Choosing a new puppy can be the beginning of a long lasting relationship. From the very start it is your obligation to set procedures in place that meets your expectations and requirements.

At the same time, you must display the patience to learn your new puppy's needs and to figure out his personality.

Young puppies are not unlike our young children, they need constant attention and supervision. This nurturing process assists in the fundamental interaction necessary in order for a puppy to mature.

Having both, a puppy and a young child, makes for a very interesting situation. It requires constant attention and a need to ensure consistent supervision for the protection and safety of both the child and the puppy. Little children tend to want to pull at puppies, to grab at their ears and faces. In return, the puppy tends to get more nippy and may even bite the child. At any rate, it is a situation which calls for precautions to be made.

Always choose a puppy, which appears to be gently, and has the personality and disposition to be around your children. Many dog owners choose a dog that will suit home security purposes. There are those who may think that only a large dog fits this description. This is not so. Small dogs, such as terriers, are excellent for barking when strangers approach so as to scare them away. Those attempting to break in will be just as fearful of a small dog, as a large one.

If it is your desire to choose a larger dog, then the suggestion would be that you get a working breed of dog or at least a herding breed of dog. They are very protective and are easily trained. In any case, you want to choose a puppy that will be a great friend, not only to you, but to your children as well. Choosing a puppy takes careful consideration and planning. It is a decision that needs to be implemented responsibly.

It is very important that you spend plenty of time with your puppy. He depends on that interaction, which will help in defining his personality. If it is your intent to simply place your puppy in the backyard and let him go, then the whole purpose of having a puppy is lost.

On the average, a puppy will spend at least 40 hours a week alone as it is. He needs all the time possible to bond with his human environment. Some dogs fare better when alone than others, like the terriers, the Alaskan malamutes and the Siberian huskies.