How active are you? Don't pick a dog with too high energy level compared to your lifestyle.

Do you enjoy brushing and washing? Some dogs require a lot of hair care. Some not very much.

What do you want to do with your dog? Cuddle in bed? Follow you on your weekend hike? Play fetch in the park?

Do you want a small, medium or big dog?

Do you have a fenced in outdoor area to let them out into? What size dog were you thinking and are you comfortably sure that size will fit into your lifestyle?

Choose the dog by character, not the way it looks. Any dog needs time investment; it needs to be fed, walked, groomed, trained. Dogs hate to be alone, a couple of hours alone is ok, but basically they need humans around them. They will need medical care too, vaccinations, treatments; this can quickly get expensive. Consider getting a dog from a shelter; ask the people there for a quiet, friendly dog; don’t bother with its looks or age.

an evil chihuahua