By SANDRA L. KOEHLER

Your kids have been begging for a puppy and you're finally going to give in. But where is the best place to get one? Before you think about that, you should consider some other very important questions first:

-- What do you want the dog to mean to your family? For example, will he be a guard dog or a family pet?

-- What breed do you want and why?

-- What is the composition of your household? Do you have young children? Do both parents work?

-- How much time will you have for your new pet?

The answers to these questions will help you define the type of dog you want, making your search a lot easier. Talk to friends and co-workers with dogs to learn about their experiences with certain breeds. Maybe you've always liked how your neighbor's Labrador was good with the children or maybe you've heard how your secretary's Dalmatian can be destructive when bored. When you have a better idea of what breeds you like, read books and browse Internet sites to learn more about them. Don't just go by looks; pay careful attention to the drawbacks as well as the benefits of each type.

You have narrowed your list to a few breeds but you're wondering whether you should get a puppy, no matter how much your kids ask for one. With both parents working, who will have the time to housetrain it? A puppy will need to go potty about every two hours.

Most adult dogs, on the other hand, already are housetrained and may even know basic obedience commands, saving you more time and work. Puppies are undeniably cute, but as babies, they require a lot of attention, patience and supervision. Unfortunately, many people are unprepared for the challenges of puppy-hood and decide to give their dogs to shelters.

If you can commit to raising a puppy, you should contact a responsible breeder, shelter or rescue group instead of going to a pet store. A responsible breeder is one who propagates the breed with careful consideration for the best characteristics of that breed, not just to make money off the puppies. A responsible breeder should screen prospective buyers, be available for questions and always be willing to take back the puppy at any point in his life. Friends or family members may be able to recommend a breeder or you can contact a local breed club. You also can contact the American Kennel Club's Customer Service Department at 919-233-9767 and the AKC's website (http://www.akc.org) has information on breed clubs.

Unfortunately, many pet stores consider profit more important than premium care. They also tend not to discriminate when obtaining dogs to sell. Dogs with heart conditions, malnutrition and parasites have been sold to unwary buyers. Some pet stores claim that they get their pets from responsible breeders, but responsible breeders have built a reputation for their lines and don't need the stores to sell their pups. The truth is, many pet stores obtain dogs from puppy mills, which mass-produce puppies to meet consumer demand. These puppies are not screened for genetic diseases and they and their parents are often kept in deplorable conditions. To learn more about puppy mills, go to http://www.nopuppymills.com or contact the Humane Society of the United States at http://www.hsus.org or 202-452-1100. If you must have a purebred puppy, go to a responsible breeder or a rescue.

If you are looking for a mature dog, some breeders may have them, but rescue groups and shelters are a better bet. The AKC website has a national rescue list and http://www.petfinder.org has a national database of shelters and rescues. There are a number of similar websites including http://www.findfido.org, http://www.critterconnection.com, and http://www.thepoop.com. In addition to providing lists of available pets, these sites offer a wealth of information on adopting pets and behavior issues.

Most breeds have a local or regional rescue group as well as national representation. If you were looking for a Siberian Husky, for example, you could go to http://www.siberianrescue.com and find links for rescue groups in practically every state. If you lived in Pennsylvania, you would find Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue (http://www.siberianrescue.com) listed among other groups for that state.

If you don't have Internet access, look in the phone book or contact the town clerk to find out where the nearest shelter is. Most shelters have local rescue contacts.

Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue group is very rewarding, but be selective about a dog. If you want a reasonably mannered dog about two to three years old that gets along with your eight year old son, make sure you get what you want. Don't just fall in love with a dog because he's the saddest or cutest. This dog will be part of your family for many years so it should be appropriate for your lifestyle. Just remember, shelters and rescues will be just as picky about you. You may want the cuter of two 8-month-old retrievers, but the shelter may urge you to take the other one because it is more suitable for you. Remember, they want to provide a good match and make sure you have the dog for the rest of his life.

You may not get the dog you're looking for on your first try or even your fifth, but finding the right one is worth the effort. And your new family member will thank you for it.