Tips: Choosing A Dog

Chances are, if you're reading this blog, you already have a dog.
But, in case you're doing research about dogs, keep reading!

Step 1: Figure out what breed you want.

This is important because if you live in a tiny apartment, you DON'T want a Bernese Mountain Dog because they are HUGE! You would be more suited to a Yorkshire terrier.
After you consider environment, you have it narrowed it down. Now do research on those specific breeds and choose which one is more suited to your personality.

• ENVIRONMENT- Consider size of house, how often you are home, and whether or not you have younger people at home (2-10). If you have kids, a fierce dog like a Jack Russell Terrier might not be the best choice because I don't think they're kid-friendly.

By the way- if you're allergic to dogs but love them, get a hypoallergenic dog, such as a poodle. My dad's allergic, and we have a poodle and it's fine!

• PERSONALITY- You might want a dog that run with you, a dog that never runs out of energy, or even just a dog that cuddles up and watches TV with you after you've had a long and exhausting day at work. It just depends on YOU.

Step 2: Where will you get your dog?

The answer to that question is NOT a puppy mill! I would say either a breeder or a shelter. A breeder is a better choice if you want a puppy, a shelter would be a better choice for a grown dog. If you get a dog from a breeder, make sure the breeder breeds the type of dog you want.

Step 3: Choosing your dog

Now, contact the breeder/ visit the shelter you are getting your puppy from. Pick your dog and take him/her home right away if it's from a shelter. However, if you're getting one from a breeder, you might have to wait for your dog to be BORN and then wait 2 months. However, you might be able to pick from a ready-to-be-adopted litter of puppies. It depends on the breeder. Oh yeah- don't adopt a dog until you make sure it has the personality you want.