Your New Dog
Getting a new dog doesn't mean you are just getting a pet, it means you are also getting a best friend who will give you a lifetime of unconditional love, loyalty, and friendship. In return your dog will count on you to provide food, water, shelter, exercise, care and companionship.
Owning and caring for a puppy or a full grown dog is a big responsibility and each dog will have different requirements depending on the breed, the age of the dog and also where you got the dog from. A dog from an animal shelter may have specific care and training needs compared to a puppy from a registered breeder.
If you have decided to get a dog you will need to be sure that you will be able to take on the full commitment to it. If you have children, will they be able to accept it? Do you know which breeds are best with children? Do you have the time required to care for the dog, including exercise, training and companionship? Can you afford to feed and take care of the veterinary costs involved with dog ownership? Would a puppy or adult dog be better suited to your home and family?
It is important that you do some research and take some time to learn about different breeds of dogs and work out what kind of dog will fit into your lifestyle most easily.
There are many ways to find out about the traits of purebred dogs. You can talk to your local vet, breeders or use books or the internet. If you decide to get a puppy, find out as much as you can about its parents, the puppy's litter habits and its health. A cross breed dog, or mongrel, will be every bit as good a friend and companion as a pedigree and may have fewer inherited genetic defects.
If you decide to get a dog from a animal shelter they will be able to advise you on what dogs will suit you best and offer advice on the behaviour of each individual dog.