Adult dogs are the ideal choice. They have already shown their actual temperament, size, attitude, and activity level. They are also, in most cases, already trained. Senior dogs, on the other hand, are the ones that deserve adoption but are often not adopted. Would-be owners often fear that senior dogs are poor choices for pets. If your dog suddenly becomes afraid of walking it is not good to let the dog have its way. Less exercise will do the dog greater damage. If you would take him for walks, rebuild his comfort level by taking him outside for short walks. Places less frequented by other animals and people are better choices. Indeed dogs by their friendly nature are good companion dogs. In the strict sense though and for differentiation, dogs that do not work and do not particularly excel at any task other than companionship is a companion dog. When the decision for adopting a dog is to have a companion, the choices will be limited generally to smaller dog breeds that are expected to serve no particular task other than as a pet and as a comforter. No matter, there is no negative dog characteristic that is not corrected by training. Whether the choice is to go for the pure or the mixed bred, find a dog that matches your energy level, one that approximates your characteristic or one the one trait that you value most. If you have a family, consider the one that will generally match theirs too. Excessive barking, jumping on people, quarrelling with other dogs and house pets, chewing on furniture, scratching the carpet are just some of the examples untrained dogs do that often results to embarrassment to their owners. Different dogs have a variety of temperaments. These do not only differ from one dog to another, it also differs depending on the breed and the size of the dog. When decided to adding a new puppy, be sure to watch out that this does not happen. - Do not adopt a new dog without the agreement of all members of the family. There are different dog breeds with different attitudes and temperaments. Dog sizes also matter. Larger dogs are best when there are children in the house as they are generally more placid.