Choosing the right dog for your lifestyle is crucial to successful pet ownership. There are five key steps to successful ownership:
1. Self-Appraisal: Know your personality, body type, and potential for leadership. Are you large or small, active or sedentary, extroverted or introverted, nurturing or distant, loud or soft? Be honest with yourself.
2. Choice of a Breed: Go through the breed profiles carefully and choose several breeds that most closely suit your personality and environment. Do not settle on just one; there will be several breeds that suit your situation.
3. Choice of a Dog: Take your time, and do not fall for the first puppy you see! Make sure you are totally comfortable with the breeder before you make a decision.
4. Training: Enroll your dog in a basic obedience class as soon as you can, whether it is a puppy or an adult dog. What you learn will be invaluable and may be the key to happy, successful ownership.
5. Commitment and Consistency: You must provide your dog with consistent leadership, guidance, and stimulation. Without these things both you and your dog will be unhappy. With them you will learn to appreciate each other. And that's what having a dog is all about.
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