Which Breed Is Right for You?

Factors to Consider

* Lifestyle: How active are you? Do you have children or other pets? Do you live in an apartment or a house?

* Size: How big of a dog do you want?

* Temperament: What kind of personality do you want your dog to have?

* Shedding: How much shedding can you tolerate?

* Grooming: How much time do you have to groom your dog?

* Training: How trainable do you want your dog to be?

* Health: What health problems are you willing to deal with?

Breeds for Different Lifestyles

* Active families: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Border Collie

* Apartment dwellers: French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu

* First-time dog owners: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Beagle

* Families with children: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Beagle, Poodle

* Seniors: Havanese, Maltese, Shih Tzu

Breeds for Different Sizes

* Small: Miniature Pinscher, Chihuahua, Pomeranian

* Medium: Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, French Bulldog

* Large: Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd

Breeds for Different Temperaments

* Calm and gentle: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland

* Playful and energetic: Beagle, Border Collie, Jack Russell Terrier

* Intelligent and trainable: Poodle, German Shepherd, Border Collie

* Independent and stubborn: Shiba Inu, Akita, Bulldog

Breeds for Different Shedding Levels

* Low shedding: Poodle, Maltese, Havanese

* Moderate shedding: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Beagle

* Heavy shedding: German Shepherd, Husky, Akita

Breeds for Different Grooming Needs

* Easy to groom: Short-haired breeds, such as the Beagle or Labrador Retriever

* Moderate grooming: Medium-haired breeds, such as the Golden Retriever or Poodle

* Heavy grooming: Long-haired breeds, such as the Afghan Hound or Shih Tzu

Breeds for Different Training Needs

* Easy to train: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle

* Moderate training: Beagle, Border Collie, German Shepherd

* Challenging to train: Shiba Inu, Akita, Bulldog

Breeds for Different Health Problems

* Few health problems: Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle

* Some health problems: Beagle, Border Collie, German Shepherd

* Many health problems: Shiba Inu, Akita, Bulldog

Once you have considered all of these factors, you can start to narrow down your choices and find the perfect breed for you.