For thousands of years dogs have been our closest friends and companions. They have always given us their love, devotion, loyalty and friendship. The very special feelings they convey to us daily make us a better person. They have also helped us in our daily lives throughout human history with farming, herding, hunting, guarding, in rescue and law enforcement operations, with handicapped people, and they have saved many thousands of human lives. They deserve our best possible care.

Owning a dog is a very serious responsibility and you must think accordingly before acquiring one. If you already have a dog, you should make sure that you are meeting your obligations. Dogs depend on us for all their basic needs, their health, and behavioral training.

The following advice should help you understand what is involved and make your relationship with dogs a much more enjoyable experience.

Realize and accept the responsibility for a long-term commitment.

Be totally honest with yourself before you make the decision to acquire a dog. Consider and analyze your lifestyle to make sure the type and breed of dog that you choose fits well with your activities. If you are a very energetic person and do lots of sport activities, you will want a dog with high energy level so that it can join you. If you do not have much time for grooming you might want a dog with a short smooth coat. You have to carefully match your lifestyle to a dog’s particular qualities. If not, your relationship might be compromised. Consider the dog’s size, energy level, grooming needs, trainability and temperament.