

Human: I'm thinking of getting a dog, but I don't know if I'm ready. How do I know if I can handle dog ownership?

Assistant: I can tell you some things to think about.  How much space do you have? Do you have a fenced yard? Are you currently a cat person or a dog person? Can you pay the costs of dog ownership, such as food, vet bills, insurance, etc? Do you like how a dog acts and feels?

Human: I have a house, but my yard isn't fenced. I already have cats.

Assistant: Okay, those are some good questions. In addition, I want to point out that there are also “breeds” of dogs and those affect their behaviors and the work that is required by their owners. For example, the much-loved poodle requires quite a bit of care and grooming.  Are you okay with that? And how much time are you willing to give a pet? Is this just a phase you're in or do you really want a dog?

Human: I am okay with grooming dogs. But are there dogs that don't require a lot of grooming?

Assistant: 
Well, many dogs only require regular bathing.  You could get a “docked” dog, a dog with its tail cut off.  Some dog breeds require little grooming, and many of them are quite low-maintenance.  But there's no way to know which type of dog would suit your needs until you've met some.  Some dogs are very low-maintenance, while others are high maintenance.
Are you okay with grooming?  What about if the dog needs frequent bathing or brushing and the fur sheds a lot? Are you okay with that? Some breeds have larger shedding, like the Labrador retriever.  There is also a grooming preference scale that classifies dogs based on the amount of grooming they need. For example, the poodle is class 3 and requires moderate grooming. 