Before getting your puppy, it is important to know what kind of pet you want. Sometimes people choose puppies for the wrong reason, which is because it is so cute. This cute puppy might not seem as cute as a grown pet. It is good for someone with an emotional response to have a pet, but choosing puppies should be done with thought.

If you chose your pet only because it is cute, you may later have a pet that is smaller than you wanted or bigger or more active or less active than you desire. Consider your dwelling. Is it an apartment or a house? Do you have a yard or not? Do you want a pet that is breed for sporting? Do you want a hunting dog? Do you want a guard dog? Is the puppy basically for he children? Do you want to put the dog in competitions?

Considering the things you don't desire in a pet is important. Do you not want a pet that is more aggressive or is from a very active breed that needs considerable exercise? Is a pet that sheds a lot off of your list? You don't have to groom short haired dogs as much as long haired dogs. Dogs that are bred to be in the water have oily coats, which generate the characteristic doggy odor.

If you haven't had a dog before and would like to be able to predict your pet's temperament and characteristics, a pure bred is probably your best choice.

If you want an outside pet, find out if the bred can take cold weather well, if you live in a very cold area. Conversely, if you live in an area that has really hot summers a dog bred for cold weather won't be able to stay outside in the summer and survive. So factoring in whether you want an inside or outside pet and your weather conditions will help you pick the bred. Some breeds need a lot of play and exercise all of their lives and other breeds are more inactive when they are adults, though they were active as puppies.

Again, remember that the appearance of the puppy doesn't clue you in on the breed's personality, temperament, character, and natural disposition. Whether or not you choose a female or a male of the bred is a personal decision. There may be some difference in the personality of the males and females in a bred, which a dog breeder or a good book on a breed will tell you.

The social traits of your pet are important points. If you have small children and many of their friends come over, then a dog with a fierce loyalty to one person or a family isn't right for you.

Training your pet is another consideration. Some breeds are harder to train because they have been bred to be more independent and others like sporting or herding dogs are more easily trained. Research breeds and pick one that suits your needs to get the best puppy for you.