Life is full of new beginnings––exciting things happen to us that we remember forever. When we are children, it’s a new pair of shoes that we can’t wait to wear; then we get that first bike, and later, a car of our own! The best of all is getting a new dog, and we are never too old to be excited about it. For those of us who remember our first bike, it doesn’t really matter that it wasn’t brand new, but fixed up; what was a discard for someone else became a treasure for us.

The same can apply to a dog that has been a discard for someone else––it can become our treasure if we know how to fix it up and repair the damage inflicted by the previous owner.

2. Adopt an Adult Dog or a Puppy?

You’ve decided to get a dog. Life is complicated––you have a family, a job, and activities–– so much going on every day. Will you have time to housebreak a puppy? Time to go to training classes, and go to the vet for neutering or spaying? All these things take time.

Perhaps you should consider an older dog. Most older dogs don’t have much chance of having someone adopt them. What a shame, because they are usually housebroken, don’t chew everything in sight, and can walk on a leash. What a nice thing for you, to get a ready-made pet. How nice for the dog to get a home and a family to love!