If you have been thinking about getting a dog, you are probably aware that dog ownership demands time, money, and energy. Here are a few facts you may want to consider:

Life span: Dog ownership means commitment and responsibility for up to 10-15 years. Puppies will require three to four times more attention in a single day than most dogs over 3 years old.

Housebreaking: Housebreaking can be started at 7 weeks of age, (which is generally the age puppies are taken from their mothers), but cannot be expected until bladder muscle control appears at about 14 weeks of age.

Training: Early training goes a long way and lack of proper training and socialization can be very costly. Puppies need their owners to devote at least a full year of attention (about 3-5 hours total /week) towards proper training and socialization. Depending on their previous circumstances, some second-hand adult dogs may require even more training and socialization.

Play time: Puppies and active breeds demand time for play every day. Unless you have more than one dog, you will be the dog's main playmate -- your dog is not going to want to play by itself. Most breeds under 1 yr. need 3-4 twenty minute play sessions a day. Adults require at least 15-30 minutes vigorous activity/day. Terriers, herding breeds and sporting breeds require two to four times the amount of activity other breeds do.