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Important Things To Consider Before You Buy
A dog is a living animal, not some object you can return to the shop at will or that you can ignore if you are tired of it. Consider your lifestyle and the ammount of work having a dog is before you buy.
You may have fond memories of a dog you had when you were a child, but it may not be the right fit for you current lifestyle. You may have become more physically active as an adult, in which case a retriever may be more suitable than the terrier that used to follow you around when you were 5.
Your priorities change at different stages of your life. Be sure to consider that before you make your choice.
Make a list of the pros and cons of each of the dog breeds you’re considering. This goes a long way toward making a balanced decision. It helps you weigh one breed against another so you can be more confident in the choice you finally make.
Some people like taking time out to groom their dog. It can be relaxing way to bond with your dog. On the other hand, some people don’t have the time to commit to extensive grooming. Consider the amount of time and money you’re willing to invest in your dog.
Do you have such a busy schedule between your job and family that you don’t know whether you’re coming or going? If so, you might want to ask yourself whether you’ll be able to manage the responsibility that comes with owning a dog. A dog requires a significant time commitment if you’re going to do it right. And if you’re not going to do it right, you probably shouldn’t do it at all. Puppies can be particularly demanding.
When choosing a dog, first decide where you’ll keep her. You may need to keep her outside in the backyard depending on your circumstances. There are a few breeds that must live inside because they’ll suffer in extreme temperatures. Others will adapt to almost any weather.
All dogs do better living inside with the family for at least part of the day though. They need time to bond with you to become one of the family.
A dog is a lifelong commitment. Not yours, his. So be sure to consider all the factors involved before you buy a dog. Find out everything you can about the breed (and yourself!), check out the breeders, spend time with dogs of the breed you’re interested in. Do anything and everything you can to prepare. Nothing is harder than returning a puppy that you’ve already come to love, for you and the dog.
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Step 2: Research Your Choosen Breed
All breeds of dogs are very different. It is very important to do your homework before you make your final decision on what breed you want to buy. There are many different breeds with many different needs and personality traits. Knowing what you are getting into before you buy a dog can make a huge difference between having the perfect friend or your worst nightmare.
Browse our breed info section to find basic information about hundreds of different dog breeds.
Also don't be afraid to ask questions of the breeder you choose. All breeders listed on this site are knowledgable about their breed and love to help.
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Step 3: Find Your Dog
Now that you've found a breed. Its time to find your dog. The first question is do you want a puppy or an adult dog. Both have pros and cons.
With a puppy you have the chance to watch it grow up, make sure it gets proper socilization, and influnece the development of its personality. But puppies also tend to be more expensive, both in ininitial cost and because they need shots and vaccinations the first year. Puppies also demand more attention and in some cases tend to be immature and more distructive.
With an adult dog, they tend to be calmer and less destructive. There is a chance that it has been housebroken and can be trusted alone for longer periods of time. Some drawbacks are that you have a limited influence over the dogs established personaity. He or she may or may not have been properly socalized and are not as easy to train as a puppy would be.
With whichever age dog you choose, our find a breeder section and upcoming litters section will provide you with all the resources you need.
Also remember before selecting your breeder to check out guidelines and scams section to help you find some information to help you pick a quality breeder and get information to help you avoid online dog scams.
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Step 1: Find The Right Breed
The first, and possibly one of the most important, step in finding your dog is finding the right breed. Much like people dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and—of course—personalities.
Its important to sit down with everyone who will be involved with the care of the dog and examine your lifestyles and pick the best dog for everyone involved.
If you are not sure which breed is the best for you use our quiz to help you find your best options based on your lifestyle.
If you are looking for a particular breed you can also browse by group or by name
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