Puppies and kittens are babies. All babies are cute, cuddly and fun to watch playing and sleeping. It is wonderful to see a baby grow, explore and learn. But we cannot predict what kind of personality that baby will have as an adult.

Many physical traits of certain types or breeds of dogs and cats can be fairly predictable some good (size, coat, hair types, etc.) and some bad (through over-breeding certain animals may be prone to specific health problems). Some do have very general personality traits – retrievers like to have things in their mouths, terriers like to dig, Siamese-type cats tend to be talkative, etc – which can be predicted to a limited degree. However, it is hazardous to make too many assumptions about any individual’s personality based solely on what traits its group is expected to have.

Each baby – human, canine or feline – will develop into an individual with a unique personality and special characteristics all its own. That personality will be based on inherited and learned traits, but the combination will be what makes that individual special.

How do I decide what age pet is right for me? Many people assume that puppies or kittens are the only "right" age for a new pet to be introduced into the family. In fact, an older pet is more suitable for many situations. There are important differences between the needs and abilities of adult pets and puppies or kittens. Puppies and kittens learn many of their most important skills – how to be a dog or a cat – from their mothers and littermates until they are ten to twelve weeks old. Baby animals taken from their mothers before that age need specialized lessons and care. However, those first few weeks are not the only time for learning. The first six months of life are vital, and all puppies and kittens require time, care and energy. Many households are not able to provide what is needed during this busy period of high-rate learning and growing. Baby animals that are not properly taught and cared for during this time find it difficult to develop the proper social skills. Depending on the type of cat or dog, most pets can be considered "teenagers" or young adults at 6 months to 16 months old. These puppies and kittens are still growing and developing but are beginning to show the direction that their individual personalities will probably take. They are high-energy "kids" and will test your patience at every turn.

If you seek a pet with certain personality traits, it is much more likely that you will find the right companion to fit you lifestyle if the candidate is at least six months old. Older pets have more coordination and control over their physical functions, and have more predictable natures.

But first you must decide if you have the time, energy, space and money to give to any pet a lifetime commitment. Then determine whether a baby or adult pet is more appropriate for your lifestyle. To help you weigh the pros and cons of a dog or cat versus puppy or kitten, ask yourself some important questions.

• How much time does an adult spend at home on an average day? Puppies and kittens need more physical and emotional involvement with their people than you can give if you are away from home more than six hours a day. Most adult pets can more easily adjust to your schedule. However, they also need time to learn what is expected of them.
• Are there children in the home? How many? How old? While many families think that they want a pet for the children, it takes a special combination of parent/child/pet to have a successful partnership. Careful supervision and training is required so both the child and the pet remain safe and happy. While the family pet offers children an opportunity to learn about responsibility and caring, an adult must supervise regular pet care duties. Also consider what will happen as your child’s life and interests change over the next ten to fifteen years. Remember, your pet is not a toy or privilege used to bargain between parents and child. Teach by example that your pet is an important family member, not a thing to be neglected and tossed away when no longer new.
• Will this pet be a companion to another pet? It is best to introduce a younger animal to an adult resident pet. Four to fourteen months is a good age range to introduce a pup or kitten. Be watchful of the residents’ response to the new pet – introductions should be made, pecking order maintained and visits supervised until the animals are accustomed to each other. Most arguments will occur around food and for attention getting.
• Do I want a pet that will participate with me in outdoor activities? If you want a dog to take hiking and camping, to play ball or swim in the lake, or train for a sporting event, you must consider the breed/type of dog and their physical attributes and the conditions they will be facing. A Basset Hound would not be the best choice for hiking in the mountains, and a Husky, though an athletic dog, may not be the best choice for hiking in the desert in summer. Dogs will take conditioning and training to be able to keep up without injury. Puppies will take more time to grow and develop before they will be able to do strenuous exercise. In all cases, dogs traveling with the owners need to have good manners and obedience training.
• Do I want a "lap-pet" that will be physically affectionate and cuddly? A Great Dane can be very affectionate, but is not a good lap dog. Here too, you must consider the breed and the physical characteristics.
• Do I prefer a certain physical appearance, coloring or coat? Most often at a shelter, the animals are of unknown heritage. This makes a guessing game out of "What will this pet grow up to look like?" You can be more sure of an animals physical and personality traits when the pet is over 6 month of age.
• How large is "too large" for my lifestyle? As a renter, have I checked the pet policies in my lease? How big is my backyard? Puppies grow up and thousands lose their lives each year because someone didn't think about how big that dog would get, or how active the dog would be. You may have a medium size dog, that is a nice size for your yard – however, it is a terrier with a lot of energy and nothing to do because you work all day and are too tired at night to play with the dog. The dog becomes destructive because it is bored – not the dogs fault, but the dog pays when it is turned into the shelter.

You can benefit from someone else’s poor planning if you adopt an adult dog. In all cases, the animals will require training to teach them what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. This training will take time and patience. Some pets will have negative memories of humans and may need extra time to adjust and to learn to trust. But the majority of pets of any age can bond with those people that love and care for them.