[Selanne_200]

Like what others have said, getting a dog means almost a complete change of lifestyle and it's a long journey. The average life expectancy of a dog is about 12-13 years. In addition, what I found was that it's not only the present you're looking at but also the future. Some of the questions I would ask myself is "What if I get laid off, will I have the financial means to keep the dog? If my work requires me to travel or be out of town, will I have someone to look after the dog or will I be able to afford boarding services (another huge topic in my opinion to find the right place)? Long term care for the dog especially when it gets old? Have I done enough research on what breed of dog to get and do I understand the breed well enough to know what it needs?"
All that being said, and it's pretty much a personal preference, I got a puppy over a dog from the shelter. I support the idea of adoption but he's my first dog and I wasn't sure if I would be able to handle a dog with potential behavioural problems due to my lack of experience with dog. For my next dog and for the rest of my life, I would most likely adopt rather than getting a puppy from breeder.
The journey is long but It's well worth it!