Are you ready for a new dog?

Adopting a new pet requires a daily investment of your time, energy and patience. Careful consideration should be given when selecting the new member of your family as the commitment could last ten years or more. Here are some things to consider when choosing a new dog:

Breed

What breed best fits with your lifestyle and personality? If the dog will be around children, make sure the dog will be a good match. If you are on the go a lot, size may be a consideration for you as well as how much living space and exercise the dog will require.

Are there youngsters at home? Your best bet would be a medium- to large-sized dog over 5 months old. Children under seven years old usually are not developmentally suited for younger puppies, who have sharp teeth and nails that can easily injure a child. Toy-sized dogs less than 15 pounds are not recommended if you have young children. These fine-boned canines do not hold up well to rough, clumsy handling.

Will your lifestyle mesh with your dog's? Various breeds and mixes of breeds have different requirements: hounds, terriers, and sporting and herding dogs in general need more training and exercise, so these animal companions are perfect if you're the active type. Do you plan to spoil your pet? If so, avoid a guarding breed but consider a toy-sized dog bred specifically to be a pampered companion.

If your heart is set on a purebred, find out as much as you can before you bring one home. Congenital problems are more common in purebreds, some of which are born with a predisposition to hip dysplasia, glaucoma, heart disease and skin disorders — to name just a few.

Daily care

Give some thought to where the dog will sleep, spend time while you're at work, and who will take care of your pet if you're away.

Expenses

What can you realistically expect for expenses each year? Take into consideration feeding, visits to the veterinarian, grooming and boarding. The initial cost of a puppy may be higher than that of an adult dog. Consider the purchase price, vaccination series, neutering and training that occur in the first year. An adult dog may still require an adoption fee but often is already neutered and vaccinations are current.

Regardless of whether you choose a puppy or an adult, male or female, know that certain breed traits and characteristics are "hard wired". Golden Retrievers need to fetch, Border Collies need to herd and most dogs love to chew and dig.