I miss my dog, Sergei. The ex got him in the divorce. In all fairness, Sergei was a Father’s Day present for him. But I’m the one who took care of Sergei. I fed him, housebroke him, taught him to speak (by singing over and over again, “Who Let the Dogs Out, Ruff, Ruff, Ruff, Ruff.) It’s tough. I’ve had him for nearly 10 years.

I remember when we brought him home; he was the runt and we put him on one of those large pet beds. He lay there for six hours, trembling from the fear of leaving his mom and traveling into the realm of the unknown.

He never did grow out of his nerves. But being a Husky, he was very loving and friendly. He was also quite intuitive and one of our friends swore that his blue eyes could see into people’s very souls.

I’ve always been the girl in the neighborhood who might not know your name, but I damn sure know your dog’s name. I miss having a dog. Someone who loves me unconditionally and who may pout for a few minutes, but can never stay mad at me for long. Someone to greet me at the door every time I walk in, and someone who will snuggle up to me when I’m feeling blue. And best of all, they never talk back or talk down to me. They just don’t talk (other than with their eyes, and an occasional whine.)

So I’ve decided, I’ll be getting another dog soon. As much as I love cute little puppies, I don’t want the hassle of housebreaking. This time around, I think I’ll adopt a pound puppy. Not too old, but at least housebroken. There are so many unwanted dogs that it seems like the right thing to do.

I don’t think the problem is not spaying or neutering the animals. I think too many people buy a dog like they would buy a purse. It’s an accessory. They don’t realize that animals not only get attached to their environments, but to their humans as well.

When getting a dog, you should remember a few basic rules:

Get a dog that fits your lifestyle: If you’re a couch potato, then you need a low energy dog. If you’re an outdoorsy type, then you might need a higher energy dog.

Consider your environment: Do you live in an apartment, or have a house with a yard? This goes back to the energy level. It’s easy to stick a high energy dog in the backyard for exercise, but not so easy in an apartment. Smaller dogs are better suited to apartment living just based on size, but you should remember, the smaller the dog, the smaller the bladder and the more he may need to go out to pee and poop.

Consider your home-life: If you have small children, some breeds are better than others. Are you single? What will you do with the dog while you’re at work, especially if you work long hours? If you’re single and work long hours, consider getting a cat. Dogs are very social animals and need your attention and love.

Don’t buy a dog because of a movie or you think he’s cute: Dogs are not handbags and the cute little Dalmations, St. Bernards, and Huskies in the movies are trained by experts! If you are not an expert dog trainer, don’t buy a dog just because you think it’s cute.

Consider your patience level: Some dogs like the Husky and the Jack Russell Terrier are extremely smart and get bored easily. They can be more difficult to train, and can often be mischievous because of the boredom. Believe me, they will test your patience.

Check into the breed’s genetic health: Larger dogs are prone to hip displacia, lighter eyed dogs are prone to cataracts and blindness, etc. Know the possible medical problems the breed may face later on down the line.

Before buying, you research a car model, you research an electronic gadget, so by all means, please (please) research your dog breeds.

As for me, I’m not sure what kind of breed I’ll get. In my lifetime, I’ve had a Poodle, Chihuahua, Pit Bull, Labrador, Cocker Spaniel, Siberian Husky and a Husky/Wolf mix. This time, I’m thinking maybe a Boxer. Or maybe I’ll just get a mutt. I’ve always heard that mutts make the best canine friends.

Anyone have a good dog breed suggestion?