There are many factors to consider when choosing the right dog for you. The right choice can result in a long and happy relationship for both you and your pet, but an error in judgment can lead to a very unhappy climate for all that are involved.

When choosing that new dog you need to consider the age, temperament, breed and background if you can determine it.

You should also take a close look at you and your lifestyle. Do you have other pets in the house? Do you like to travel a lot? Does your job require that you travel and be gone for extended periods of time? Do you live in a small apartment with limited space to share or do you have a country home with plenty of space for a dog to explore?

Taking care of a dog can be expensive. Are you willing and able to take care of regular veterinarian visits as well as day to day expenses such as good quality food?

Hopefully all members of your family are agreed on getting and taking care of new dog as well as the the type and size of dog they would like.

Learn all you can about the different breeds of dogs that are appropriate for your lifestyle and living conditions. If you have a busy, hectic lifestyle with limited time, you may want to consider an adult dog which will require a great deal less attention and time than a new puppy.

Tips for choosing an adult dog:

- Make sure the dog gets along with children(if you have any)
- Make sure the dog gets along with existing pets
- Make certain it is in good health
- Is it friendly and outgoing?
- What do you know about it's history?
- Is it appropriate for your lifestyle?

Tips for choosing a puppy:

- Do all of the puppies and adult dogs appear healthy?
- Are the kennels clean and maintained?
- Are the puppies active and curious?
- Are the adult dogs friendly...especially the dame?
- Do the puppies eyes appear clear?
- Can the kennel owners provide references of other owners?
- How long have they been breeding?
- What is the policy on returns?
- Can they provide proof of vaccinations & health records?

You should get good, satisfactory information from your visit or you may want to consider other kennels. In fact you may want to consider getting your dog from a shelter. Some mighty good dogs can be found there. For some folks it is one of their first goals. They are not only getting a new dog, but they are saving a dog's life.

If you select from a breeder, you have the advantage of knowing what the full-size dog will look like which is not true of a dog from a shelter.

While this is not an all-inclusive list of factors to consider when getting that new dog, hopefully it provides you with some basic information for consideration when selecting your pet.