How Tolerant Are You?

Remember that normal puppy behavior includes chewing, whimpering/barking, having to eliminate at night, and wanting to play constantly during all waking hours. Do you have the time? The patience? The energy? The schedule?                

Have you thought about what's it really like to own a dog? (click here for a reality check)

How much outdoor exercise do you like to do? Will the dog you pick be able to accompany you while you do this exercise? (i.e. running, hiking) Would you prefer a dog that does not demand a lot of exercise? If you often come home from work exhausted and feel like you do not have enough time to get things done, you do not want an active dog or a very young puppy.          
                                        

Do you want an outdoor or an indoor dog?

• Outdoors: Be sure to pick the right breed for outdoor weather (coat not too heavy for summer or too thin for winter) and choose a dog with a very independent temperament. Do not pick a breed that is prone to excessive barking like a terrier or a herding dog. Do not pick a breed that craves human affection like a Golden Retriever. Most importantly, remember that all dogs are, by nature, pack animals and isolating the dog will cause behavior problems as well as making the dog unpleasant to be around. As a rule, outdoor only dogs are much happier in pairs than alone. Fleas and ticks will be harder to control on outdoor dogs in the summer.

• Indoors: Fleas and ticks will be easier to control, but there will still be dog hair and dander.   Decide ahead of time where the dog will be allowed and where it will not be allowed, where it will eat, sleep, and eliminate. Be sure to give the dog a resting place (a crate with a bed in it is ideal) of its own and toys of its own.  Many people say they feel guilty about getting a dog because everyone in the household works all day.  The fact is, most of today's dog-owners also work all day.  The secret is that dogs need about 16-18 hours of sleep per day.  Dogs can sleep while you sleep and sleep while you work if you follow two simple rules: 
• Give the dog a crate to sleep in so that he understands it is time to sleep
• Play with the dog (vigorous exercise) in the hours in between work and sleep

Does Anyone in the House Have Allergies?

Remember that people tend to be allergic to pet dander (flakes of skin), and not the hair.  Also know that allegies to dander can be very specific (allegic to cats and not dogs or vise versa or even allergic to only one particular dog breed).  If someone in the house does have allergies, their allergist should always be consulted.  If the allergist approves, then breeds like West Highland Terriers, Poodles, and Bichon Frise should be considered because of the low overall amount of dander in the breed.

How Do You Feel About Dog Hair?            

Many people mistakenly think that longer fur means more shedding.   The truth is that many dogs with short hair can actually shed more than dogs with long fur.  Short hair, (because each hair is so small), is difficult to clean up.   Dogs with a heavy undercoat like the herding and nordic breeds will shed  a lot of soft fuzzy furballs at least twice per year, in the spring and fall.    Some shorter coated breeds like the Labrador Retriever and the German Shepherd tend to shed year-round.  Poodles and Bichon Frise do not shed at all and many terriers shed very little.  Good grooming practices, a good air-filtration system and a good vacuum cleaner, though, can help you manage the hair.  (Afterall, humans shed hair and dander, too!)

Who else will the dog interact with?

Will the dog you choose need enough energy and tolerance to keep up with active children? Will the dog need to be gentle with a toddler? Will the dog need to be calm enough to provide quiet companionship for a senior citizen? If you have a infant or toddler, ask yourself seriously if you really want two babies in the house demanding all of your attention at the same time. Neither will have manners towards the other and you will have to teach both to behave around the other. (Often, an older dog with experience around children is a much better choice for parents of very young children.)

Taking your dog with you: Dogs can be trained to adapt to almost any environment (car, boat, etc.) and there are a growing number of hotels/vacation spots that allow (especially crate-trained) dogs. On the other hand, if you can't take your dog with you may need to look into a pet sitting service or a dog "day care" center. (Do not wait until the last minute to call a kennel or dog sitter...they will be booked!)  See also TakeYourPet.com.