You should take time for consideration before getting a puppy. Different breeds have different needs. Some were developed for guarding, some for hunting, some other for herding…A dog can be cute today, but unwanted tomorrow if you decide to have a dog without thinking.

When you decide what kind of dog you would like to have do not base your decision only on dog's appearance but rather on the breed characteristics -  like nature of the dog, its ability to do a certain job, the breed's needs, your lifestyle and daily habits.

Decide what kind of dog you would like to have

• Puppy or adult? Getting an adult dog can be an advantage if you get already trained dog to the house. However, there could be also also some disadvantages, such as hidden behavior problems. That is why you should test your new adult dog's personality to check if he is fearful, if he likes children or other animals ...
• Male or female? There are differences in behavior between sexes.Males are more likely to try to become dominant over their owners, act aggressively with other dogs, defend their territory and be more active than females. Males could also be more playful and destructive when females are easier to obedience and house train. Male dogs are more likely to mark the territory or wander around. Females, if not spayed, have two heat cycles a year that involve blood-tinged vaginal discharges lasting for about a week.
• Large or small? Small dogs eat less, but some of them are very selective of what to eat. Providing food which small dogs would like to eat can sometimes be quite costly due to their selective taste. Large dogs eat more but are not so fickle about their food. Larger dogs need more place for exercise. If a dog is small this does not mean he cannot be aggressive. If you live in apartment, having a smaller dog is more convenient than a large one. A large dog takes more physical space in a home. Size does not indicate temperament. Take into consideration also the density of the dog's coat, as dense coat is not appropriate for those who want to have their home always neat and tidy. Coat texture is also important. For example dogs with dark, thick coat are not appropriate for hot and sunny climates. Dogs with short and smooth coats, offering little or no insulation are not appropriate for cold climates.
• A pure bred or random bred? You must decide at the beginning whether to get a purebred puppy or a mix from a shelter. As there are many abandoned dogs, getting one from the shelter can be an option for you. If you decide to get a purebred puppy, a good breeder will help you in all aspects of puppy selection. A respectable breeder will answer all of your questions and also love to visit your home to provide you advice regarding the dog puppy well being. Generally speaking, pure bred dogs have more health problems than random bred, as they often suffer from hereditary medical disorders. In the contrary, pure bred dogs have more easily predicted temperament than random or cross bred.
  

(Source: The New Encyclopedia of the Dog; Bruce Fogle)

Think about what kind of role a dog should play in your life and what are the reasons for having a dog:

• you need companionship,

• you need protection,
• you are involved in some special activity like hunting, competitions in performance (agility, rally obedience,…),

• you need playmate for kids …

Two very popular multipurpose breeds are Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever. However, popularity of these breeds resulted in mass reproduction of the breeds and many health problems they have. For these reasons it can be quite expensive to have this breed due to various health issues. Everybody has different preferences and dogs are so different, some are small (Chihuahua), some quite big (German Great Dane), some have long hair which needs a lot of care, some short hair without any major maintenance. Some breeds (for example terriers) bark a lot, and if you live in a small apartment it is not a good idea to have a barking dog.

Exercise needs of your chosen breed and your time devoted to a dog

When selecting a puppy or an older dog, be aware of that breed exercise needs.  Some dogs need less exercise, some sporting breeds a lot more. However, each dog needs at least two 30-minute walks a day.  Just letting your dog in the backyard is not enough.Lack of exercise as well as lack of time you dedicate to your dog can result in disobedience and behavioral problems, like biting, chewing unwanted objects, making wholes and other damage in the garden or in the house. Think about how much time daily you can dedicate to training your dog? If not a lot, than select a dog which is easy to train and doesn’t need a lot of exercise.

Puppy selection test

A very well known test for selecting the right puppy is the Volhard test -  Puppy Aptitute Test (PAT). This test uses a scoring system from 1-6 and consists of ten tests where you test social attraction, following, restraint, social dominance, elevation, retrieving, touch sensitivity, sound sensitivity, sight sensitivity and stability. The purpose of this test is to select the right puppy for the right home/person.

Find more about Volhard test on Volhard.com (Choosing your puppy).