How to Pick a Pet

By taking some time to consider why you want a dog, it’s easier to choose the right one that will easily fit your family's needs. (Yuliya Evstratenko/Shutterstock)

There are many ways in which a pet finds its way into a family’s home, and each method has its pluses and minuses. The goal is to find which works best for the people and the pet.

Before falling in love with a certain dog or breed, it’s vitally important to do some homework to determine temperaments and behavioral patterns and to consider the home environment. Labradors and other large breeds need a lot more room to run and play than a toy poodle or other small dog that might be a good fit for a compact apartment environment.

It’s important to ensure a good fit with all members of the household. For example, some breeds are better with young children than others. 

A big, active dog comes with the responsibility to make sure it gets plenty of exercise, which means the family gets a lot of exercise, too. (Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock)

Finding Fido

The easiest way to find your ideal pet is to purchase it from a pet store. These retailers most often deal only in puppies, purchasing their fuzzy inventory from breeders directly or from individuals whose dogs recently had a litter. Some stores focus on toy or teacup breeds, while others may have a wide, ever-changing range of puppies to choose from. The process is simple: Choose a puppy, pay for it, then take it home.

Many other pets find their way to new homes via friends or family whose pet may have had a litter of puppies that need homes.

Bringing a pet into the family brings with it the need to provide it with toys, treats, and nutritional food to keep it healthy and happy. (9dream studio/Shutterstock)

Another way to find a furry friend is rehoming someone else’s pet when the owner is moving to a place that can’t accommodate a dog or is no longer physically able to care for it. While these methods provide instant gratification for someone wanting a pet, they also have the potential for problems.

Even pet owners who let their dog sleep in bed with them know it’s best to get the pooch its own bed for daytime naps. (remenno/Shutterstock)

When working with a breeder, shelter, or rescue group, the potential pet owners meet with some form of adviser to discuss their pet ownership experience and expectations, as well as the dog’s new home. Important factors include the ages of family members; the pet’s optimum lifestyle and exercise needs; the home environment, such as whether it includes a fenced-in yard; and the importance of providing veterinary care for the duration of the dog’s life.

These discussions can make the difference between the perfect puppy–owner match and one in which neither side is happy. Also, one benefit of purchasing pups from these facilities is that they’ve already received full veterinary examinations and all required shots.

The only thing better than one pet might be two; dogs and cats often become best friends, caring for each other like siblings. (Chendongshan/Shutterstock)

Committing to Love, for Life

Rescuing a dog continues to grow in popularity as potential pet owners become aware of the huge number of dogs ranging in age from puppies to seniors that are in need of forever homes. The American Kennel Club works with rescue groups across the country to find homes for more than 160 breeds, from Akitas to Yorkies and everything in between.

It's easy to fall in love with a puppy, but a dog is a lifetime responsibility, so think carefully before you bring it home to make sure you and it are a perfect match. (M_a_y_a/Getty Images)

Many communities also have local rescue organizations, such as Paws4You. Based in Miami, the organization was founded in 2007 by Carol Caridad after she went to adopt a dog at a local shelter and ended up rescuing more than 100 seniors, adults, and puppies that were scheduled to be euthanized that week.

Caridad and her all-volunteer staff have since cared for and found homes for more than 12,000 dogs. In every instance, prospective pet owners meet with a counselor to ensure the adopted pet is a perfect fit.

“We want to make sure the new parents recognize this is a lifetime commitment. The pet will be part of the family, so we learn about everyone else in the family. Everybody loves puppies, but they might not be a good choice in some cases," Caridad said.

“Adopting a pet is not like buying shoes that you can take back if they don’t fit. We make sure the family and the pet perfectly suit each other, to ensure a forever happy home. If someone is not ready to commit to adopting, they can volunteer at a rescue or become a foster parent to get a fix of puppy love.”

Dogs are very social creatures that love being with their humans, making it important to spend quality time with them to form a life-long bond. (New Africa/Shutterstock)

Buying, rehoming, or adopting a dog is a life-changing experience for both people and pup, so regardless of how the bundle of furry love arrives, be prepared to receive—and provide—a lifetime of happiness and unconditional love.