1. Get a new house.
   Evaluate your lifestyle.
2. Make new friends (so they can dogsit).
   Check your bank account.

Millions of people jump into dog ownership not really thinking about the lifestyle changes it entails. Carefully consider your schedule before you get a dog.

1. Minor inconveniences
   Troublesome in-laws
2. A new car
   Small children

Dogs are needful, active creatures ... a lot like small children. They need emotional bonding time and plenty of attention in order to be well-adjusted.

1. Totally false
   A bit untrue
2. Mostly true
   Entirely true

Dogs, like kids, are all different. Some are kind of low-energy, some are wild with excitement. And breeds definitely have very different traits — understanding this will help you choose the right dog.

1. They eat only raw meat.
   They don’t really like people.
2. They don’t train well.
   The require much more exercise.

Some breeds, like border collies, require incredible amounts of exercise or they can become destructive pests. If you don’t have time for an active breed, consider a less energetic one.

1. They are vicious.
   They eat too much.
2. They attack random people.
   They need extra care.

You think it’s a lot of work mowing the lawn and cleaning the house? Get a puppy and you’ll see your free time dwindle to almost nothing — these baby dogs need a lot of love and training.

1. To bother you
   They can digest anything as food.
2. They are destructive monsters.
   It’s part of the teething process.

Puppies, like humans, undergo a teething process that can make them achy. You can give them chew-safe toys (in place of your shoes) to help them work through this stage of life.

1. Total chaos
   Lots of cats around
2. Regular routine
   Random schedules

Dogs are creatures of habit. They behave best when they have a regular routine that includes substantial exercise.

1. Emotional creatures
   Den creatures
2. Pack creatures
   All of the above

Dogs are pack animals that require a safe den area to retreat to when they’re tired or anxious. They’re also emotional creatures that require a bit (or a lot) of affection from their families.

1. Very nice days
   Humid weather
2. Mild weather
   Cold weather

Housetraining can be frustrating with some dogs. Very cold weather, though, is often helpful — because dogs won’t mess about so much before urinating, because they’re hurrying to get back to warm shelter.

1. Once
   Twice
2. Four times
   10 times

Puppies under 12 weeks need lots of small meals. They should eat about four times per day in order to properly sustain their fast-growing bodies.

1. Destruction
   Improved listening
2. Overly affectionate
   Licking

Many active breeds need hours — hours — of fast-paced activity to burn off energy and keep their minds engaged. Like children deprived of playtime, these dogs can quickly become destructive and hard to handle.

1. From raw meat
   From other dogs
2. From fecal matter
   From mosquito bites

Mosquitoes often carry the parasite that causes heartworm, which can kill your dog. Owners can avoid this problem with preventative heartworm treatments.

1. Right away
   At 15 weeks
2. At six months
   At one year

Even tiny puppies benefit from short training sessions. The sooner you begin training, the easier it’ll be to shape your dog into a good family member.

1. Chicken
   Beef
2. Pork
   None

It doesn’t matter what kind of animal it came from. Cooked bones of any kind can splinter when your dog chews them ... and potentially cause harm or death. Some vets spar on this issue but erring on the conservative side can spare you some serious grief.

1. Raw beef shank
   Turkey bones
2. Chicken bones
   Cooked pork bones

Raw beef bones — big ones for big dogs and small ones for the little guys — are safe for your dog, since they are less likely to splinter. But it’s just a brief treat. Let them chew for a few minutes and then take them away before shattering and breaking begins.

1. Ruins their claws
   Makes them more reactive
2. Makes them hungrier
   Causes fleas

It’s called "leash-reactivity," and it’s common. Many dogs become hypervigilant or even aggressive when they’re on a leash, and if this happens to you, consult an expert for help right away.

1. Clean it up.
   Fling it into the flowers.
2. Stomp on it so no one notices.
   Briskly walk away.

In many places, you can be fined for the mess. Clean up after your dog ... after all, if it was your yard, you wouldn’t want to walk into an animal’s feces.

1. By the tail
   Cradle their entire bodies.
2. By the scruff of the neck
   By the front paws

Scoop up those puppies with both hands and cradle their weight. If you snatch them by the scruff of the neck "like the mother does," you’re putting the pup at greater risk of harm.

