Introduction

Are you thinking about adopting a dog? That’s great! Dogs are awesome, and we could all use more furry friends in our lives. However, adopting a dog isn’t as simple as walking into a pet store or looking for puppies online. There are plenty of things to consider before bringing your new best friend home—things like finding out what kind of dog will fit into your lifestyle, making sure that they’re healthy enough to be adopted out, and signing up for training classes so that your new family member can learn some manners. Let’s take a look at how you should go about choosing the right first pup so that both of you have an amazing experience together:

Do your research.

Before you adopt your first dog, you need to do your research. This can be a daunting task for first-time dog owners, but it’s worth it in the end. Researching will help you narrow down what kind of dog is right for you and your family.

The first thing to consider is whether or not a rescue or shelter would be better than purchasing from a breeder. If there are local shelters or rescue groups who specialize in the type of breed that interests you, this may be the easiest way to go—it allows you to meet all kinds of dogs before deciding which one fits best into your home life and routine. Additionally, some shelters will only allow potential adopters who have already adopted from them previously (this is especially true if they’ve been around long enough).

If buying from a breeder sounds like something up your alley though (or if there aren’t any shelters near where live), then start doing some research! You should look at online reviews of all available options; see what other people say about them on forums like Reddit . Lastly—and most importantly—you should talk with experts within their field: veterinarians who work with specific breeds often know more about how each breed behaves than anyone else does!

Visit the shelter instead of picking a pup online.

If you’re thinking about adding a dog to your family, it’s important to do your homework before making an adoption decision. The best way to meet dogs and learn more about them is at the shelter!

What to look for in a shelter:

• Large-breed rescue options available?
• How many animals are there?
• What is their adoption process? Is it open or closed during certain hours of the day? Can they accommodate walk-ins? Do they require an application fee or bring-your-own vet references? Are their dogs spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations (even if they aren’t ready for adoption)? How often do they rehome their pets–and what happens if one doesn’t get adopted after X amount of time (weeks/months/years)?

Don’t just choose based on looks.

When you’re looking for a dog to adopt, it’s tempting to just pick the cutest puppy in the room. But when you’re picking your first dog, it’s important to take into account all of their characteristics and see if they’ll be a good fit for your family.

Here are some things you should consider:

• Friendliness/outgoingness – Look for dogs that seem friendly and outgoing when interacting with other people and animals. If they don’t like being around other dogs or people, they might not be right for your family.
• Good behavior – It’s also important that the dog is well behaved in public (meaning not overly jumpy) and doesn’t bark too much at strangers who come over to visit (or worse, run away from them).
• Active/healthy lifestyle – You want a dog who has plenty of energy but isn’t hyperactive so as not to wear out your kids within minutes after adopting them! They also need regular exercise so make sure there are parks nearby where you can take them running every day if possible (or even better—have access to an enclosed yard).

Make sure their energy level matches yours.

The first step in determining which type of dog to adopt is understanding your own energy level. If you are an active person, then you need an active dog. For example, if you love going for long walks and playing with balls in the park, then a high-energy animal that enjoys running around would be a good fit for you.

On the other hand, if your idea of fun is curling up on the couch and watching movies all day long with your pup, then a low-energy hound could be perfect for your lifestyle. In addition to saving on expensive toys like balls or chew toys (the bane of every adoptive parent’s existence), they won’t keep at it until they wear themselves out!

Consider adoption fees.

It’s a good idea to consider the adoption fees of any dog you’re looking at. Here are some things to take into account:

• You may be able to negotiate a lower fee on an older or special needs dog.
• Purebred dogs often cost more than non-purebreds.

When you adopt a dog, you are giving them a home that they would not have had otherwise, which is so important!

But there is no downside to adopting your first dog, and this is why. Adoption saves lives! It also saves money. You can find a new best friend that was previously living in a shelter or rescue group, where they would have been euthanized if they didn’t get adopted.

Conclusion

We hope this post has helped you to prepare for your first dog, whether it be a little puppy or an older rescue. If you have any further questions about the process, please feel free to contact us! We are always happy to help and support our community of animal lovers here at Petco.