Choosing a Puppy That's Right for You and Your Lifestyle by:Jay Roach

Choosing a puppy that's right for you can be a tricky decision

. Once you're ready to buy a puppy, now you have to decide big or small, long hair or short hair, bouncy or quiet ... the list goes on!

The variety of puppy breeds available can be overwhelming and it's hard to know where to start or what you should look for. But instead of focusing on the breeds, why not first ask yourself 'What sort of person am I?'

Are you a quiet, sedentary person who prefers to stay indoors? Are you a jogger or runner who wants to take a dog out running? Do you have a house full of children? Are you a busy professional, pressed for time? Are you elderly or infirm?

These sorts of questions will help you choose a dog breed that's right for you. A quiet person doesn't want a Dalmatian that needs a long daily walk or run. A jogger doesn't want a Mastiff that would prefer to sit in front of the fire. A house full of boisterous children wouldn't suit a tiny, delicate Yorkshire Terrier. A busy professional doesn't want a Pomeranian that needs daily brushing. An elderly person shouldn't take on a bouncy, energetic Australian Cattle Dog.

These may seem like obvious points but when choosing a puppy it's very easy to be seduced by that cute fluffy pup in the pet shop window, never realising that it will grow to a medium-sized dog with a long coat that needs regular grooming and clipping! Or into a very large bouncy dog with a very large appetite!

Unfortunately, many people make hasty decisions when choosing a dog. Really, it's much like choosing a human life partner--decisions made in haste may be repented at leisure! And when the relationship between a human and dog ends, the dog often ends up in a pound or animal shelter, where his options may be finding a new home or losing his life. When you choose to take a dog into your life, you will be, in effect, that dog's partner for as long as he lives, so you owe it to him to make the right decision.

So try to avoid choosing a puppy on impulse and think hard about what sort of dog will suit your lifestyle and your budget. Do as much research about the different dog breeds as you can before going out to look for a pup. This is still important if you plan to go to an animal shelter or pound to adopt a mixed breed or crossbreed puppy. If you know what sorts of breeds you're looking for, you'll make a better choice when offering a dog a forever home.

About the author

Jay Roach is passionate about the proper care and training of puppies, and about helping new dog owners understand their furry friends. For more facts, tips and guidance on choosing a dog breed, and on buying and caring for a puppy, visit http://www.puppyprimer.com

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