So the time is right. You have the cooperation of your family or roommates, you have the patience, the money, the time, and a home that's suitable for a dog. Choosing the type dog you want is the next big step. First think about size, grooming required, and activity level.

In size, dogs range from nearly fits-in-your-pocket to "Is that a horse?" Their care can take hours a week for grooming, or they can be wash & wear. And as for activity levels, you can have little more than an affectionate hearth rug or a wonder dog who plays 18 different Olympic-styled sports...right in your living room!

The important thing to remember is what your mama told you about picking out a spouse--don't go just by looks. One of the worst ways to choose a dog is to choose for appearance alone. It's even worse to pick a trendy dog, one you've seen on TV, or whatever's cool this year.

Whether you want a breed or a mix of several breeds, the first thing you need to know is what was this dog bred to do? You can't overcome hundreds of years of breeding for instinct just because you want a certain style dog to fit into your life. Hunting dogs hunt, racing dogs run, and herding dogs herd. We'll get more into that later.

So first you need to decide whether you want a purebred or mix, puppy or adult, large or small, male or female, and how much grooming want to do. Then we'll help you decide which breed or mix is best for you and where to look for your dog.

• Do you want a purebred or a mix?
• Is a puppy or an adult a better choice for you?
• Do you want a large dog, something in a medium size, or a small dog?
• Is a male or female a better pet?
• What about hair?
• How do you choose a breed or mix?
• The Petdogs-L Breed Chart
  
  

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