How to Choose the Right Dog for Your Lifestyle

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By dogauthority
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Article Rating: (3 Ratings)

Do you want a dog? Here are some instructions to help you find the perfect dog for your lifestyle.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

perserverance
patience
determination
a computer
books

Step 1

First, consider your lifestyle. Are you active? Are you lazy? Would the dog be left alone all day while you were at home? Would the dog get full-time attention? Do you want a jogging partner or a napping partner? Do you want a kid-friendly dog? Do you want a guard dog? Do you have allergies and need a low-shedding dog?
Step 2

Next, do some research. Research, research, research! Find out what breed is right for you. A quiz that is helpful is the "What breed is right for your family?" quiz on dogbreedinfo.com. Here is the link: http://dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm
Step 3

Take a trip to your local library. Check out some dog encyclopedias, and once you have found a possible breed, check out some books on it.
Step 4

Once you have found the breed you want, research it carefully!
Step 5

It is best to meet some dogs of that breed before you get one yourself. Get to know the breed by meeting as many as you can. If a friend of neighbor of yours owns a dog of that breed, ask if you can spend some time with him/her. Know the breed before you buy/adopt!!
Step 6

Find a reputable breeder or visit an animal shelter. DON'T EVER BUY DOGS FROM PET STORES. Most likely, if you buy dogs from them, they are from puppy mills. Puppy mills are extremely terrible and mistreat dogs. So be careful on selecting your breeder!
Step 7

Adopt/purchase a dog!

Comments

marielc said

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on 5/29/2009 This is a good article. Pets do need to have the right compatibility with the owners.

karatekid said

on 8/29/2008 this is great idea thatnks dog's rule

on 8/27/2008 Great article...so important to research your breed to match your lifestyle. I have only owned Bichon Frise's...they are perfect for my family in everyway!! It makes your life & the life of your pet so rewarding....when you take the time & attention for breed selection. I have a friend whos inlaws (82 years old) just purchased a Terrier!!!! its been a total disaster for owner & pet! In my opinion this was not a decision made by a reputable breeder! Thank you again for this article....DO THE RESEARCH!!!