If you are considering adopting a pet after the holidays, here is a quiz we came up with to determine what type of pet suits your family’s needs. Write down your answers to the following ten questions, and then look below for your results. This quiz is a general guide to help you determine which pet matches your lifestyle. As always, talk to your local animal shelter for more advice on adopting. You can also find homeless animals online at petfinder.com.
To take the automated quiz, use internet explorer and go to animaladoptionsolutions.com and click on “Adopt a Pet”
If you answered mostly A’s, your home would be best suited for an active dog of these breeds (mixed breeds of these types as well):
Dogs with very high exercise requirements: Herding dogs (Australian Cattle dog, Australian Shepherd, Collie, Corgi); Terriers (Boston Terrier, Jack Russell, West Highland Terrier, Wheaton Terrier)
Dogs with high exercise requirements: Working dogs (Akita, Boxer Chow Chow, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Dog, German Shepherd, Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Schnauzer); Sight or scent hounds (Afghan hound, Beagle, Basenji, Greyhound); Sporting dog (Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Labrador Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog)
If you answered mostly Bs, your home would be best suited for a moderate dog or an outgoing cat or rabbit (mixed breeds of these types as well):
Dogs with moderate exercise requirements: Lap dogs (Bichon Frise, Dachshund, Chihuahua, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu, Silky, Yorkshire Terriers); Gentle Giants (Basset Hound, Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Dane, Newfoundland); Scent hounds (Bloodhound, Coonhound)
Cats with outgoing personalities: Abyssinian, Himalayan, Maine Coon, Siamese
Rabbits with outgoing personalities: Small rabbits (Dutch, Dwarf, Mini Lop); Medium rabbits (Angora, Rex); Large rabbits (American, English Lop)
If you answered mostly C’s, your home would be best suited for a quiet, laid back cat with one of these breeds (mixed breeds of these types as well):
Cats with laid-back personalities: Manx, Persian, Scottish Fold
If you answered mostly D’s, your home would be best suited for a bird or rodent.
Birds: Cockatiel, Parakeet
Rodents: Guinea Pig, Gerbil, Hamster, Mouse, Rat
Double-clicking on any word or phrase in this story will open a reference window with definitions and links to other reference material.


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Please wait until AFTER the holidays — when there's fewer people and less disruption to the household — to bring home a new family member.
The three local shelters are on Overpass Road in Goleta. They have plenty of pets looking for new homes, and they do temperament testing on the dogs to help determine the right fit.
If you want to know more in advance about a particular breed, visit the places where people and their dogs hang out and ask questions. Some places locally are the University Drive-Tabano Way dog park; Hendry's Beach; and Girsh Park, site of classes for the Goleta Valley Dog Club.
Anonymous (anonymous profile)
December 21, 2007 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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