Instructions
Outline a typical weekly schedule. Determine how much free time you have, what you are doing during the day, and other factors that can influence the life of your new dog. Use this to figure out your activity level, how much time you will be away from your dog, and how much time you can devote to training or other activities they may need.
Decide if you want a puppy or an adult dog. Puppies are very active, curious, and their personality requires a lot of attention. Adult dogs have grown into their personalities, and most have mellowed with age. However, there may be other personality issues - such as aggression, anxiety, or shyness that may need to be addressed.
There are six general types of personalities: aggressive, independent, assertive, confident, adaptable, and insecure. Each type has it's own needs and can be determined as a puppy. To test a dogs personality as a puppy, roll them on their back and lightly hold them to see their reaction. Shy dogs will tend to be non reactive, while confident dogs will try and squirm away.
Each breed has its own general personality, so do some research online or at the library to start. For example, Jack Russell Terrier's are energetic, while Pugs are mellow. Keep in mind that is a generalization for the breed, there are dogs that are exceptions to the general breed rules.
Talk to dog owners that own the type of dog you are interested in. They will tell you a lot of information that you will not encounter in books or on the internet. It is one thing to read about a personality type of a dog, but experiencing it can be very different.
Talk to your vet and obedience trainer. They will give you clues as to what to look for and what to stay away from personality wise. For example, an adult dog can have aggressive personality traits, but only an experienced person may be able to identify the warning signs.
How to Match Your Personality With Your Dog
Choosing a dog can be a difficult process, and personality has to be taken into consideration. For example, you probably don't want to own a "couch potato" do if you are an active person or vice versa. Keep in mind there are exceptions to every rule, but here is a general guideline of what to look for when you are checking out a dog's and breeds personality.