Choosing the right dog for your family is an important decision, and one that should be made wisely. As an animal adoption service with over 35 years of experience matching people and pets, we would like to offer some tips that might be helpful to you.

Dog breeds vary widely in their physical and behavioral traits. All these traits should be considered when choosing a dog for your family. Some dogs that are friendly to children may have other traits that make them unsuitable for your living situation - such as requiring vigorous exercise, constant training or extensive grooming. In addition, the dog's breeding and background play a significant role in the dog' behavior towards humans. Dogs should never be purchased from a pet store. Not only is this contributing to the tragic overpopulation of companion animals, but pet store puppies very often come with a wide range of behavioral, as well as physical problems.

Perhaps the best dog of all for children is a mixed breed. Mixed breeds often have more stable temperaments than purebreds. They also tend to have less health problems. Some mixed breeds have an obvious resemblance to a purebred ancestor, and will often exhibit the behavioral traits of that breed. Others bear little resemblance to any particular breed and are probably best judged by the temperament they display as well as their past history.

Listed below arre the popular dog breeds with which to familiarize yourself when selecting a breed for a family situation.

When considering a dog for adoption, obtain as much information as possible on the dog's background and previous treatment. If the dog is an adult, has been around children of all ages, and "loves kids", then this would be a wise choice for a family with young children/ especially if all goes well during visitation. In fact, this would be the type of profile we would recommend in a first dog for a family with young children. If the dog is a stray with unknown background, or has never been around children, then it is a good idea to consult an adoption counselor before visiting with the animal. It is always imperative that children visit with any dog under consideration before you finalize an adoption.

1. The work involved in raising a young puppy is similar to taking on another human. Most families have their hands full with human youngsters, and may not have the time to undertake the socialization and training necessary for a young dog.

2. Children can inadvertently hurt young puppies, and vice versa. Puppies can not walk away or defend themselves from the sometimes harmful curiosity of children. Puppies treat children as their littermates- jumping on them, play biting their arms and legs, licking their faces, pulling on their hair in play. A patient adult dog can often provide children with a more positive experience through its gentle affection, its firm loyalty and its advanced ball chasing techniques.

3. Contrary to popular belief, children and puppies can not "grow up together". A dog is physically an adult at six months, mentally at about a year. It takes kids longer.