Man's Best Friend is His Dog

You have decided to add a new puppy to your family!  Good for you!  Now comes the hard part.  Choosing the right puppy can be quite intimidating.  Pure bred or mutt?  Large or small?  Long haired or short haired?  Quiet or exuberant?  The list of choices is endless!

The variety of puppies is often overwhelming, and it really is hard to know where to start, much less what to look for.  The first question you need to ask is:  What type of lifestyle do I and my family live?

Are you quiet and indoorsy?  Are you a jogger or runner?  Are there always children about - whether yours or their friends?  Are you always busy, time is always short?  Are you elderly, or in poor health?  Do you have a yard or an apartment?

These types of questions will help make the puppy choosing decision easier - after all, the puppy needs to fit in, too.  A Dalmatian for example, would not be a good fit in a family that spends a lot of time in quiet pursuits - a Dalmatian needs long daily walks and runs.  A Mastiff would not fit with a family that is constantly on the go - jogging, camping, hiking, because the Mastiff is happiest sitting in front of a log fire.  A houseful of busy active children is not really the place for a tiny Yorkshire Terrier, and a busy professional does not need a Pomeranian that requires constant brushing.  An elderly couple does not have the energy for an Australian Cattle Dog.

These may seem like obvious examples, but those puppies are so cute and tug at the heartstrings.  Without proper though and care in your puppy choice, no matter how sweet, may end up in a shelter because the "fit" wasn't right.  Even with mixed breeds, that cute little ball of fluff may just grow up into a long haired dog that needs constant grooming, and there just isn't the time!

Choosing a puppy is much like choosing a partner to share your life with - your interests and needs must coincide in order for it to be a good fit.  When you choose to take that cute little puppy into your life, remember it is a life long commitment, and you really do owe it to yourself and the new family member to make a good choice.

Simply put, do not act in haste or on impulse, no matter how irrespirable the puppy is.  Do as much research as you can into the breed and the dog's background and family history, if possible.  You will make a better choice, and both you and your new family member will be a lot happier.

And last, but certainly not least, is where you live.  Do you live in an apartment or condo?  Do you have a yard?  Is it large or small?  Are you willing to take the dog out for a walk in the frigid cold or the sweltering heat?  Do you have to go a long distance to the 'doggie spot' in your apartment or condo?  These are all valid questions.  How inconvenient is potty training going to be?  Something to consider is a doggie litter box.  The Porch Potty works either indoors or on your patio or balcony.  It is easy to clean no matter where it is.  It even works in a large yard to confine the dog's business to one area, thereby preventing unsightly grass burns from urine. Take a look at the Porch Potty, it fits into any lifestyle.