Ready for that addition to your family? Trying to determine what kind of puppy to get is almost as important as deciding whether to get a puppy in the first place. There are over 150 different breeds of dogs and each breed has its own unique temperament, appearance, activity level as well as set of needs. A lot of research should be conducted before determining which breed of dog is right for you and your family. Below are some guidelines one should use before getting that seemingly perfect puppy.

Temperament Remember that this dog will be with you for its entire lifetime, so make sure the puppy you choose has the personality you can live with. Do you have an active lifestyle or a docile one? You need to choose a dog that fits your lifestyle. Are you very patient? Can you handle a strong willed dog? Do you want a dog that is friendly to everyone he meets, or one that is allegiant to family but reserved towards strangers? Does the dog need a lot of constant attention to prevent it from becoming bored and destructive, or do you want a dog that is content to be left alone for periods of time during the day when you are not home?

Size Every little puppy is adorable, but people forget that they grow quickly and some of them grow a lot. You need to find out how large and heavy that cute little puppy will become before you decide to bring him home. Oftentimes people forget this and soon they have this very large animal living with them in their constricted domicile. Don't forget that large dogs require a lot more food and space then your yard or living room can handle. Bear in mind also that little dogs still need a lot of room to run around in and burn off all that energy.

Coat/Grooming Needs For a healthy and clean dog, constant grooming is a must. Remember most dogs will shed so you will constantly be cleaning up after it. Some dogs shed for a few weeks, some shed year round. Very few shed only a little bit. Long coated dogs are definitely very nice to look at, but require a lot of maintenance to stay that way. Short coated dogs are much easier to care for, and may still shed, but will require protection from cold wet weather. Dogs with fancy trims will need professional grooming. You have to decide how much hair you can put up with and how much time and energy you can afford to decide the right breed of dog for you.

Puppy or Adult The obvious advantage of getting a dog as a puppy, other then for it is so irresistibly cute, is that you can raise and train it personally from the beginning. You can help train and mold the dog's socialization every step of the way as it grows. Of course the major disadvantage is that training the puppy requires a great deal of time and patience. If you have a busy lifestyle, bear in mind that puppies cannot be left alone more then a few hours at a time. They require constant attention, plenty of trips outdoors, frequent meals, and lot of interaction with people. Adult dogs are ideal for people who want a dog with fewer needs. Also mature dogs tend to be calmer and are already house trained and know basic obedience.

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