3 Important Questions to Ask When Considering a Dog for Your Family

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While the mere sight of any puppy is enough to make most people melt and act impulsively, a bit of research is sure to curb future problems.

When thinking about adopting a four-legged friend there are a few questions you must first ask yourself:

  1. Does anyone in my family have allergies? If the answer is yes, your best breed choice is one that is hypoallergenic and non-shedding such as a Poodle, Maltese or Westie.
  2. How active and busy is your family’s lifestyle? Some dogs require much more daily exercise than others. For example, a Border Collie requires at least a couple of hours exercising outdoors while a toy breed such as a Chihuahua would be okay with a few short walks and bathroom breaks.
  3. Who will be responsible for Fido? Before adopting a dog or any pet, delegate the doggy responsibilities for each family member. Decide who will be in charge of walking, feeding, cleaning up messes, 2am bathroom breaks, vet appointments, obedience training, grooming and the list goes on.

Once you are able to answer the above questions, you should have a clearer picture as to what kind of dog or puppy is best suited to join your family. Happy puppy hunting!

About Rikke Jorgensen

Rikke Jorgensen is a San Francisco-based writer whose work regularly appears in the dog culture magazine, The Bark, the San Francisco SPCA's magazine, Our Animals, and many other publications. She's a recipient of the Dog Writers Association of America's Maxwell Medal for best Magazine Feature.
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