1. Lower energy levels
   Don’t require routine
2. Need almost no food
   Require little love

Older dogs are a major blessing for many families, in part because they aren’t as active as puppies. Some older dogs get by with a minimal amount of exercise.

1. His behavior should be closely monitored.
   He’s rabid.
2. He’ll bite people, too.
   He's bored.

Some dogs don’t like other dogs, plain and simple, but they’re fine with people. In other cases, the script is flipped, or features a combination of the two. You must monitor your dog’s behaviors carefully and consult an expert, if necessary.

1. Smear every toy in peanut butter.
   Buy new toys every day.
2. Let them go through your closet.
   Rotate the toys.

Dogs love toys, just like kids. And you can keep them interested in those toys by rotating them every couple of weeks, rather than buying new ones all the time.

1. These dogs all have health issues.
   Breeders don’t make a profit.
2. These dogs are inferior.
   Breeding conditions are often horrible.

In America, it’s not uncommon for breeders to overbreed their dogs and generally treat them poorly in order to maximize profits. It’s just one of the many reasons you should consider adopting instead.

1. On the seats
   In your lap, for security
2. In a harness or crate
   On the dashboard

A crate or harness is vital to the safety of your dog ... and yours, too. Each year, dogs are hurt during hard stops because they’re not secured — or they cause accidents by jumping in a driver’s lap.

1. To improve a dog’s dental health
   To control animal populations
2. To maximize a dog’s speed
   To reduce a dog’s appetite

America is awash in abandoned animals caused by overpopulation. Unless you’re specifically wanting to breed your dog, spaying and neutering is vital to keeping animal numbers under control.

1. Brush her teeth regularly.
   Walk her once a week.
2. Give her chicken bones as treats.
   Feed her cheap food.

Many people don’t bother to brush their dogs’ teeth. But regularly scrubbing can slow down tooth decay and prevent expensive dental bills.

1. At 15 weeks
   Around 18 months
2. Roughly 4 years
   8 years

Most abandoned dogs are given away at around 18 months. Why? Because this is when all of that poor training comes back, manifested in behaviors that drive owners nuts.

1. He’ll lick you more often.
   He’ll eat twice as much food.
2. He won’t listen to you.
   He’ll attack all cats.

Door darting, food stealing, extreme wildness ... these are your rewards for not training your dog. Both of you may wind up miserable.

1. Restrict the dog’s activity.
   Offer the dog mineral water.
2. Feed your dog lots of raw meat.
   Give the dog pure oxygen.

Heartworm treatments kill the worms inside your dog ... and heavy exercise can break up the worms and cause heart problems. Dogs should rest for weeks until the worms are passed out of the body.

1. Long-term health problems
   Misbehavior
2. Upset stomach
   All of the above

Overdoing the people food can cause health problems in many dogs. And feeding them from the table? It’s a shortcut to major behavior problems.

1. Frequent ear infections
   More chewing
2. Sore paws
   Thyroid issues

Many rescued dogs are spayed or neutered too young. This can cause thyroid problems ... and later, behavioral and health issues.

1. From a dropper
   All at once
2. Gradually
   Using spoonfeeding tactics

Quickly changing your dog’s food can cause major stomach upset. Gradually mix the new food with the old during this transition.

1. Give her many​ more treats.
   Keep tabs on changing needs.
2. Give him fewer walks.
   Do the same things you’ve always done.

Dogs age faster than humans and their needs change. You’re responsible for understanding those changes and needs and making your dog comfortable.

1. Only in Florida
   Mostly the Midwest
2. Primarily the Northeast
   The entire country!

Heartworm was once problematic only in the southern reaches of the U.S. Nowadays, this parasite can affect dogs in any area, meaning owners must practice prevention or risk the consequences.

1. Persistent cough
   Loss of vision
2. Strange odor
   Limping

Dogs can't tell us when they don't feel right. If your pup has a persistent cough, consider a vet visit -- this is one of the symptoms of heartworm.

1. Privilege
   Basic human right
2. Form of cruelty
   Foundation of civilization

Dog ownership is a privilege ...and the law can take away your dog if you’re unkind or irresponsible. Treat your pup with love and respect and you’ll have a mutually beneficial relationship that lasts for years.