There are ALOT of things to consider when picking out a dog to fit into your family. You are basically picking out a new family member.Remember that the dog you pick will be with you and your family his/her whole life. You should be very careful and consider everything involved with their care and up keep before you decide on one. Will you or someone in your family be able to properly care for this new family member ? In this 'throw away ' society people think ,"if the dog doesn't work out , I'll just get rid of it and find another that will"

WRONG ANSWER!!! There are millions of innocent dogs put to sleep every day due to an attitude like this. This decision should be as serious as picking out a human baby to adopt! After all a dog is dependent on their owners for everything just like a baby.You must think of feeding, grooming, housing, socialization, exersize, vet visits on a timely basis for shots & wormings and just regular check ups. You have to provide all these things ! They are all things to consider before you make a decision.

Okay, you definately have decided you want a dog for your family companion. Where should you look? Well, it depends on what kind of family you have. If you are a single person or a couple you might consider adopting from the local shelter or rescue. There are many wonderful dogs and puppies taken to animal shelters every day.There are many good things that come out of a shelter or rescue adoption.If you consider an adult dog you can possibly find one that has already been house trained.You also will be getting a dog that has already been 'fixed' (neutered or spayed) so you will not have to forego the expense of having that done.Some adult dogs already have their manners in tact or have been trained to do simple commands. Also you would be saving a dogs life and that is a great feeling. If a shelter/recue dog sounds like it might work for you go visit if possible.Find out any issues the dog might have.Ask questions like Where did this dog come from? was it brought to the shelter or given up and why . Make sure you know how the shelter got the dog or puppy. Adopting an animal can be very rewarding . Some shelter dogs just have special needs and you want to know those needs so you will know if you can or can not meet those needs.Also if you are in driving range of the shelter or rescue dog visit the dog more than once if possible.The shelter more than likely has visiting rooms so spend some time with the dog before coming to a decision if time permits. Make sure you consider the needs of the dog even if it's not special needs.Large breed dogs need fenced yards or long exersize times during the day. Large breeds are more expensive to feed. Make sure the animal 'fits'. For instance a little old lady doesn't need a Doberman and an active nine year old boy doesn't need an old poodle :)

If you have decided you want a specific breed of dog for your family , do the research. Know what to expect from the animal by knowing the breed. Lets say you think you want a Doberman. Google it!!! Go to the library and read about the traits of a Doberman. If you have two small children , you may not want a Doberman because they get so large and are basically an outside dog. Yes you probably have a fenced yard , but would you be comfortable letting your children play outside with a dog this size?You may or may not but these kinds of questions will help you to pick the perfect dog breed for your family.

Once you have decided on a breed you then need to look for a breeder. Do Not buy your pup from a pet store!!!Pet stores buy from Puppy Mills . Puppy mills are horrible!! They cram dogs into tight spaces, do not care for their dogs at all .They are kept in awful, nasty conditions and fed the minimum amount of food to keep them alive so they can be over bred and abused. They are NEVER taken to a vet or administered shots or wormed . Nothing I could tell you about a puppy mill can explain how horrible it is. Buying from pet stores keeps puppy mills in business. Don't do it. Talk to lots of breeders and pick one accordingly. There are many good breeders out there that breed great dogs. Most good breeders send their pups home with a certificate of health from the vet and a contract that guarantees their health. Again ask questions!!