If you spend time with other people's well-adjusted dogs before making the decision to adopt one or two yourself, that might help. Once you start shopping someone will tug at your heartstrings pretty quickly, and you might choose one that later on you'll realize wasn't the best match. I have one who is high-energy who we love, but given more information when I was choosing her as a companion for my first, already-energetic dog, I'd have chosen one a little calmer, and it would have resulted in a quieter duo. The first dog calmed down once she had a companion, but now the companion is the hyper problem. :) I walk them daily and regularly make the hyper dog wear a backpack when we walk, to keep her on task.

I read an anonymous quote recently that I find is good personal philosophy: I'm trying to be the kind of person that my dog thinks I am.

(Here are more good dog quotes)

SRS