10 Questions for Choosing a Dog

Self Evaluation: Five Questions

• Before choosing a canine pal, spend significant time thinking about your lifestyle. If you don't live alone, have the conversation with everyone in your household. Consider your neighbors, and other animals in your home or neighborhood. Think creatively; project your answers to these questions for the next 10 to 15 years, or longer. This is how long a puppy will live with you.

  1. What kind of home and family do I have? If you live in a condo or development, find out if there are rules about size and number of dogs. Some counties have legislation banning certain breeds. Homes with yards should have secure fencing to keep a dog safe. Even if you don't have a yard, being committed to regular walks can make dog ownership feasible. If there are small children in your home, you should consider a dog that is kid-friendly. Are there elderly or frail people who live or visit you regularly? A large, rambunctious breed could present a hazard. If you don't have children now, but might start a family some time during the lifetime of your new dog, select a dog that will fit into your lifestyle, no matter how it changes.

  2. What is my own activity level? All dogs need regular exercise, and some just need much more than others. Certain breeds are content to live a coach potato existence. Others make excellent jogging or biking companions. A tired dog is a happy dog. Consider how much activity you are able to provide to keep your dog tired and content. Dogs that do not get enough exercise are prone to disruptive and destructive behavior. If you are not a jogger, a dog won't make you become one. Choose a dog that is happy even if he doesn't do a half marathon every week. Think about what age of dog is a fit. Puppies need more training, more exercise and more attention. Puppies that are mixed breed may also surprise you, and not be exactly the size or type of dog that you anticipated. Adult dogs have already been influenced by their previous owners. Seniors may have health concerns.

  3. Am I committed to obedience training? All dogs need basic obedience training to be good citizens and happy family pets. Small dogs should receive as much training as large dogs. Large dogs can become physically unmanageable if untrained. If you don't have experience training dogs, do you have access to training classes or private trainers? Dogs with high energy levels benefit from advanced obedience training, agility training and therapy work. All of these take time and have associated costs, as well as intrinsic satisfaction benefits.

  4. Can I afford a dog? Develop a realistic estimate of what you can spend on a dog. Large dogs eat more food than small dogs. Vet bills can run in the thousands annually for certain disease-prone breeds. Spaying, neutering and annual vaccinations can be expensive. Dogs with high maintenance coats require regular grooming.

  5. Where will I get my dog? Dogs and puppies can be adopted or purchased from many sources. Neighbors and friends often offer puppies for a nominal price. Pet stores, nationally recognized breeders, shelters, breed-specific rescue groups and ads in the local paper or online are other sources. Puppy mills churn out litter after litter with too little thought to genetic combinations, disease and inherited deficiencies, often in poor living conditions. Many states have legislation that regulates dog breeding operations. It is a very valid concern to avoid purchasing a puppy that may have come from a puppy mill. If you do, you are helping perpetuate a sad and abusive industry. If you choose a dog from an unknown source, you are supporting irresponsible breeding, and the bad judgment of those who do not spay or neuter their animals.

Dog Research: Five More Questions

• Purebred dogs have been developed over many decades, sometimes centuries, to have consistent personalities, behaviors and physical characteristics. Breeders work toward maintaining a "breed standard," which applies to all aspects of a purebred dog. When selecting a purebred dog, you can reasonably anticipate how your dog will behave as an adult, its size, what its specific health needs may be, even its life expectancy. Choosing a mixed breed dog is a bit more challenging. Trained staff at a shelter or other rescue organization can make an educated guess about the possible breed mixes of a particular dog. If you have decided that a dog with schnauzer-like traits would be a good fit, for example, or you want a dog with strong protective instincts like a Rottweiler, kennel staff can more specifically assist you.

  6. What kind of personality suits me? Some dogs are aloof, some friendly. Some are high energy and others are happy to curl up on the sofa and sleep the afternoon away. Within a litter, there will also be a range of personalities. Some puppies are "alpha," others are more submissive or shy. You should spend time interacting with the dog or puppy that you are considering. Ask their current caretakers about their personalities, to make certain that you did not catch the "wild" one on an unusually quiet morning.

  7. What size dog fits my home and lifestyle? What "look" am I attracted to? Toy and small breeds are easy to carry with you, easily transported and often welcome at hotels, on airplanes and in condos and rentals. Large or giant dog breeds present space considerations, sometimes even dictating what type of car the family drives.

  8. How smart do I want my dog to be? Certain dog breeds are known for their high intelligence, which means that they are easy to train but difficult to keep challenged. Dogs of other breeds may be stubborn or need more repetition to accomplish a task. Dog breeds are often rated for "novice" or experienced owners. Be honest in your assessment of your own ability to handle a particular breed.

  9. What is the origin and history of a breed? It is important to consider what your dog was bred to do. Dogs that were bred to herd can be bossy, mouthy and protective. Hunting dogs may be independent and high energy. Dogs that were developed for guard duty need strong direction and an assertive, "alpha" owner. Working dogs do best if you have time to direct them with a job, fetching or carrying a pack on long walks. Many dogs that were bred to be assertive guard dogs have gradually been bred to a more easy-going temperament, though, so consider how breed standards have changed, or may vary from continent to continent. Often American breeders prefer a different temperament, coat or size than European breeders.

  10. Are there any special concerns? Every breed has health issues that are particular to those dogs. Hip dysplasia, cancer, and digestive issues are some examples. Dogs with floppy ears are prone to ear infections. Some shed, some don't. Some dogs are droolers. A breeder or dog breed literature can tell you the drawbacks of specific dog breeds. Some are generally aggressive with other dogs. Some are natural barkers, and might be considered a nuisance by an unsuspecting owner.

Making the Match

• After you have come up with answers to the 10 questions above, you should have a fairly good idea of what type of dog would fit into your life. Even if you are not certain of the specific breed, you will have a sense of the type of dog that best suits you. The next step is to talk with friends and spend time with their dogs. Dog sit. Dog walk. You should also contact breeders and ask them to "interview" you. Breeders are knowledgeable about their specialty and will be able to make an educated recommendation on whether or not you would make a good owner for their dogs. Many websites have "dog breed selector" quizzes. These can be a great tool for narrowing your selection. If you let your heart and your head collaborate in the choice of a dog to share your home, you will find a friend for life.