If you’re thinking about bringing a dog into your life, you’ve got some homework to do to make sure you set yourself up for success. Before you choose your new best friend, it’s a good idea to take an inventory of your lifestyle to determine the traits you’re looking for.

Frugal Beautiful suggests asking yourself these questions:

* Why do you want a dog? Is it companionship? Are you looking to get into breeding? The only wrong answer is “I want a puppy because they’re cute,” because puppies grow out of that phase quickly.

* What’s your budget? Buying some particular breed could cost thousands, but the pound and rescue operations provide cheaper alternatives.

* Do you know how to train a dog? If not, adopt an older dog that’s already housbroken.

* Do you like your carpet? If you’ve got something against dog drool and air getting stuck all over it, you really don’t want a dog after all.

Options for Dog Adoptions [Frugal Beautiful]

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.