How To Choose The Right Dog

Bert, 10 year old Beagle foster.

Making the decision to add a new member to your family is exciting!  The anticipation, the planning, the shopping for bowls and beds and toys makes you giddy with happiness.  Combing through adoptable pet profiles online takes priority over your work day, and nothing substantial gets done.  I know!  I do this all the time, and I'm not even in a position to adopt!  But how do you know which dog is the right one for you?

There are hundreds of adoptable dogs available to you, right in your area, at any given time.  Young ones, old ones, big ones, little ones...picking just one can be hard.  Here are some things to take into consideration:

Dash, 5 mo. old Min Pin mix

1. Your lifestyle.  Are you an active person/family?  Or do you prefer to binge watch the latest offerings on Netflix?  Do you want a dog who can go places with you?  Or is that not overly important?  Will the dog be left alone during working hours or is someone home most of the time? These are important questions to answer before you even meet any potential candidates.  One of the biggest reasons adoptions don't work out is that the dog's needs and energy level are beyond the ability of the family to accommodate.  
2. Your living situation.  Do you live in a one bedroom apartment or a house on a sprawling parcel of land?  If you live in the former, you want to choose a lower energy, mellow dog who won't disturb your neighbors by zooming around and bouncing off the furniture.  You also want to choose one that isn't particularly barky.  If you live in the latter, all options are open to you, but just imagine how happy a high energy dog will be if he has all that space to run!
3. Your level of experience.  Is this your first pet or are you a pro at raising fur kids?  Have you lived through the chaos that is puppyhood?  If so, are you looking forward to teaching a new puppy the life lessons that will make him the dog you want him to be?  Puppy training, from housebreaking to chewing only on appropriate things, can be maddening if your white carpet gets stained, or you've lost a third pair of shoes to a teething toddler.  If this is your first dog, or the first one you've owned by yourself, my recommendation is to choose one that is between 2-3 years (or older).  This is when they hit maturity, and the temperament you see is usually what you get.  Puppies, while cute and squishy, are kind of a crap shoot.  You don't know what their temperament will be when they get older.  It doesn't always have to do with "how they're raised".  Some things, like whether or not they like other dogs, can go either way, even if they've been well socialized.
4. Are there any behaviors that are deal breakers for you?  Do you require that the dog you adopt already be housebroken?  Do you expect your new family member to already have good manners?  These are only a couple of examples of things people are looking for when searching for a dog.  If you absolutely require that the dog you choose be "house ready," your best bet is to adopt a dog that has spent time in a foster home.  Foster families know their fosters very well, and if you have very specific qualities you're looking for, the foster family will be able to tell you if the dog you're looking at fits the bill.  If you're willing to work through any learning curve your dog may have, then you can most likely find the dog you want at your local shelter. 
5. Do you have a size preference?  It is a common misconception that peole who live in apartments or small houses need a small dog.  The truth is, small dogs are commonly full of energy and like to zoom around the house.  Many larger dogs do quite well in smaller homes.  Many times they have a lower energy level and prefer to go for leisurely strolls through the neighborhood, then settle down for quality snuggle time.  Of course, there are small dogs who are willing to do the same, my point is, don't think you have to limit yourself to a small dog if you meet a larger one that will fit well into your home.

Mitzi, a small terrier mix
of some kind.  Totally not my type,
but she sure was cute.

One thing people sometimes get hung up on is breed.  I have this issue myself, that's why I bring it up.  If you're looking for one special dog, try not to get stuck on breed.  Resist the urge to pass up a dog with the personality you're looking for just because it's a different breed than you had in mind.  I happen to get stuck on pit bull type dogs, but I've gotten quite attached to shepherd mixes, an Akita mix, and even a 14 year old Corgi.  The same goes for rejecting a dog just because it happens to be a breed you have deemed undesireable.  I've watched Rottie mixes and countless pit bull type dogs sit in the shelter week after week because people are turned off by their lable.  All dogs are individuals, and just like people, there are good ones and bad ones of every breed.  An entire breed should not suffer because of the bad things a small handful have done.

My last peice of advice is this:  Don't be afraid to let a dog choose you.  If you go to a shelter or an adoption event with an open mind, and meet a variety of dogs, the right dog might just turn on the charm and pay special attention to you.  I've been chosen many different times, though usually I take them in as a foster.  I could never adopt all of them, but enjoying their company until they choose someone else is a gift from them to me.  

The next time you're searching for your soul dog, take your time.  Enjoy the process, and when you find "the one," you'll know.