Adoption is not something to do on a whim or without much thought. There are too many dogs returned to the shelters or rescues because the new owners had not given enough thought into the responsibility and commitment necessary for a dog. This harms the dog emotionally and often commits the dog to death. 

Adoption is not for everyone. Some people should seek out a reputable breeder for their puppy. If you are looking for "guarantees" (there really are no guarantees) in behavior and health, then you are better off with a breeder, since they will have the information about the puppy's parents.  

All adopted dogs, puppies or adults, come with baggage that you may be told about by the rescue organization or you may learn about it after you take the pup home. Rescue and shelter organizations only know what they are told by the people giving up the dog. If the dog was found as a stray, they know even less. Some of the dogs stay in foster care for a while, so the foster parents can tell you what they have observed in the dog. All adopted dogs need a lot of patience, time, and often times money to fix the issues. These costs can early after adoption or much later in the dog's life.

How ready are you?  Have you planned enough? Review the below topics and see:

Are you Ready? Answer a few question and see how ready you are. Even if there is an area or 2 that needs more thought, the other sections can help you plan or work through the issues.

Cost Commitment: Learn the financial commitment for you new dog.  Some of the costs may surprise you.

Lifetime Commitment: Scary? See how much a dog can impact your life.

Space Commitment: Even the smallest of dogs take up space.

Time Commitment: There will need to be some time allocated to your dog on a daily basis.

Now you are ready to look at the adoption process and dog selection information.