Choosing a dog is a big commitment - he or she will be with you for quite some time! So, in thinking about what kind of dog you would like to adopt, we have put together some things you should consider...
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Why do you want a dog?
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How long will your dog be home alone? |
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Do you plan on having a mid-day dog walker or sending your dog to doggie daycare? |
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How much time do you personally have to exercise your dog? What kind of exercise do you plan to do? (running, walking, dog parks) |
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Who in the family will have the primary responsibility for walking the dog? |
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Will your dog be living with small children? (Now or in the next 5-10 years) |
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Will your dog be living with other dogs? Cats? (Now or in the next 5-10 years) |
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How upset will you be if your dog chews your things? |
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How upset will you be if your dog has housebreaking issues? |
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Do you have time to housebreak a puppy? (Puppies generally need to go potty every few hours “ a good rule of thumb is one plus the number of months old they are. So, a 3 month old puppy needs to go out every 4 hours “ including through the night.) |
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Does your home/apartment have breed or weight restrictions? |
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Do you have a yard? Is it fenced? How tall is the fence? |
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Does anyone in your family have allergies to consider? How much will shedding bother you? |
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Do you plan to move in the next 5 years? Will your dog be able to move with you? |
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How much can you afford to spend on care for your dog? Cost estimates can vary greatly, but we've put together a few websites to give you a sense of what to expect. |