Remi’s family adopted her because she checked all the boxes for being a perfect fit for the family’s lifestyle.

Choosing a dog to add to your family is far from being a simple task. How do you know if the pup’s nature will be a good fit with how you live, where you live, who else is in your household and what other qualities you may or may not like in a canine companion?

There are so many things to consider.

“This is a very complicated topic,” said Dr. Ellen Reinke, “and there are no hard-and-fast rules on how to pick a dog that will fit best into your family.

“First, think about your household and lifestyle to determine the breed that fits best,” she said. The American Kennel Club has a breed selector tool that helps people learn about different breeds, so they can evaluate the qualities that are likely to best suited for their lifestyles: https://www.akc.org/breed-selector-tool/

There are lots of other things that factor in your decision, too, she said. “Think about whether the puppy will be expected to be friendly with children and other dogs. Do you have an active household and go out hiking on the weekends? Or, do you want a dog who is happy to hang out on the couch?” asked Reinke. “Do you live in an apartment or condo where barking dogs could be an issue? Do you want a dog who is ‘wash and wear,’ or is it OK if you‘ll need to regularly visit a groomer?”

One major consideration is where you’ll find your new pet. “Rescues, the humane society and reputable breeders are all great options for places to find your new best friend,” said Reinke. “However, not all breeders or rescues are created equally, so see what you can find out about them before you visit. Some of them will have reviews posted on the internet. We do not usually recommend buying pets from pet stores, because they often source their dogs from large dog breeding operations, although there are exceptions.”

When a dog joins a family that already has pets, it is important to make sure a new pet will get along with the other pets.

Another important thing to think about is what age dog you’re looking for. “Puppies are wonderful, but they require lots of work, socialization and training to become well-behaved adult dogs,” said Reinke. “Knowing the parents of a puppy can give a prediction of what a puppy will be like when it grows up, but we often don’t have this luxury in a rescue situation.” Puppies can also be expensive after the initial cost outlay: Expenses from puppy classes, vaccination appointments, and spaying or neutering all add up.

“Adolescent dogs don’t have the extra responsibilities of puppies – like puppy biting, for example – but they can also behave like stubborn teenagers,” Reinke said. “Personalities of adult dogs are already established, so if you adopt one, you generally know what you’re getting into. Senior dogs, who adoptive families often overlook, are usually amazing couch warmers and provide wonderful companionship, even if you’ll have them for a shorter period of time.”

Remi’s family shares adoption story

“We lost our first rescue dog, Rylie, this past fall,” the owner explained. “We knew we wanted to give another rescue pup a fabulous life but also didn’t want to rush it as our hearts were broken. We knew that we needed to find a dog that would fit our active, yet laid-back lifestyle.”

The family had an older dog at home, so it would also be important for a new dog to get along with, Tess, who not only lost her best friend when Rylie died, but who is also very set in her ways. “When we saw the photo of Remi, her eyes reminded us of Rylie, and she appeared to be the sporting type dog we were looking for,” the owner said, “so we decided to go meet her.”

“She was very submissive when she first came out to greet us,” the owner recalled. “She rolled on her back and wanted belly rubs. Soon, we saw she was a curious pup with a very loving personality. We knew this was the pup that would fit into our household.”

When the family started the process of adopting Remi, they learned her birthday was the same day they lost Rylie. “So right then and there, we knew it was meant to be,” the owner said. “She made herself right at home, and she immediately fell in love with her big sister, Tess. Remi wants to be near Tess at all times and follows her lead.”

One thing that factored into the family’s choice of a new dog was choosing a puppy was so Tess could teach her the ropes while she was still able to do so. “Remi is doing well with training, and she has been a wonderful addition,” said the owner. “Now we will look forward to the adventures of Tess and Remi while always keeping the memory of Rylie alive.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment at Greendale Village Vet, call 414-421-1800 or visit https://greendalevillagevet.com/

Remi and her new big sister Tess bonded immediately.