If Santa brought a puppy as part of your holiday gifts, you may already be wondering what you've gotten into.

A pet brings a new set of challenges like no other gift does. Marge Petrow, of Woodbridge Animal Shelter, says working with your new pet and understanding it's a lifetime commitment right away is key to having a well-adjusted pet and a happy owner.

Petrow says she sees too many dogs surrendered at the shelter because what seemed like a great idea for Christmas becomes a nightmare by Easter.

For those who can't afford a private trainer, some pet stores offer obedience training at a lower cost. If the pet was a gift for just one person, experts suggest that the whole family get involved in training. The more people involved, the faster a new four-legged friend will be house broken and socialized.