Choosing the Right Dog for Your Family

A dog is a wonderful addition to a family, and can be great one for yours. Owning a dog is a 10-15 year commitment and you should keep this in mind when considering bringing a dog into your family. Taking the time to find the dog that best fits your lifestyle will save you a lot of stress later. America's shelters are overflowing with companion animals because their owners realized that they didn't have enough time for them or they grew out of the cute, puppy stage. Understanding what you'll be getting will prevent this from happening to you and your new dog.

Know your lifestyle. Think about what goes on with your family on a daily basis. Is someone always at home during the day or do you have a job that keeps you away? Puppies need a lot of attention in the beginning and frequent bathroom breaks. You don't need to stay home all day with your puppy every day, but if it's more likely than not that the puppy will be alone for more than 4 hours frequently, an older dog would probably be the better option.

You activity level should also be considered. What do you do with your free time? Go hiking or stay in for a good movie? Active dogs will do much better with an active family that can burn off his excess energy. Lazy dogs won't appreciate being dragged on your daily 4 mile jog. Furthermore, don't buy the wrong dog for your lifestyle with the intention of changing it. Don't buy a hyperactive dog with the intentions of becoming more active yourself; you'll probably just revert back to your regular habits and the dog will come up with other, not so productive ways to burn off his energy - like chewing your shoes.

Consider the future. You're dog will be with you a long while if all goes well. Think about what could happen in the next decade or so of your life. Are you planning a major move or having children? Depending on what you're planning for the future, certain dogs will be better suited to handle the changes. For example, small dogs fit well into apartments, and a territorial dog is not going to be the perfect pet while also having a baby. You might not be able to predict everything that's going to happen that far down the road, but taking some of the major "ifs" into consideration will help ensure your dog is always a good part of your family.

Research dog breeds. You should have some idea of what characteristics would be a good fit for you family based on your lifestyle and future needs. Breeds are bred for specific reasons; this will make it easier to predict the personality traits of the dog you want. Do you need a big, lazy dog or a small, hyper one? How about one that doesn't shed too much? All aspects of a dog should be considered when doing your research.

He's cute but is the right one? You've done all your research, made a note of what you need and a few breeds that overlap perfectly into those needs. Then you see the cutest puppy in the world and forget everything else. It's easy to pick up a cute puppy and think you'll make it work, but the reality is he might be the opposite of what you need. Stay strong to your mission of finding the right dog, not just the cutest one.

Spend time with the prospective dog. Whether you're getting the dog from a shelter or from a breeder you'll need to spend time with him before bringing home. You should spend as much time as possible before making it official to get a good feel for the dog. If you're adopting, find out as much information as possible about the dog's history (if it's an adult dog), and if you're buying from a breeder ask to meet the parents or at least find out as much information about them as possible. Make sure everyone in your family wants the dog. Don't make the adjustment harder for you or the dog than is necessary. Everyone should be in agreement about the dog that's coming home.