Name:
Topic: Things to consider before adopting a puppy
General Purpose: To Inform
Specific Purpose: To inform people of factors to consider before adopting a dog, such as breed, age, space of home and training needs.
Thesis Statement: Adopting a dog is a big responsibility, but it can also be an incredibly fun, rewarding experience as long as you consider some important factors
Introduction:
Attention-Getting Device: Imagine this, you decide to get a puppy so you go into a shelter and see the perfect one. A cute little 9 week old Border collie mix, that they say shouldn’t get over 40 pounds. That’s perfect! Not to big and just so darn cute. Three months later you’re ripping your hair out. Your nice leather couch, destroyed. The legs on your tables look like they’re chew toys, and your neighbors are complaining about the excessive amount barking.
Speaker Credibility: I myself own a dog that was once returned to a shelter because the original owners were not educated on her breed and could not handle her energy level.
Thesis Statement: There is a lot to consider when adopting a dog, but educating yourself on breeds, age, and training needs will help you make a decision that will result in a special friendship that will last for years to come.
Preview Statement: Today I am going to teach you a few thing to consider before adopting your new dog. Being educated on Factors such as age, breed, and training can make all the difference when adopting your new dog. By following these guidelines you can make sure you find exactly the right pet for you and your family.

Body:
I. When looking to adopt a dog it is important to Research breeds to determine which type of dog best suits your personality and lifestyle. A. Begin your research on dog breeds on things such as energy levels, personality traits and coat types. Remember, dog breeds don’t necessarily dictate its personality, but some dog breeds are known for having a certain energy or disposition 1. Border collies for example are a high-drive breed is extremely energetic and requires exercise beyond just a walk around the block or a romp in the yard (American Kennel Club) 2. While breeds like the Chihuahua because of their small size, require little exercise and are good city dogs. (American Kennel Club)
B. Some breeds are brush-and-go dogs; others require regular bathing, clipping, and other grooming just to stay clean and healthy.
1. Consider whether you have the time and patience for a dog that needs a lot of grooming, or the money to pay someone else to do it. 2. Even some short coated breeds need extra grooming requirements, the bulldog for instance facial wrinkles may need to be cleaned a couple of times a week or even every day.(The Basics of Bulldog Grooming)
Transition: It’s not always an easy decision, so let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of adopting dogs of different ages.
II. When adopting a dog, one choice you’ll need to make is whether to adopt a puppy, an adolescent, or an adult. A. Older dogs tend to be calmer and sometimes already trained to do certain things by the time we get them 1. It may be harder to introduce to an existing pet pet. 2. With an adult dog you have a better idea of their behavior profile so you know what commands they understand and what their temperament is like. (Puppy or Adult) B. Puppies while incredibly cute and heartwarming do require a lot of attention 1. They need frequent trips outside and usually have high energy requirements. . (Puppy or adult?) 2 They can however be trained starting earlier, and can mold the puppy to fit your family from day one. (Wendy Wilson) 3. A puppy requires constant supervision during their first few months of life (Wendy Wilson)
III. When adopting an important factor to consider is training requirements. Many different dog behaviors require attention and specific training. A. Dogs with set in behavior problems may require not just basic obedience training, but advanced behavioral training as well.
1. Older "Puppy mill" dogs for example may be extremely difficult to potty train due to living most of their life’s being caged.
2. Traits like food aggression may be present for dogs in neglect cases.
B. It is important to consider the dog’s temperament before considering adoption, doing these things can give you a better idea how advanced training you dog will require. 1. You can further evaluate the dog’s behavior by taking it for a test walk. 2. Ask the shelter about the dog’s personality traits they observed while at the shelter, as well as the dogs background if known. 3. Ask the shelter if they have done a temperament test and what the results of the test indicated.
Conclusion:
Summary Statement: Today we have talked about some of the things such as breed, age and training needs to consider before adopting a dog.
Closing Statement: Before you even approach an adoption facility, you have to know the time is right for you to offer a home to a pet. Taking on a dog is huge responsibility and a long-term commitment, so it’s important to do your research before you even start looking at dogs to adopt.

Bibliography
American Kennel Club. June 2, 2011 Retrieved September 8 2013 from http://www.akc.org/breeds/border_collie/index.cfm http://www.akc.org/breeds/chihuahua/index.cfm Puppy or adult? Sarah Hogan, Washington State University July 22 2009. Retrieved September 10 2013, from http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/cliented/adopt.aspx
The Basics of Bulldog Grooming. Sep 11, 2013 Retrieved September 11 2013 from http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/bulldog/grooming
Wendy Wilson Publish Date: June 4 2013. Retrieved September 11 2013 from http://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/new-dog/Decisions-Should-You-Adopt