How to Find a Great Family Dog

Dogs can be a wonderful addition to any family, but choosing the right dog for your family pet can be a difficult decision. Here are a few tips to help you in your decision making process, to help your family find the perfect dog!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A bookstore or library to find books about dog and puppy care, housebreaking, etc.
• a leash, a collar, and an open heart!

1. The first step is to take yourself to the local bookstore or library and read about dogs, the different breeds, basic care and food needs, and about the different types of breeds. This is an essential step to being successful in finding a pet that is not just a dog, but a perfect addition to your family.

2. Consider what you want to be able to do with your dog,
   (do you want a lap dog? or one that loves run and play? A breed that is good with children? A dog that barks to help with security at your country house?
   Also consider any restrictions on animals from landlords (ie. some places allow only small dogs, or require special deposits)

3. Once you have enough information to knew generally what type and size of dog you are looking for, head for your local animal shelter.
   
   If you have your heart set on a purebred, start looking for a reputable breeder - make sure the parents are on-site for you to see, and to see the conditions the puppies and dogs are kept in. Please don't buy from a pet store unless it is a rescue group simply using the store to help them find homes for their shelter dogs (Many dogs from stores that sell puppies get their animals from "puppy mills" where the animals are born, kept, and bred in horrendous conditions. Many of these puppies are already in the early stages of sickness or have fleas and worms because of this. Please don't support puppy mills, or those pet stores that support them),

4. Now get some dog food and make (or buy) a nice place for your new friend to sleep, and go bring your new family member home.

Tips & Warnings

• Adopting from a shelter isn't free (usually 50-25 dollars), but it's not profit this helps reimburse the shelter for the cost of food, shelter and veterinary care for the animal.
• Remember it's also usually first come first serve, some come prepared to take your pet home if you fall in love!
• Plan on taking even a big dog home inside your vehicle, and keep them inside until you have had a chance to test out their temperment more . Not all animals are good "truck bed" travelers, and it's safer in an accident
• It's not a good idea to surprise someone with a pet for a gift, unless they have already been asking about one and are ready and willing to take on the responsibility. Too many "gift" animals end up in shelters because the recipient really wasn't prepared for, or didn't really want, the responsibility of caring for a pet.