Your kids want a puppy but you think an older dog sounds like less work. Consider compromising by selecting an adolescent pug that's six or seven months old. A dog this age is still full of puppy vim and vigor, but his bladder capacity is greater, and he needs meals only twice a day instead of three or four times a day. He's young enough to be adaptable, and his attention span is greater than that of a puppy. On the other hand, a dog this age is just entering adolescence, which can be a trying time, but you'd have to face it at some point if you got a younger puppy.

Where do you find this adolescent dog? Often, breeders keep several pups to “run on,” in the hope that they'll develop into good show prospects. Those that don't make it are sold to families as companion dogs.