So, you've decided to bring a puppy home? That's great! After discussing this decision with other family members and concluding that this is an adventure that everyone wants to take and enjoy it is time to decide what kind of dog to get. Dogs come in many sizes and shapes with different appetites, energy levels, and needs. Understanding that all dogs aren't the same is an important step.

The first thing you need to cover is how big do you want this puppy to grow to be. The size of your house or apartment may, very well, have some influence on this. Small dogs work better in apartments for obvious reasons. Basically, the larger the animal is the more space it is going to need and the more exercise it will require. A large dog can live in an apartment but will need exercise outside of that apartment, at least, daily. Smaller dogs will create less noise, as well. Be aware of neighbors in this decision. Some breeds of dogs will sleep more on a daily basis than others. Pugs, for example, are much more calm, overall, than one of the retriever breeds. Another thing, that often gets overlooked, is how much the dog will eat. Feeding your pet is a serious commitment. Large dogs are going to require large meals and large meals of quality food can be a large expense for some families.

Next, you need to decide what type of personality you want your friend to have. Are you looking for a guard dog? Do you or are you planning on having children? These are important questions to answer. Some breeds, simply, aren't built to be guard dogs unless you want someone licked to death. Some breeds are very good with children and some get an attitude when kids try to play with them. This doesn't make them poor companions. It just makes them better dogs for adults with no children.

Puppies that will be allowed to live indoors with the family will need to be potty trained. The amount of time and effort this process takes, once again, depends on the breed. Some breeds pick up on the desires of their owners in regard to relieving themselves much quicker than others. Many owners choose to crate train their puppies to start the potty training process. This seems to work well for most puppies. It is still best practice to not leave a small puppy alone for long periods of time.