How to Pick a Dog to Adopt

Choosing to adopt a dog is a big decision to make. Bringing a pet particularly a dog into your family brings a whole host of new responsibilities. So, once you've decided that you're ready to adopt a dog, how do you pick one? Where do you start? What are your options? Here are a few guidelines to help you pick out your first dog... or your second, or third, or fourth, or 16^th dog.

1) Puppy or adult?

There really is nothing cuter than a puppy. Their playfulness and curious nature just inspire love. However, puppies require a lot of time to train. For a while you may have a young pup peeing on your carpet. Older dogs have the benefit of already being trained and generally have a mellower disposition. Of course, old dogs may also have some bad habits that are hard to break. One of my favorite things about older dogs is that they are exceedingly affectionate in their old age. One thing to remember is that many older dogs do not get adopted simply because they are older. Adopting an adult or elderly dog a loving home for its remaining years.

2) Small or big?

Do you want a lap dog or a running partner? Smaller dogs can be very good companion animals as they're easier to take places. Big dogs are harder to transport. Big dogs are wonderful if you lead a very active lifestyle and would like to go running or biking or hiking with your dog. Keep in mind that you can go both ways by adopting more than one dog.

3) Mutt or purebred?

I myself am partial to mutts. Because their genes are mixed they are less likely to develop hereditary health problems that plague some purebreds. Mutts also come in millions of shapes and sizes. Having a mutt gives you the potential for a very unique looking dog. Purebreds, however, are good if you're interested in showing your dog or you simply want a purebred for the sake of being purebred.

These three things, in my mind, are the most important things to consider when adopting a dog. On a final note, please adopt your dog from a shelter rather than a puppy store. A LARGE majority of animal stores obtain their puppies from puppy mills and you are likely to receive a dog with major health problems Petfinder.com is a wonderful resource for finding just the dog you want from a reputable shelter. If you are looking to purchase a purebred animal, do your research. Ask for AKC papers, ask to see the parents as well as where they were raised, ask for references, and check the BBB to see if there are any complaints against them. Reputable breeders will stand up to scrutiny.