Includes index.

Human beginnings. From lawyer to breeder: how it all began ; "Adopt or shop responsibly": a word on breeding -- Developmental milestones. Conception and pregnancy: the making of a puppy ; Birth: welcome to the world, little ones ; Days 0 to 7: the wonders of smell ; Days 8-14: the wonders of sight ; Days 15-21: the wonders of sound ; Days 22-28: the magical transition to puppyhood ; Days 29-35: fear, fun, and gruelfests ; Days 36-42: classical conditioning, kitchen walks, and the supersuit ; Days 43 to 49: capitalizing on synaptic connections ; Days 50-56: godspeed, little ones -- Puppy preparations. Your ideal dog: (and what's ideal for your dog) ; Researching breeders: buyer beware (and be informed!) ; First, train the humans: changing how we think about dogs ; Learning to speak dog: reading canine body language ; Preparing your home: puppy zones, selecting crates, and establishing potty areas ; Getting your puppy home: low-stress strategies for a successful transition ; Understanding decompression: the first three days ; Gotcha day!: daily puppy schedule and first-week goals ; Crate training: making the crate your puppy's happy place ; Potty training: making it easy with timers, consistency, and patience ; Optimizing synaptic connections: emotionally vaccinating your puppy through socialization -- Hardwiring your puppy for happiness. Training foundations: a practical guide to the essentials ; The dreaded bath: how positively layering the experience develops comfort and trust ; Body handling and touch: understanding puppy consent ; Landshark: rethinking puppy biting and how we survive it ; Adolescence: blame it on their brain (and be patient) ; Puppies and children: fostering a lifelong bond ; Resource guarding: what it is and strategies to prevent it from developing ; Rethinking spaying and neutering: making the best choice for your dog ; Therapy dogs: changing the world one dog at a time ; The inevitable goodbye: when the rainbow bridge calls.