Your Living Space
1. What type of home/living space do you have?
It's bigger than a closet, so I call it an apartment
"Cozy" House
Large House
2. How big is your yard?
None—but my NEXT house will have a yard
Small
Medium (mowing doesn't take all day)
Large enough to help me forget I've got neighbors
3. Where is your home?
Downtown
Suburb or small town
Rural retreat (listen, you can hear the grass growing)
4. Are you able to keep a dog secure?
People At Home
5. For how long would your dog be alone each week?
Not at all
10–20 hours
20–40 hours
More than 40 hours
6. Do elderly or disabled people stay with you?
No
Sometimes
Often
Permanently
7. What is your age group?
10–19 years
20–39 years
40–59 years
Over 60
8. What is the age of the youngest child living in or regularly visiting your home?
No children
Under 5 years
Ages 6 to 11
Over 12
9. How active are you?
Infirm
Not very active
Moderately active
Very active
10. How energetic should your dog be?
"You don't really expect me to fetch that ball, do you?"
"Let's play catch—but don't make me run around too much"
"This is fun, throw the ball again!"
"Why are you stopping? We've only been playing for 3 hours!"
Energy Level
11. How much daily exercise will you give your dog?
None, I'm basically a couch potato
30 minutes
1 hour
More than 1 hour
Pet Care
12. What size dog are you looking for?
Toy: Compact enough to call my lap "home"
Small
Medium
Large enough for people to say, "Now THAT's a dog!"
Giant
I don't care
13. How much money are you willing to spend each week to feed your dog?
$10
$25
$35
More than $35
14. How long do you want your dog's coat to be?
Smooth
Short
Medium
Long
Wiry
I don't care
15. How often will your dog be groomed each week?
None
Let's not go overboard, once a week should do it
Two or three times a week
Every day (I'm a neat freak—and proud of it!)
16. Do you want a dog that will protect your property?
No, I'm looking for a cream puff
He should bark loud enough to make strangers think twice
Yes, I want a "Beware of Dog" dog
17. Have you owned a dog before?
1. Which phrase best describes what you're looking for in a dog?
People tend to pick dogs who look like them - but only when selecting a purebred, according to a study from UC San Diego. Apparently people choose mutts for other reasons.
A cuddle friend who doesn't need tons of exercise
Sporty, high-energy dog
Family-friendly dog
A loyal companion
An agility wiz
None of these apply/not sure yet
2. What size dog are you considering?
I prefer small dogs
I prefer small or medium
I prefer medium dogs
I prefer medium or large
I prefer large dogs
Any size is fine
3. What comes closest to your ideal way to spend an hour with your dog?
Tossing a Frisbee or ball at the beach
Meeting up with others in a dog park
Hanging with friends at a cafe
Taking a walk together
Snuggled up on the couch
4. How smart would you like your dog to be?
Smart enough to keep me on my toes
Responsive, but no smarter than I am!
Doesn't matter
5. How much do you exercise?
People who like to be on the move and walk fast do best with high-energy dogs who can keep up with them.
Frequently
Occasionally
For me, it's a walk to the fridge
6. Are you looking for your dog to be a jogging companion?
Jogging is very hard on dogs with flat faces, like Pugs and Bulldogs, who are prone to respiratory problems.
Yes
Now and then
I'm just looking for a companion
7. How do you tend to react when a good friend starts telling you a story you've already heard?
Interrupt and beat her to the punchline
Smile and nod, smile and nod
8. How do you react when another driver cuts you off while you're on the highway?
Accelerate and try to cut him off
Lean on the horn but stay out of his way
Slow down to give him some space
9. What kind of home do you have?
Little kids require supervision around almost every dog — even ones considered kid-friendly.
Small apartment, no yard
Medium-sized apartment, house, or duplex — no yard
Standalone house, with yard
10. What kind of amusement park ride best describes the energy in your home?
Carousel (not many surprises)
Ferris wheel (ups and downs but fairly predictable)
Log ride (boisterous and noisy but not out of control)
Roller coaster (sometimes a little too exciting and unpredictable)
11. Are you planning to bring a new baby into your home within the next few years?
12. How old are the children in your home?
7 and under
8 and older
I have children in both of the above categories
I don't have children at home
13. Are you or is someone in your household allergic to dogs?
There's no such thing as a non-allergenic dog. What makes people allergic to dogs is not fur, but dander, or skin cells. In short, the connection between shedding and allergies is a loose one at best.
14. Plenty of mental and physical exercise is essential for a happy dog. What arrangements are you planning to make for your dog during a typical week day?
Dogs like company — and benefit from a mid-day bathroom break — so if you can't be around during the day try to find daycare or a dog walker who can be.
I'll make sure he's walked when I can't be there.
I'll do my best to make sure he's walked, schedule permitting.
I'm planning to leave him alone until dinnertime, when I get home.
15. How would you rate your health?
Dogs born with a natural exuberance can be a great option for people who appreciate a vigorous companion. But for people who aren't that strong themselves, all that gusto can become a chore to contain.
16. When it comes to spiffing up your dog, you:
Think nothing of giving him a haircut or bath as needed
Don't mind giving him a bath, but I draw the line at haircuts
17. How much does fur bother you?
All dogs shed, including the ones with short hair.
I'm oblivious to it
I don't mind a little fur
I hate the idea of hair on my clothes or furniture
18. How much training would you like to do?
Training your dog with a "do what I say, or I'll hurt you" approach is considered old-fashioned and harmful to your dog.
Teach my dog the basics but once that's done I'd like to be done
I consider training an ongoing process
19. What's your best guess at describing your future dog parenting style?
Forty-two percent of dogs sleep in the same bed as their humans, according to the latest research.
I'm more comfortable being a buddy than a parent
I'm prepared to set boundaries as needed but want to spend time playing with my dog, too
20. Are you willing to train your dog to walk without a leash?
Yes
I'd like to walk off-leash but don't want to spend much time training him
It doesn't matter to me whether I can walk my dog off-leash
21. How much does drooling bother you?
Not a bit.
Not my favorite, but I can deal with a little. Especially if it's the right dog.
I really don't like it.