Almost ready to take the pup home...

You have researched the pup that best suits your environment and lifestyle.  It's not too big or too small, sheds or doesn't is a pure bred or a mixed breed.  You know the relative cost of purchase, the food bill, the vet bills and now there is the first step before you bring the puppy home.
You should ask the breeder, if you could bring a blanket over so that it can be put in the kennel with the mom and pups or at the least you can rub down the mom with the blanket so that her scent transfers to it.
when you get home place the blanket into the kennel or location where the pup is to live.
This will help it during the transition because it will smell familiar and assist it calming down at night when it sleeps alone for the first time.
If at all possible pick up the dog when it is the weekend, preferably along weekend or a time where you have 3 or four days off.
This is like a new baby and both you and the pup are going to adjust to one another.  Expect some long nights where the pup awakes and cries or whimpers.
Do not pick up the pup when it cries.  Simply pet it and keep it in it's enclosure.  If it wants out then simply say firmly, "No"
 Place the pup back into the kennel and walk away.  You may have to repeat this several times.

Never hit the dog for any reason.
Do not rub the dogs nose into its feces or urine.


Understand that this is a pup and it will have accidents.  Use a pee pad.  Place it outside the kennel and when it does it's thing reward it with with compliments and give it a treat.
All dogs have the equivalent behavior of a 2 year old child and a vocabulary of about 200 words.
It will be a child for all its life.  Treat it like it is one when it comes to discipline
When you get up in the morning, don't go for the coffee, go straight to the dog and take it outside and when it completes its task, reward it and then carry on with meeting your needs.
If you go out for an extended time expect accidents and do not reprimand the dog.  It does not know what it is getting in trouble for if it did its thing a couple of hours prior to your arrival.

I have a 4 year old female, Shih-Tzu, who after every bathroom break, wiggles her little tail then runs into the house and goes to where the treats are kept.  She always gets a compliment and a treat.

Puppy proof your house.  Puppies will teethe and they will chew on wooden legs, shoes and anything they can sink their teeth into.  If you catch the pup in the act, simply say "No!" and then give it a chew toy.  
Have several so they don't get bored.
I will go into more details about training but this is a good start.

Enjoy your pup, expect accidents, expect some damage due to chewing,   There is never a good reason for beating your dog.  In fact if you do then truly, you are not ready for such a commitment and should re-evaluate why you need a dog.

Socializing the dog will be my next topic.