How To Choose a Dog for a Family DC

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A dog can be wonderful addition to your family, and hopefully you'll be spending the next ten to fifteen years or more with your canine companion. Keep this in mind when you're choosing your dog. Taking the time to find the dog that best fits your lifestyle can save you a lot of stress and heartache down the road. There is nothing worse than getting emotionally attached to your pet only to realize that he really isn't fitting into your family. It is one of the reasons our nation's shelters are overflowing with companion animals. There are several things you can do to find a dog who will become a loving member of your family.

1. Take stock of your lifestyle. Think about the things that go on in your household on a daily basis. Is someone home all day or do school, work and other activities keep you away from home for eight hours or more? Puppies need a lot of attention and frequent potty breaks. If someone is home all day, or you aren't gone for longer than three or four hours, a puppy may be your perfect pet. If, however, no one is home for more than four hours a day, you may be better off with an adult dog.
   
   Is your family more likely to go hiking over the weekend or sit down to watch a movie? Active dogs will do much better with an active family that plans to take their dog camping or on other high energy outings, and a pup who is a real couch potato won't be happy to be dragged along on your ten mile hike every Saturday. Also, you don't want to get a dog with the intention of changing your lifestyle. Many people go out and get high energy dogs thinking this will be a great way to motivate them to take up jogging or another activity. Usually after a few days, the dog owner reverts to his regular habits, and the active pup starts finding ways to burn off excess energy himself, usually by doing things like chewing your dining room table or digging up your flower beds. You'll be much better off getting a dog who fits into your current lifestyle.
   
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Author: Amy Bender