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Step 1
What are you looking for in a dog? Do you want a watch dog, a calm companion for you and your family, or a dog to take on long walks that has a lot of energy? These are the things you need to figure out before you even start your search. Talk to friends, family and neighbors about their dogs. Even get to know their pets to see if they have the temperament you are looking for.
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Step 2
Your local Humane Society can be the best place to find your canine companion. It would be a good idea to start there. These organizations have behavior specialists that get to know each dog before they are put up on the adoption floor. They can tell you about the personality of the animal, the breed tendencies ... including potential health issues you may have to deal with in the future. For instance, German Shepherds make wonderful family dogs and great protectors. But they are prone to hip dysplasia (a condition that can usually be helped with simple medication, but sometimes requires surgery later in life). Take all of that into consideration.
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Step 3
Lab puppies!Just some other basics to know: the two most popular family breeds in the world are the Labrador Retriever, and the Golden Retriever. Both are great companions, and good with children. BUT ... they are high energy dogs! So they will need a big backyard to play in, or someone who is committed to taking them on long walks and runs to burn up some of that energy. Hounds are a popular breed as well. But with them, we are talking about "scent animals" that are bred to hunt. So, again, unless you have a lot of property, or the time to take them out and burn off that energy, you may want to re-think that choice.
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Step 4
Don't overlook the mixed breeds! Yes, the mutts. Many dog lovers choose these dogs over the purebreds for various reasons, and Humane Societies and Animal Shelters are full of dogs like this that make wonderful family pets. They can be just as smart (or smarter), and many times much less high strung than some of the purebreds. Remember, you are going for personality and temperament, not the "bragging rights" that you own a purebred animal.
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Step 5
There are hundreds of different breeds out there, so it would be impossible to cover every one of them and tell you which is the right choice for you. When it comes to making your final decision, be sure to have all of your family members, and any other pets (dogs or cats) in your household meet your potential new family member before you decide to take them home. This is a very important "get acquainted" time that will give you a very good indication of how the dog will interact with others in your household.
