What do you want in a dog?

You are ready to add a dog to the family but now comes the next important decision. What kind of dog do you need and want? What you want and what you need may be very different things to consider. If you have a small child a tiny dog that could easily be injured may not be the best option. If you plan on taking the dog on long strenuous hikes then a low energy breed wouldn't be the ideal choice. If you hate grooming and don't want to pay for it don't pick a dog with lots of hair to maintain. Size Decide what size dog you might like. A medium to large dog will most likely be better for hiking. A small dog may work better in a small apartment. Do you want a dog you can easily carry around? Smaller dogs require less food and since they take smaller doses of medication their veterinary care can be less expensive. Boarding prices are generally based on size as well. Small dogs give you more options as far as places to live and hotels when traveling. Grooming Are you willing to put in time brushing your dog's coat? If you want the lowest maintenance coat then go for a smooth coated dog. Remember though that even short haired dogs will shed. There are some coat types that dog not shed much but they tend to require more coat care. Long haired double coated dogs will require grooming and also shed a fairly good amount. There are a few hairless breeds but they will require some skin care in place of coat care. Grooming can be expensive. You can either care for the coat at home but will need to purchase the appropriate tools. The other option is going to a groomer on a routine basis. It is still best to do some maintenance at home in between visits to the groomer. Energy Level Decide how much time you are willing to spend exercising your dog. If you are very active and want a dog that is willing to keep up with you look to some of the high energy breeds. If you want a dog that will happily hang out on the couch as you watch tv there are many breeds out there that will fill that spot well. There are also tons of breeds that fall somewhere in between. It is important to pick one that matches you otherwise you and the dog will both end up unhappy. Personality Some breeds bond strongly to only one person. This may not be the best option for a family where all members want a close relationship with the dog. There are many breeds known for being wonderful with children. While many dogs attach to their family if you have children who will have friends around you want a dog who will be accepting of them coming to the house. Same for someone who has company often, it may not be best to have a protective dog in that situation. If you are hoping for a dog that may offer some protection certain breeds will definitely be off your list. Competition Do you have any desire to compete in any sort of dog event? Some events are open only to purebreds while others are open to mixed breeds as well. Some events do not limit it to certain breeds but due to the original purpose of the breed some may be better or worse suited for different events. If you want to compete in Conformation then that is strictly open to purebreds. It is important to consider what events you might want to do and pick a breed suited for that. Make a list of what requirements your family needs and then start looking at breeds that will match that. If you think a breed sounds good or there are some things you can't find the answer to contact some breeders and owners of that breed to find out. You will have this dog for the next 10+ years so it is important to take time to ensure this dog will be a good fit. If you would rather have a mixed breed this list is still important. When you go in search of the dog you want having this can help rescue workers match the right dog to you. There are plenty of dogs out there needing homes and there are dogs to suit every household. There is a little more variability in how a mixed breed puppy may grow but a good rescue should have a general idea.