Choosing Your New Pet

So, you and your family have decided to get a new dog, But what should you get? Should you get a puppy or a grown dog? Should it be a small designer dog or do you want a big dog. Should you adopt a dog from a local shelter or do you want a pedigreed pooch? Your decision should be based on what is the best fit for your family.
Puppies are cute, but there is a lot of time involved in training and caring for a puppy. If you don't have the time and patience it takes to train a puppy, you may want to consider an older puppy or dog that has already had some of the basic training. A homeless pet shelter is the perfect place to find an older puppy or dog, and most reputable pet shelters will be able to tell you if the dog gets along well with children or other pets, and also if it is already crate trained or housebroken, plus they have already had their shots and have been health checked.
If you want a breed specific dog, you may want to check your area for a Rescue Group for that breed. A friend adopted a one year old doberman puppy from a local Doberman Rescue Group. The puppy was already fully trained and quickly fit into her new home.
If you are looking for a specific breed, do some research on that breed first. If you are wanting a quiet dog for an apartment, then you may want to steer clear of a Terrier breed that requires a lot of exercise and may be hyperactive. So please research the breed first.
Now, should your new dog be a small lapdog or a bigger dog for protection and companionship. A small breed such as a chihuahua may not do well around young children who like to roughhouse. Larger breeds may accidently hurt a child. All breeds have distinct personalities and characteristics, so do the research before you choose your pet to avoid both you and your pet, future heartache.
Something else you should consider before getting a pet is, who will care for that pet when you go out of town? If you are a frequent traveler, putting your pet in a kennel for a week or two at a time can get very expensive for you and can be very distressing to your pet. If you are a frequent traveler and you still desire to have a dog, you may want to check with your local shelters and breed rescues about fostering a pet. You would take care of the pet in your home, until an adoptive family is found. Whatever you decide, having a 4 legged companion can be a very rewarding and also a very trying experience for both you and your new pet. So do the research and get the best fit for your family and lifestyle.