baby, will need to have a series of vaccinations and medications right off the bat, including protection against things like heartworm, distemper, and rabies. For all of those things, you're going to need to see a veterinarian. Don't assume that because a breeder tells you a puppy is "up-to-date" on its shots that it is. Make sure that you get a written vaccination record from the breeder or shelter your puppy came from and share that with your veterinarian. He or she can then tell you if there are gaps in your puppy's vaccinations.

Rabies, in particular, is not just an issue for your puppy's protection: In most places, rabies vaccinations are required by law in order to obtain a pet license for your puppy. Not all villages, towns, or cities require a dog to be licensed, but many do. Those that do require proof of a rabies vaccination, usually by the time a puppy is six months old, before a license can be issued. New licenses are usually required yearly. Whether a license is required in a given town and how much it costs varies widely. Our former home in the Chicago suburbs required a license at $25.00 per year; our current Minnesota home requires a license, but it is only $2.00 per year. Check with your local government (many, if not all, now have websites) to find out your specific area's requirements.

"Whew!" I can hear you saying. "Are we done yet?" Almost. Perhaps the most important piece of equipment you will need in order to welcome your new best friend into your home and your life cannot be found on a store shelf or at the vet's office. It's something that you have to find on your own, and sometimes in these first few months it can be in very short supply: patience. Puppies chew; they whine; they urinate and defecate in your house (sometimes in your shoes). But in return, they bring so much joy, laughter, and unconditional love. Be patient, be gentle, be firm, and be prepared.