‘What kind of puppy is right for me?’ This is an often asked question for those who are excited at the prospect of having their very own puppy. And who can blame them? Puppies will grow into dogs that can provide companionship, security and an array of health benefits. But how do you know which one is right for you?

The first thing to consider is your lifestyle. How much time can you realistically spend with your new puppy? Are there others in the house who can help take care of it or are you living alone? Training or house breaking your puppy will require a considerable amount of time so you have to be careful with this one. There are also some puppies that will require more attention that you may be able to give.

One test that is suggested is that you see how comfortable the puppy will be with you. If you pick up a puppy and it remains calm, then chances are you have a trainable puppy that may potentially be easy to fit into your lifestyle. If the puppy squirms a lot, then you may want to think twice. This could be a very playful and rough dog and may be just what you want. But you may have difficulty training it and this could be doubly hard if you don’t have anyone to dog sit for you. The main problem though, is if you are unable to discipline the dog and it ends up being in-charge.

Another test that has been suggested is to lift your dog’s upper lip to reveal his teeth. A lot of resistance will show that your puppy is more likely to be dominant when it grows up. This doesn’t have to be the case although it will mean more persistence when it comes to discipline and training.

Of course, these are also tests to see if you and your dog’s personality will fit. If it doesn’t and you just end up exasperated and tired, then you may end up giving your dog away instead of having fun.

You will also have to take into consideration other factors such as the size of the dog. It should suit or fit the size of your house or wherever you live. Also take a look at how long its coat is. The longer it is, the more maintenance work you’ll have to do – although this also will depend on where you live. In cool places, for instance, this is a necessity and there won’t be too much dirt trapped in between your dog’s hairs.

For those who are thinking of getting two puppies at once, it is not, apparently, a very good idea. While your dog may have company, it will take double the amount and effort and may definitely take away quality training, attention and bonding. The most important thing is that you are clear on the reason as to why you will be getting a puppy.