Deciding to get a pet is a major commitment. A dog requires years of attention and demands almost as much of your time as a child, so before you decide to adopt one, it's important to know that you can handle it. Otherwise, it won't be fair to you - or to the dog.

Dogs need a yard to play in - they weren't meant to be cooped up in an apartment. If you live in a building with a courtyard and adopt a small dog who won't need lots of room to run, owning a pet while you're renting an apartment can work out fine. But if you're looking for a big, rambunctious dog, you'll need a place for him to play and run, so it might be best to wait until you're a homeowner.

Got the house, but don't have the time? Hold off on getting a pet. Dogs want to be around you, and they'll be sad if you're gone at work all day or off on business trips on the weekends. If you want to become a dog owner, you should have plenty of time to walk, feed, groom and play with your pet.

Finally, think long term. Most dogs can live for 12 years or more, so you're making a major commitment here - a lot can change in 12 years. If you decide to have kids, can you trust your dog to tolerate their inevitable poking, prodding and teasing? If so, you might be ready to adopt a pet.

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