Puppies can be one of the most difficult things you can add to your life. While they are absolutely adorable, they can also be fur-covered wrecking balls. Plants, throw pillows, carpets, oriental rugs, furniture — absolutely anything is open season. So, whatever dog you choose, you should make sure it fits into your version of what life is like.

When you consider your lifestyle, think about what you do every day. For example:

• What is your idea of fun? Is it rollerblading? Riding your bike? Watching a movie or sports on television? Hiking? Going on day trips in the car? Visiting the park or beach and lying out in the sun?

• Do you work? Part-time? Full-time? Do you put in seventy hours a week? Do you like to come home, shower, and go back out to dinner and the movies or to your favorite bar?

• What about how you keep your home: Are you obsessively neat? Are you allergic to pets? Do you have small children whose toys are all over the house? Do you like to entertain a lot?

You have to ask yourself these kinds of questions when you are choosing the best dog for you. It's important to think about your life before you buy your dog, so that six months later poor Fido isn't back out on the street looking for a new home. Many times people who don't think about what kind of dog they really want are at cross purposes with their dog.

You don't want a pet that's going to cramp your style. And of course, you don't want to pick a dog whose life you're going to make miserable. If you're a rollerblader, you want to know that when you come home, you can suit up, put a leash on Rover, and bring him along. Obviously, you can't do this with a puppy. To find a dog that will want to share in that fun, you need an athletic dog with the stamina and explosive energy to keep up with you. You don't want some sedentary hound who's panting after the first half-mile. Likewise, if you like going for an evening stroll, you don't want some drooling half-lunatic pulling you around the block like a crazed demon. You want a good dog who shares your pace and enjoyment of the evening air.

Maybe you need a dog who can keep up with your children and one you can trust to watch over them. You need your dog not to be a substitute parent or some kind of living, unbreakable toy, but a companion and playmate for your kids to share in their well-behaved fun.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle

If you are a career person, working tons of hours per week, you should probably put your dog-owning desires on hold until your life settles down. If you have roommates or family living with you who are willing to give your dog the attention it needs, then you probably could get a dog. However, a dog will perceive those who show it the most attention as its closest “pack members.” Would you really like to own a dog that perceives you as a semi-stranger?

A young married couple who both work and have no children should determine how much time at least one person can be home. A dog cannot be left alone for long periods of time, especially as a way of life. Children can often be an asset in caring for a dog. However, if the child is not old enough to help with caring for the dog, a young couple might find themselves raising two babies!

The main thing to consider is how often your home is empty. If you can afford a dog walker who can take out your dog in the middle of its “home alone” period, that can be a help. Remember, your home is not empty only when you are at work. How often do you like to go out at night? How many weekends do you spend out of town? Does your job send you on a lot of business trips? The less time you can spend at home, the less likely you are ready for a dog.