| Buying a new pet, especially a dog can be very | | | | and possible veterinary services. A limited budget |
| exciting. It is worth considering your lifestyle | | | | also means that your ability in choosing specially |
| choices and those who live with you before | | | | bred dogs may be more limited. However this |
| choosing a dog breed. Choosing any family pet | | | | should not stop you from being able to find a |
| may depend on several factors which must be | | | | good pet. |
| taken into account. Perhaps the most important | | | | Pets like human beings require attention and care. |
| question is: are you prepared to take good care | | | | To many people their dog is a normal member of |
| of the animal and treat it accordingly? | | | | the household. Dogs must be given regular |
| If the answer to the above question is yes, the | | | | exercise and training to keep them active and in a |
| next step is to decide the reason you would like a | | | | healthy state. They must have necessarily health |
| dog. There can be many reasons such as | | | | checks and be given essential vaccinations. Taking |
| protection, as a pet for a child, as a show dog or | | | | the dog down to the park for a walk is something |
| simply for the sake of companionship. This is an | | | | you should fit into your weekly schedule. |
| important factor in choosing the correct breed. | | | | Once you have acknowledged the extent of your |
| After that you should consider your living | | | | lifestyle and your ability in raising a pet, it is time |
| circumstances as many of the other decisions will | | | | to decide the type of breed. The first thing to |
| depend on this. You should consider the area in | | | | think about is the size. Make sure to discuss this |
| which you live: do you live in the town or | | | | with other members of the family as this is a big |
| countryside? This can limit how often and where | | | | limitation on what breed of dog you may choose. |
| you can take a dog for walks. Next you should | | | | Do you really have enough space for a German |
| consider the size of your house: do you have | | | | Shepard? Or are you prepared to deal with small |
| ample space for the new dog to cohabit with the | | | | Chihuahuas running around the house and having |
| owners and any existing pets? Does your house | | | | to look for them from time to time? |
| have a garden where the creature can play or | | | | Perhaps one of the most underestimated things |
| rest? It is also worth thinking about how often | | | | about any pet is the aging of the animal. Animals |
| the pet will be left alone each day. If you are | | | | have a different lifespan to human beings. The |
| going for an expensive rare breed this will | | | | reason that this is important is as important as |
| obviously have to be very limited; however on | | | | buying the pet in the first place. Considering many |
| the flipside if you decide to choose a big energetic | | | | people buy dogs for company, a family can very |
| dog then you still may not be able to leave it | | | | easily become attached to the animal. The pet |
| alone for extended periods. | | | | becomes a 'member' of the family. For many |
| Another side of lifestyle considerations is the | | | | people loosing a pet can be as shocking as loosing |
| associated costs with raising a pet. Ideally you | | | | a very close relative. |
| should have a budget for basic needs such as | | | | Once you have planned and taken into account all |
| foods and cleaning products. You should also take | | | | factors, its time to make the exciting trip down |
| into account the possibility of other events | | | | the pet store or going to see a few dogs with |
| happening. For example a situation may arise | | | | other family members. Then you can hopefully |
| where you will need to leave the dog with | | | | make a decision as to who you would like to |
| somebody for an extended period of time on a | | | | welcome to your house as new member. |
| paid basis. You should also think about health costs | | | | |