Buying a best friend should not be taken lightly — at least a best friend of the four-legged variety.

With the recurrent headline of dog mauling in parts of the country, a number of people still find the call of dog-owning very strong. More than ever, choosing the right pet dog for a household is an important decision people have to make. Dog owning is classified in two: responsible and irresponsible, it's as cut and dried as that. Once a family or a household decides to share their home with a pet dog, measures and assurances of each member's safety must be given consideration. Many pet owners of dog breeds that top the list of 'dog attacks on people' are no doubt responsible, yet it's their dog of choice that may let them down. Misguided trust has been the story of most dog attacks, like the case of the teenage brother leaving his 8-year old brother playing with the family Pit bull on the loose…the child was mauled and died. Loving pets is not the question, its being able to trust a dog breed that has racked up un-aggravated mauling and maiming.

In choosing the dog breed for your household, consider reading up on the breed or breeds (if you'd like to get a mix). Read up in books and internet sites of researchers and unmotivated dog breed 'brags'. Seldom does a breeders' site ever have researched articles on the dog's history. If there is one, there is a follow-up article on how things have changed nowadays.

Decide on the dog breed you'd want according to your lifestyle. Dog breeds are classified according to the American Kennel Club, the classes are: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, and Non-Sport Herding and Miscellaneous. Among the classes of registered dog breeds, the Pit Bull Terrier, Perro de Presa Canarios or the Cane Corso three dog breeds known to attack without prejudice are not listed as registered. Owning a household safe pet dog will make you rest easy, dog breed temperaments are indicated in kennel club sites and research journals.

 Will the dog get the proper human association it needs? Some attribute a pet dog sudden biting is its being unassociated to other humans. A case of a terrier/mini pinscher mix being associated with only its owners family spent 8 years in a third floor apartment. When the family moves out to a spacious ground floor apartment, it bites a neighbor's child for being noisy. The dog's breed mix tells much about the dog, it can be noisy and very master-oriented, combined with its seeing only family members for 8 years is what made the dog dangerous. A dog's human family has a big role in its being a good dog, before choosing a pet dog bear in  mind that taking your future pet through human and other pet association  is non-negotiable (it is a must!).

Is it going to be an indoor dog or an outdoor dog? Indoor pet dogs need crate and obedience training so it can join your household without a fuss. Outdoor pet dogs also need obedience training and proper care as stipulated in law. Refer to your local ASPCA for regulations accorded to keep an outdoor pet dog. If there are regulations on how to keep an outdoor dog, are you and your family ready to oblige by the law?

Can You Really Afford a Dog? Having a pet dog is every child's dream and a parent's apprehension. Having pets does help ingrain a sense of respect and responsibility in a household with youngsters. Pets also do well in relieving tense situations at home. But look at your finances; can you afford the food, vet trips, inoculations, accessories and cleaning implements? Most abandoned pets are due to pet owners not having stable financial status, 'as much as they love Rover, he just costs us a lot…' has always been an excuse.