Small dogs are most vulnerable and are often associated with female owners. They are cute, dainty, very delicate and oftentimes boisterous. If you want a pet that you can carry with you, a small dog toy or lapdog is a perfect choice. Make no mistake, though. Small dogs do not always make for behaved dogs. Go with his phase. Do not pull at the leash yet, during this initial stage, it is best to give the pup his space. Remember that you are still inside the home or within the confines of your yard. This is already control. If the pup insists on going to places where you do not want him to (like digging on a flowerbed for example) and you are tempted to tug at the leash, carry the pup instead, then move to another location. 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. Love All dogs love, but some dogs have the tendency to display their affection better than others do. When you adopt a dog, it becomes your responsibility, whether you are in the mood to take good care of it or not. Not a few dog owners leave their dogs tied to their chains unattended, day in, day out. Imagine how bored you would be if you have nothing to do, nowhere to go, every day, for the rest of your life. You get a dog at a bargain price. Dogs can cost as much as several hundred dollars. Getting a dog from animal shelter, on the other hand, can only cost you as much as $100. This fee covers for the maintenance cost of the dog, for spaying or neutering fee, and for other expenses. There are, in fact, plenty of animal shelters that are happy to give their dogs for free. Clarify your house rules Your new dog cannot guess which behavior is appropriate at your house and which are not. It will take some time before he fully understands that some behaviors that he used to have are no longer applicable and that new behaviors are needed to be formed. Include your family in the training of your newly adopted dog It is very important to have common rules for handling the dog.