I've been wanting to get a dog for a long time. One option

Before you get a dog - any dog - do you have time for one? Because dogs aren't like cats - they require a lot more work. There's more to having a dog than just feeding it. They need walks and possibly even more importantly, attention.

I'd say shelter, but it'd be highly preferable if they could tell you about the dog's background, anything bad that might have happened to it, etc. It'll help in raising/training if it's a young dog and over-all handling. Also could help in deciding which dog to adopt, taking on a larger breed who was beaten by a former owner for example, can be a very difficult and potentially dangerous task.

>>18092320
>if they fail puppy school, I have the option to keep it

And if the puppy doesn't fail the training, you'll have to give it up? I'd say go with the latter option and avoid heart break over a small and cute hairy bastard.

>>18092322
I have a lot of time. In the coming year, I may be put on 12hr shifts however my folks live 20mins away and would gladly take care of it while I'm at work since I"m living at home anymore

>>18092331
What happens after that first year though? If you're not sure where you're going to go in the future, then maybe the first option would be better

>>18092320
fuck that, dogs are expensive AF and shit. get nintendogs and then have 500$ spare and buy dope