I want to get a canine-type pet. I will be moving in with my fiancé in June (he rents a house) and it’s in a not terrible-but-not-especially-nice area. Along with this is my great love for all animals and I really miss having a dog. Here is the question - this animal will be crated during the day while I am at work. I have no problem with taking it for long walks and such. Is it better to get a puppy and train it, or an adult dog whose bladder will be more mature? I want to make it as easy as possible for the animal to adapt. I am getting it from the Humane Society so either is possible.
I, personally, would vote for the adult, Poysyn. I went through the same thing a few years ago, rescuing a puppy, then six months later adopting an adult dog. Not only did the adult adapt better, but puppies get AWFULLY persnickety being alone in a cage all day. House training was an absolute nightmare with the puppy, consisting of running home every lunch hour and free 15 minutes I could find, and making SO do the same. That’s not even mentioning the getting up twice a night, every night for six months. The adult (was actually about 18 months old, not REALLY an adult) was much easier to deal with, and took to being in a crate quite well during the day. So well, that after two months, I never put her in it again, just let her wander the house. She was just fine.
My $.02. 
Well, I’m not one for crating anything but puppies myself. Puppies need to be crated because of the potty training issue. As for the puppy vs. adult question, it depends on how much time you have with this animal. A puppy can only get the training it needs if you can be home with it a lot. A puppy tears things apart and pees on anything and everything. The problem with an adult dog is that it may have been abused. It may not be good with children. It may not (probly not) trained properly. I am an advocate of rescuing adult dogs, because I don’t have children and have the time to train and tend to them. They can be skittish and snappy. These things can’t be seen in a half our at the Humane society. Whichever one you get, I suggest signing up for a obediance class at your local Petsmart or obediance school.
Just for the record, I was going to sign up for dog training.
For what it is worth…it depends on how fond you are of your carpets. My husband and I decided to adopt-a-dawg from the local shelter. He wanted a puppy so that’s what we got. We love her dearly, but lets face it, puppies are A LOT of work that typically lands on one person. Personally, I don’t think we would adopt such a young dog again. Also, the puppies don’t have a tough time finding a home. An older dog probably needs your love and your home more.