16 Questions you must ask yourself

This post serves as a follow up to my last post "how do i know what dog to buy". The honest and holistic appraisal of this questions i believe would help the intending Dog owner to make an informed choice as regards selection.

What best describes you or your family's level of activity?

A.	Very Active

B.	Moderately Active

C.	Somewhat Active

D.	Not Active At All

E.	I'm not active but the children are very active

F.

I live alone and there are no children in my home. I enjoy a nice walk but nothing to extreme

2.

What best describes your home?

A.

Apartment

B.	Town home with yard

C.	House with yard

D.	House with large yard

E.	We live on a farm

3.	Are there children in the home?

A.	Yes under age 6

B.	Yes between the ages of 7 - 12

C.	Yes over the age of 12

D.	No I live alone

E.	No but we often have children vistiors

4.	What best describes the size dog you prefer the most ?

A.	Yes under 10lbs but still needs to be a great family dog

B.	Anything under 20lbs that does well with all members of the family

C.	Doesn't matter any size is fine as long as suits me and my family

D.	I like very large breeds that also make great family dogs

E.	I need a guard dog who doesn't get too big in size

F.	I live alone and would like to find a small dog under 10lbs

G.	I live alone and love big dogs

5.	How watchful should a dog be?

A.	I prefer quiet dogs even if someone comes to the door

B.	Its nice to be notified when someone arrives but a bark or two is enough

C.	Warning barking is great when there is a wagging tail behind it

D.	I think a dog should protect the home and the family

E.	Since I live alone it would be nice to have a watch dog but I prefer having a small dog

6.	Are there other pets in the home?

A.	Yes dogs and cats

B.

Dogs only

C.

Cats only

D.

No

7.	How often do you have visitors in your home?

A.	All the time but only adult visitors

B.	The kids and their friends are constantly running in and out of the house

C.	Only during the holidays and/or special occasions such as birthdays

D.	Very seldom

E.

Never

8.	What best describes you or you and your family on a Saturday afternoon?

A.	Out and about there's so much to do and so little time

B.	Around the house either cleaning or fixing something

C.	Around the house but active playing a game or swimming in the pool

D.	Watching TV and relaxing

9.	Would you like a dog that is best suited for a child who is moderately active or very active?

A.	I don't have children

B.	My child is moderately active

C.	I have a very active child who would love to have a dog to play with

D.	My kid is usually at home watching TV or playing video games but would sure like to see him/her have a dog companion

10.	Which of these activities sounds most like something you would enjoy

A.	A good game of fetch in the back yard

B.	Dog agility competitions

C.	Dog freestyle competitions (lots of neat tricks with a highly trainable dog)

D.	Disc competitions or just Frisbee play

E.	None of these

F.	Lying on the couch with my dog watching a movie

11.	What sort of security would you prefer a dog to have?

A.	A great family dog but still a wonderful watchdog

B.	A guard dog I want a dog to give me a strong sense of security

C.	I don't need a dog for security purposes that's what the security alarm is for

D.

I like the thought of having a dog who would protect us but most of these dogs are too large

12.	Which of these settings sounds most appealing to you?

A.	A condo overlooking the busy city

B.	A home in a suburban neighborhood with great neighbors and a lot of children

C.	A ranch home on a large farm

D.	A retirement community with a private golf course

E.	A home in a rural area not too far from a big city

13.	How do you feel about dogs used for therapy

A.	I think its great but I'm not in need of a therapy dog

B.	I'm not personally in need of a therapy dog however I like the idea of owning a therapy dog

C.	I think its wonderful and would love to find a therapy dog for my child

D.	I think its wonderful and would love to find a therapy dog for myself

E.	I have no feelings on this subject

14.	How much time do you have to put into grooming or do you mind the extra expense

A.	Its okay, however much time and expense is needed

B.	I think a visit to the groomer 4 times a year is plenty

C.	I think 2 visits a year to the groomer would be enough

D.	I wouldn't use a groomer a quick bath with the water hose outside works great.

15.	What type of hunting trip would you consider taking your dog along

A.	I don't hunt

B.	Big game hunting

C.	Duck and geese hunting has always interested me

D.	I'm an avid hunter and need a good hunting dog

E.	I don't necessarily want a hunting dog but it would be nice if we had a dog capable but he/she would be primarily a family dog

F.	I would love to have a dog to take with me hunting who also enjoys playing with the kids or taking a walk with the wife

16.	How do you feel about barking?

A.	I don't mind barking at all

B.	I don't usually mind barking but some dogs just don't stop and that drives me crazy

C.	I don't mind as long as its not constant

D.	I don't like barking at all it would be nice to find a dog who only barks if someone is at the door or something like that

E.	I don't like barking at all