I am not sure we ever get this right and tend to go at it with the same lack of logic employed when choosing a partner or deciding to start a family which in a lot of ways we are actually doing.
Should we have a pet?
Do we have the time the space the finance the support when we want to go on holiday? Don't worry about that we can work around it. Cat or a Dog? Can't stand cats so it's a dog. Then what sort of dog, big small pedigree or mongrel? Our choice of dog says a lot about our own strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, least said the better.
Choosing your dog
OK we have made an illogical unsuitable choice as to breed disregarding all of the temperament and medical issues involved in what can be the product of a very narrow genepool, do we get an adult or a puppy?
Having a puppy is great as they do not have any baggage and are easier to train, unfortunately they pee and defecate everywhere and take almost as much attention as a child. Working and house training do not go hand in hand.
It is very important to pick the right breeder and it is an idea to do an initial telephone interview running through a list of questions for about half an hour. After this a visit as soon as possible even before the litter is born so that there are no distractions is important. You need to be satisfied that the puppy is coming from good stock and not a puppy farm.
Meet the parents, if you are not allowed to see and socially interact with the male and female then don't buy the puppy, if the parents are aggressive you can have a problem puppy on your hands.
Once you have chosen the breeder and are satisfied with the parents then picking a particular puppy from the litter is really nothing to get excited about, their personalities are only just starting to develop so apart from sex and not picking a runt an interested outgoing friendly puppy should fit the bill.
If you trust your breeder be guided by them that is what they are there for.
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