Are you ready for a dog?

I completely understand you: it has taken you ages to finally make up your mind that you're going to get a dog! You are ready to get the cutest, sweetest pup in the world and since you’ve already taken this big decision, you think it’s just a matter of going to the nearest pet store, pointing to one cute pup and saying, “I’ll take that one.” Right?

I hate to dissapoint you, but you're so wrong.

Buying a high involvement product like a car is a piece of cake compared to buying a pup. At worst, you will need to check some factors; size, style, speed, comfort, consumer reports.

With a car, in most cases, what you see is what you buy. With a dog, the process seems easier at first. It ‘s cute, so go ahead. But a car, no matter how cheated you are, won’t chew up your cushions, dirty your bathroom, bite your cousin, or bark all night. And you won’t break its heart if you trade it in for another model.

Besides, it may surprise you but the buying decision involves more factors than just the pup’s health or pedigree. It’s not about how good a dog you can get. It’s also about how good an owner you can be.

Before you take this big step though, there are a few facts that should influence your decision. After all, you are thinking about someone who will be close to you for the rest of his life. It is a commitment, to say the very least.

Lord and Master

The first thing to think about is this: you will be the pup’s sole authoritative voice. You will be responsible for his health and happiness. He will look to you for every need, little or big in his life. In short, you will be responsible for his life.

Next, consider where you live, what kind of lifestyle you have and so on. Do you live in an apartment, suburban home or country estate? How do you live? Do you watch television most nights, or party every weekend? Are you very finicky as a housekeeper? Do you jog or stroll, have kids or live alone? Are you looking for a companion or just a pet to pat on the head once in a way?

If you have a sprawling ranch house outside the city, you can own most breeds of dogs. An apartment requires some thought. A small dog would do well in an apartment. Even the most active one-pound Chihuahua will cause less commotion than an energetic Irish Wolfhound.

However, the Wolfhound just doesn’t get active that often (in fact, rarely), whereas the little dog can keep moving all day and night. As long as there’s room for the animal to turn around (and not too many things to break when he does), a large inactive breed (for example, a St. Bernard, Akita, English Bulldog, or Standard Poodle) will do as well and sometimes even better in an apartment than a Miniature Pinscher, Pomeranian, or Bichon Frise.