Think it over very carefully before you buy a dog. Having a dog is a huge responsibility which takes a lot of your time and devotion. A dog is like a child that never grows up and it is always dependent on you.

And decision what kind of life this dog will have, a good or a miserable one, is solely in your hands.

Decide on the basis of the breed needs and your lifestyle

Choose a pet friend that will best suit you needs, so that you will not have make any major adjustments to the way you live. For example, if you do not like a lot of exercise during all year, no matter what the weather is like, then a dog that needs plenty of exercise is not the right choice for you. Furthermore, don’t buy a dog only on the basis of his lovely looks. More important is the dog's character and the breed needs. And remember, think it over very well before you adopt the decision to have a new pet friend as the dog will be part of your life for the next 10-13 years.

Before getting a dog, you should ask yourself the following questions about dogs:

• Do I have enough time and place for the new dog?
• Does everybody in the family agree on having a new pet?
• Can I enable him enough exercise?
• Can I feed him properly?
• What is the life span of this breed?
• Who will take care of my dog when I’m on holidays or if I get sick?
• How will I prevent the birth of unwanted puppies?
• What about health problems, can I afford all the medical treatment for my dog if it gets sick?
• Am I aware that the costs of having a dog can amount to over €2000 a year?
• Do I know what kind of regular veterinary treatment that particular breed should receive and can I afford it?
• Can I assure that my dog will not disturb other people and neighbors?

Inform yourself about dog needs, dog care and dog ownership

Get as much information as possible before you buy a dog, especially if you are a first-time pet owner. Read a book about this topic, browse the internet, and get in contact with somebody who already has a dog. Collect information from different sources to ensure that your know what you are getting yourself into. The breeder or the person who will sell you the dog should not be the only source of information. If you have all necessary information before getting a dog and if you know what kind of responsibility really this is, then you will not regret this decision later.

If you are not well informed before you buy a dog, you might later be unpleasantly surprised as this is not exactly what you had in mind. Having a dog is a huge responsibility and you have to be aware of this.

Related article: Dog.About.com