Adopting A Dog What Dog To Choose The type of dog that you will adopt often defines the future you have with your new best friend. If you pick the wrong breed, size, or temperament, both of you will likely end up not enjoying each other's company. Each dog breed has characteristics that set it apart from the rest of the canine community. Before adopting a dog, there are plenty of things you should think about. These ensure that your dog's life with you is a pleasurable experience. Are you committed to taking care of a dog? Many people who adopt dogs do so just because they woke up one day wanting to have a pet. That's irresponsible, not to mention very selfish. Potty Training An Adopted Dog Adopting a new puppy is one of the things that bring delight and squeals from children. It is a happy occasion for both you and the family. However, a puppy, cute and squiggly as they are will, as all dogs do, mess the house. The new member of the household has to be potty trained as soon as the first day. To many people, even with dog lovers, dogs take too much time and too much work to have around especially so because a dog as a gift is an unplanned responsibility. - Often, the worst time to give a dog is to a person that has just suffered the loss of a loved one, in order to cheer the person up. This is a well-meant gesture but always the person who has suffered a loss will need human companionship. This is a natural response commonly observed among would-be owners at rescue homes and animal shelters. A little planning can still go a long way when deciding which dog to adopt. Even if your previous plans are all but forgotten, remembering the tips below can still help you resist that overpowering desire to bring them all home. Should You Choose A Puppy Or An Older Dog? Most owners think that puppies are their best options when adopting a dog. These are much easier to train because they haven t developed bad habits yet. Puppies can grow with their kids. And so on. Wrong. Not because you are working with a clean slate does it mean that a puppy will not turn out as a piece of work.