| ign="center"> | | | | "baggage." Some adult dogs have been abused or |
| The decision to buy or to adopt a dog is not one | | | | neglected. As a result, these dogs have acquired |
| that should be taken lightly. It is a serious | | | | some less-than-ideal behaviors of their own. |
| commitment and there are several factors to | | | | Once you've got an idea of what you want, there |
| consider. Are you really ready to have a dog? As | | | | are generally two options you can take to get |
| fun as dogs can be, it is a serious decision. You | | | | your new puppy or adult dog. You can buy a dog |
| are planning to take responsibility for a living | | | | from a reputable breeder, or you can adopt or |
| creature that is completely dependent on you. | | | | rescue a dog from an animal shelter. Unless you're |
| Dogs require food, shelter, health care, exercise, | | | | looking for a purebred dog that you possibly plan |
| attention, love, time and money. If you're not | | | | to breed in the future, adoption from a shelter is |
| completely prepared to provide all of these things, | | | | one of the best ways to go. Adopting a pet from |
| you're not yet ready to own a dog. | | | | a shelter is not as expensive as buying a pet |
| Your lifestyle should be probably one of the | | | | from a breeder. |
| biggest factors to consider when planning to get a | | | | Animals from a shelter are usually screened for |
| dog. All dogs require attention, but some need | | | | health and temperament, so you can be sure that |
| much more than others. If left alone, these dogs | | | | while you're giving an animal in need a home, it's |
| will not do so well and are more likely to destroy | | | | the right animal for your home. However, if you're |
| items in your home. The same can be said for | | | | looking for a specific breed, a breeder (or a |
| exercise. Some dogs require much more time to | | | | specific breed rescue) is the way to go. Ask for |
| run around, while others can get by with less | | | | references from your breeder, and ask about |
| physical activity. If you're the type of person who | | | | how many times of year they breed. A good |
| is away from home more often than not, you | | | | breeder generally only produces one to three |
| should choose a dog that will manage well in your | | | | litters a year and will guarantee their dogs against |
| absence — independent breeds like | | | | most major health defects. |
| Dachshunds, Mastiffs, or the Yorkshire Terrier. | | | | Pet stores offering puppies are not good options, |
| Everyone loves puppies. They're adorable. But | | | | as they tend to purchase their puppies from |
| how adorable will you think your puppy is when | | | | "puppy mills" — breeders that produce |
| you find him in the middle of a mess that used to | | | | many litters a year with no apparent concern for |
| be your favorite pair of shoes. Puppies, like babies, | | | | the health and well being of their dogs. These |
| require an enormous amount of attention and | | | | puppies tend to be more likely to have strong |
| effort — from housebreaking and socializing | | | | health concerns due to neglect. When chosen for |
| to teaching acceptable manners. If you don't have | | | | all the right reasons, the ownership of a dog can |
| the time to keep a steady training schedule, | | | | be wholly rewarding and a very satisfying |
| perhaps you should look into getting an adult dog. | | | | experience. |
| However, adult dogs come with their own | | | | |