Kathie's Reviews > A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me

There’s a big problem with pushing people to get dogs from shelters. They may very well not be able to handle what they end up with and the poor dog goes back again. A greater tragedy.
The most important rule for getting a dog, I believe, is to do homework! If the dog is a mixed breed do try to find out what is it’s composition!
You’d better pay attention to the breeds exercise needs. That adorable little fluffy puppy can turn into a big dog that needs a lot of maintenance. Many terriers will carry their inbred traits of yapping and digging. Many other dogs, other than border collies, require a lot of exercise. Older dogs do very well when adopted by older person who lead more sedate lives. But, just in case, you must figure out who would take the dog if you were no longer able to care for it.
People should also do research and use it well when adopting a dog from a shelter or a pound. But the research is key. Animal friends is a good organization and can usually tell you a fair mount about the dogs personality, and the probable breed-s.
One must be honest and admitting what you are willing to devote to this breed.
And so, keeping this in mind, you are making a commitment to that dog for the rest of its life.