So you’ve decided to add a dog to your life, but what kind of a dog? There are many factors to consider – dog’s age, breed, etc… Selecting a dog that matches your lifestyle is another aspect you need to consider. It is very important to do some homework and figure out what you are looking for before you actually begin your search for a new companion.

Here are some things to consider...

Your Lifestyle
Selecting a dog that matches your life style is very important. For instance, if you are living in a small apartment, a dog that is large and high energy is not the best choice. However, if you are an active, athletic person, this type of dog can be the best match for you.

Dog’s Age – Puppy or Adult?
You must admit – it is hard to resist those cute cuddly puppies with droopy eyes. Puppies are cute little bundles of joy, but usually require much more attention than older dogs. You will need a lot of time and patience – housetrain a puppy and correcting unwanted behavior such as chewing and jumping. The advantage of getting a puppy is that you can be sure that he/she receives proper care during puppy hood, such as proper nutrition and socialization.

Getting a more mature dog can bring as much joy as getting a puppy. The major advantage of getting an older dog is that the dog is usually already housebroken and passed the destructive chewing phase. Some dogs may take a little longer to adjust to new surroundings at first, but with just a little patience, he/she will soon become a wonderful part of your family.

Purebred or Mixed Breed?
As we know, all dogs are either purebreds or mixed breeds. If you are planning to compete in dog shows or looking for a breed with specific characteristic, you would probably want to find a reputable breeder or contact a purebred rescue group for that breed. Animal shelters also have many purebreds. The American Kennel Club is an excellent source of finding out about purebreds. All purebreds have specific breed standards. Therefore, if you get a purebred puppy, you will have a good idea on his/her size, appearance and temperament.

Mixed breeds are combinations of different breeds, so if you can tell the predominant breed of a mixed-breed puppy, you can still predict his/her physical and behavioral traits. Mixed breeds have combined traits of different breeds, thus they are more likely to be free from breed specific health problems.

So now you have a pretty good idea what type of dog to get? Your next step is to consider where to get your new addition to your family!

Next step: Adopting a Dog