Choosing the “right” dog can be overwhelming, as it is very important to find a dog that will “fit in” to your lifestyle and will bring joy into your life, rather than frustration. Whatever dog you choose to bring into your home, that dog will offer you unconditional love, and therefore deserves to have a home that he can feel safe and loved in as well.
Each and every dog has its own unique personality. And, with these unique personalities comes distinctive needs. It can be hard to determine which dog will best fit into your lifestyle and fit in with your own personality!
Questions to consider before bringing a new dog to your home:
Do you have children? If so, you will want a dog that is patient and playful.
Do you live in a home with a big yard? If not, you will need to consider options of how your dog will get the exercise he needs. (Especially bigger breeds)
Do you prefer big or small dogs?
Do you want a dog that is already house trained? Or do you want a puppy you can train yourself? There are benefits to both! Puppies are special in the fact that you can raise them and train them from the very beginning. Older dogs are great, just for the fact that you don’t have to go through the “joys” of house training! Either way it is important to know which you prefer.
Do you want a dog that is calm and relaxed or one that is playful and rambunctious? This is
important to know because if you want a dog that is playful and rambunctious, than you will need to be able to have the time to actually play with him and train him the “rules”. They cannot learn how to be good on their own! They need guidance and a lot of love and patience. If you want a dog that is calm and a great dog to cuddle up with at the end of the day, than you will not want to get one of those playful, rambunctious ones. This will only lead to frustration and an unhappy life for you and your dog.
Now what?
After you decide what personality and size of dog you are looking for, then you need to decide what type of dog to get that are known to “match” the personality you are looking for in a dog. You will need to do your homework. Do not hastily make a decision without first doing as much research as you can on all of the different breeds. Of course, just because a breed is known for something, such as “great with children”, doesn’t mean it is always the case. Each dog is unique and you will have to determine the right dog by physically meeting the dog or puppy. However, you can get an idea of which breed to check into through your research and through the questions you have answered from above.
After doing your research it is time to find your dog. There are many places to find a dog. Shelters are a great place to get a dog, as many of these dogs are loveable and really need homes. And, usually you can get a dog for a lot less than going to a pet shop. You could get your puppy from a house breeder. When choosing between a home breeder and a puppy mill or dog farm, it is highly recommended to stay away from the dog farms. Do your research on these types of places. Remember that many pet shops will get their dogs from puppy mills.
Once you have decided on where you want to go for your dog, you need to go and visit the puppy or dog. If you have children, it is a good idea to bring them along to see how the dog reacts with the children. If you decide on a puppy, and it is not time for him to come home, keep in touch and try to visit a couple more times to be sure he will be the perfect match for your home!
Once you have chosen your dog, then you will need to get the supplies for him before he comes home. Be sure to get a kennel, a dog dish, dog food, collar and leash, dog bed and maybe even a bandanna or dog coat! And, remember to have fun and just love your dog. He will be the most loyal friend you will ever have.
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