After a family discussion on the pros and cons you've decided that you want to adopt a family dog. The next decision should be whether you should adopt a new puppy or an adult dog.

Without a doubt it can be a real joy having a rambunctious puppy in the house, watching him or her grow. However, adopting a pup really requires a major time commitment. Initially, it can take a couple of weeks for both you and your puppy to adjust to your new living arrangements.

Be aware that it could result in a few sleepless nights for both of you. Also, new puppies must be very closely supervised and properly taught what is and is not acceptable behavior. Then there's house training. In many cases this can be a taxing time with numerous "accidents" to clean up. Patience, while house training a pup, is indeed a virtue. Also, it may take six to eight months for your puppy to outgrow his chewing phase and another 12 months to attain full maturity.

It's very important to carefully consider whether or not your lifestyle can be adapted in order to deal with the challenges that a new puppy will present. Should you determine that you really can't provide the time and attention that a puppy requires you may find that adopting a mature dog can be an excellent alternative.

Many adult dogs have already been house trained. You'll likely still have a few accidents but it won't take long for the adult dog to learn your rules. Adult dogs are easier to train as they have longer attention spans than excitable puppies. In fact, you may find that they have already learned some basic commands from their previous owners. Choosing an adult dog, you will already be aware of its full size, true personality, and health.

As puppies develop, one or more of these traits may end up being a big surprise. An adult dog may be a better choice if you have young children. Older dogs may have already had experience with children and they are much more predictable than puppies. Playing with a new puppy you'll soon discover that they have needle-sharp teeth that can accidentally injure a young child.

You might also want to consider adopting a canine "senior citizen". Even nine or ten year old dogs can still have many more good years to offer to a loving family. All too many older dogs in shelters are unable to find a new "forever" home, resulting in a tragic, untimely demise.

When choosing between an adult dog or a new puppy, try to consider every aspect of your pet's, and your own, needs. Adopting a dog should be great fun, but it also requires a major commitment on your part to ensure a healthy, long lasting partnership between you and your new best friend.