Choosing The Right Dog/Woman

Heads

Deciding what kind of dog to get is as important as deciding whether to get a dog in the first place. The AKC recognizes over 160 different breeds of dog, and each of these breeds has its own unique temperament, appearance, activity level and set of needs. You should do some serious and careful research to determine which breed of dog is right for you and/or your family. Here are some things to consider:


You're going to be living with this dog for a long time, so you need to make sure it has a personality you can live with. Do you want a dog that is active, or subdued? A dog that is easily trained, or strong-willed? A dog that is friendly to everyone it meets, or one that is loyal to family but aloof toward strangers? A dog that needs a lot of attention from family members, and lots of activity to prevent him from becoming bored and destructive, or a dog that is content to be left alone for periods of time during the day?

A very important fact to remember is that the breed of dog you pick doesn't ensure you a perfect fit. More importantly is the manner in which you portray yourself at the the time of the initial meeting and during the ensuing days as you and your pup or dog settle in. 

Tails

The same can also be said when preparing to procure a human mate/significant other. Special attention should be given to a potential mate insofar as her breeding, temperament, loyalty, level of amorousness, among other things, and above all, her capacity for commitment longevity--if that's your intended expectation. After all, if you've matured past the point of bar-hopping and clubbing, or perhaps desperately needing the validation of, or acceptance into certain social groups (ie. climbing the social ladder) isn't big on your list, then picking someone for whom these are big priorities probably wouldn't be the most prudent decision on your part...regardless of how good they look. Looks, although, important, should never be an absolute deterrent or a priority which resides at the top of your list (unless you're shallow, in which case, have at it).

Most of these things can be discerned within the first two meetings by simply being a good listener. Being a good listener, consequently, does not mean hearing what is being said without being caught checking out the ass of the person(s) walking by, nor does it mean formulating a witty or funny response to what is being said while it's being said. Thoughtfully listening to the words and the manner of their delivery is not only respectful, but it's also the only way you're going to learn the good stuff..the unsaid stuff. Paying close attention to the body language that accompanies the words will pay dividends in the long run; any gesture that attempts to cover or hide the face/mouth/eyes and/or if their eyes track up and to the left while speaking indicates that what is being said is either a version of the truth or a complete fabrication of it. If, however, you're not practiced in the art of deception detection, just trust your "gut" feeling. Just as in picking out a puppy, you are there for a reason and every effort should be given to getting at the core of the person across from you in order to ascertain whether they meet your criteria; not doing this justice will only serve to prolong a situation which is inevitably doomed.

Both Sides of the Coin

Either way, the decision you make will impact your future in a very big way, and as such, much respect should be given to the brevity of the task at hand. *By the way, choosing either a dog or a female partner (or male, depending on your gender or taste) out of a desire to ease the pain of losing your previous companion, or simply making a rash decision, is not only shortchanging your grieving process, but also incredibly apathetic and dishonest to the woman (or man) or dog you're attempting to acquire. In any event, do the necessary work prior to the day of the meeting so that you can give yourself and your new companion the best possible chance for a long, successful and happy partnership.

Best of luck..to both of you. And happy hunting!