There's lots to think about before you adopt a dog. They are lots of work and take lots of time and patience. There are big dogs and little dogs; purebreds and mutts; active dogs, and not so active dogs; dogs with lots of fur and those without much; dogs that are better with families and dogs that would be better without.

If you have children who have promised to help care for a dog, are you sure they will? Be ready to do most of the work! Does your spouse want a dog? If they don't, you may have lots of disagreements.

Be prpared to do lots of clean up - fur and slobber and waste - when you're on a walk don't forget to take a little,(or big, I guess, depending on the size of your dog), plastic bag with you.

Once you've made the decision that you are ready for a dog, make sure you adopt the right dog.