Coat - The coat should have a polished, thick look. It should also have no patches of skin or thin fur. Belly - Puppies are often potbellied when their tummies are full. A puppy that has a swollen belly is a good indication that it is harboring worms. Chronic sickness - Be warned with puppies that have chronic sickness. Adopting A Dog Spotting Dog Personalities No two dogs have the same temperament even with dogs of the same breed. Typically though, dogs of the same breed share more of the same characteristics. When decided in adopting a dog, choose dog characteristics and traits that you want. If you lead an active lifestyle for example, do not adopt a dog with a phlegmatic character that will be content to hang around the house much of the time, eating, and sleeping. They do not demand as much attention as their younger counterparts do and they are more skillful at human interaction. They can forgive the transgressions of small kids and provide the comfort adults require. They know better than to bark at everything or jump at people, and they have, more or less, curbed their aggressive tendencies. Adopting A Dog The Working Dogs The following dog types are commonly available for adoption in rescue homes and animal shelters: Sporting Dogs Dogs that are largely used as sporting dogs breeds are the spaniels, pointers, setters and retrievers. Sporting dogs is a product of years of breeding to come out with dogs that work closely with their owners and are comfortable on land, and is not intimidated by water. Barring that the dog is ill; you could make every walk in the park as enjoyable an experience for both you and the dog. Set the pace. Start slowly. Dogs will always be excited during their first time out. Dogs, especially when still untrained, gets easily distracted. It could be a squirrel, pigeons, other dogs, people, no matter; the dog's attention has to be controlled. Typically a pup that is good for adoption is about three months old. That also means that the puppy could hold his bladder for at least three hours. Refrain from waiting for that. Bring the puppy out every two hours counting from the time when you first brought him outside. It is important to establish a routine and a schedule.