I'm about to make a small pond for some plants[?], the birds, a water
feature and a doggie wading pool. [our pug Gizmo likes to wade- but
doesn't like to swim.g]

Tell me how many things I should do/change before I start digging.

I'm thinking about an 8x10 or so pond liner- depth of the pond to go
from 2-4 inches on one end to 18inches or so on the deep end.

Sand or gravel on the bottom of the shallow end.

More or less kidney shaped- with pavers/stone edging.

My plan was to utilize the unused dug well adjacent to the site and
re-circulate the water between pond and well. The well holds about
1000 gallons, usually about 10 feet below the surface. I was
hoping to keep the water cool and refreshing.

The more I read the less this seems like a good idea- and the more I
think I should just set it up to be self contained. [though there
will be running water from a bucket over the well to the pond through
a trough over the flower bed.] I'll use one pump to fill/cool off
the pond- and another to skim & filter.

How many cardinal sins have I committed so far? g
[BTW- I'm in NY zone 5-6ish and the site will be in full sun only
about 5 hours on the longest days. It is on the west side of a
deciduous tree.]

Thanks-
Jim