Choosing a dog is far more difficult in today’s world than it was in the past. Dogs in history served a purpose, they worked for their owners and in return they were fed, sheltered and taken care of. Very rarely were they kept solely for companionship. Some dogs are great no matter where or how they are kept and others need high-levels of exercise, training and even a job’ in order to be well-adjusted.

Thingsto take into account (in this order)

1) Your lifestyle-Time, energy, financial resources

2) Age group. Puppy, adult, senior

3) Height/Weight

4) Grooming needs

5) Breed

6) Special needs-Medication, special bathing requirementsetc.

7) Individual Appearance

The first thing to do when searching for a new companion is to sit down and objectively evaluate your lifestyle. How much time can you put into a dog for grooming, exercise, play and training? Decide why you think you want a new dog and then startlooking for breeds that match your time allotment, personality and living situation.

Age is important when deciding to add a companion to your life. Puppies and seniors are going to require more time and money than a young adult dog. House-training and medication can be pricey in both energy and cash so make sure you have the resources available for the age group you’re interested in. Special needs are not always tied into age. Many breeds of dog need special care because of their risk of health issues. Pugs for instance need special bathing/drying care and English Bulldogs need tons of medical assistance.

Size and grooming amounts are consumers of time and money as well. Large dogs eat more, eliminate more and typically need Largeamounts of exercise/play time. Long-haired dogs need daily brushing and can require having the area beneath their tail trimmed short or shaved to prevent cling-ons. The same goes for dogs with double coats such as the spitz breeds. Their undercoat causes them to over-heat easily and needs a special rake’ to remove the matting under hair.

Breed is a very essential consideration because the breed dictates all of the above items. However in order to find a breed that is suitable you’ve to decide just how much you want to invest into proper care. Once you’ve got it narrowed down to a small sampling of different breeds or a breed group that you are interested in it’s time to hit the books or the Internet and find out as much about those breeds as you can. Research should be done before picking your new dog in order to provide you with a platform to startfrom. A good breeder will do their ideal to match personalities and many will also tell you if their breed is not right for you.

Once you’ve taken an honest look at your lifestyle and what breeds will mesh with you and your home it’s time to take a look at their physical characteristics. Only after everything else has been sifted through should a dog’s appearance come into the large picture. Getting a dog because it’s cute’ or funny’ is a bad idea that frequently results in the animal being dumped because it just wasn’t working out. Love at first sight can be a great thing however, it soon wears off if you aren’t prepared for the work involved. Don’t make that mistake if you want the best chance of a long, successful partnership with your canine friend.