Think you want a dog? Take our quiz to find out if you’re ready.

Illustrations by Veronica Cerri for The Washington Post

There are two sides to dog ownership. One: the unconditional love of a pet that brings joy and fulfillment to your life. The other: many, many doggy bags.

Every cute dog video you see on the internet may make you want to ditch your plans and drive full speed to the nearest shelter. But pump the brakes — being a pet parent brings with it a lot more than a camera roll full of adorable pictures. Anyone considering a dog needs to give serious consideration to all aspects of pet ownership. Start with our quiz.

Question 1 of 6

How much free time do you have?

Question 2 of 6

How much expendable income do you have?

Question 3 of 6

How active are you?

Question 4 of 6

Do you live with children?

Question 5 of 6

You live in a …?

Question 6 of 6

Be honest — are you patient?

You need to answer every question to see your result. You’re missing questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

About this story

Art direction, design and development by José L. Soto. Design editing by Chloe Meister. Editing by Jenny Rogers. Copy editing by Jay Wang.