~DUKE~

In three days we get to pick up our baby!!

I'm excited yet nervous because Brian hasn't been 100% supportive of getting Duke in the first place.
(Despite the fact that all four names we're contemplating on naming the puppy was all his suggestions: Duke, Harley, Max or Hoss. Along with the fact that he went out and bought this cute Crate)

I've been doing a ton of on-line research just to be sure we're (I'm) prepared. My priority is to make sure that he's potty trained. And, I'm hoping that he's not going to be as much of a yelper as everyone tells me he's going to be. Hopefully, if I work with him as soon as we bring him home, he'll get used to us.
On-line, I got a schedule of all puppy vaccinations. And as anal as I am, I wrote down the date next to each of the required shots, so I know when those shots need to be done.
I called our local Pet Smart late last night and spoke with one of their Dog Trainers there. She was a wealth of information and answered a ton of questions I had. How nice of her! (At least I thought so considering it was like just after 9 p.m.)
They (at Pet Smart) don't allow puppies to enroll in the puppy classes until they're 10 weeks old and have had their second series of shots. So, I won't be able to get Duke into classes until a few weeks after we bring him home. I think that's just perfectly fine though because it'll give us time to bond with Duke and make him comfortable with us.
Today, I went into Pet Smart and spoke to one of the Groomers and received a ton of information from them as well. I had been told in the past that it's quite expensive to have a puppy groomed. Somewhere between $40 and $45. I was totally excited to learn today that at Pet Smart, they have a special for puppies! It's $10.99 for their Bath and Shampoo package which includes a basic shampoo, blow dry; 15 minute brush, nail trim, ear cleaning, sanitary trim, scissoring feet, shaving pads and anal gland cleaning upon request.(Honestly, I have no clue what some of these entail)
I was also reminded by a friend of mine, author of Hailey's House, that I need to have the following: Collar, Leash, and Puppy Toys. Oh, and puppy food.
So, as I was walking down the aisles at Pet Smart today, I fell in love with the Harley Davidson Collars. (Pictured above) And I'm almost 100% sure that I'll be making that purchase in the near future.

And of course, thanks to Hailey's mom again, she reminded me of the fact that I get to buy STEELER'S gear for Duke!!

This is just one of the many items I found that I NEED to have. Er..I mean that Duke needs to have. :)

Yes, three (technically 2 1/2) days until we bring him home! I am so freaking excited!!