Listed below are five of the most popular breeds of dogs according to the American Kennel Club (2006) top ten, but they are by no means the only ones you should choose from. There are numerous other breeds that would make excellent pets, ones that may fit your family’s wants and needs much better. Do a little research into finding the best breed for you.

Dachshund – This is a breed of dog that looks to be elongated, with short little legs. There are three sizes of Dachshund – Toy, with a height of up to 12 inches and weighing about 8 lbs., Miniature, with a height of up to 14 inches and weighing about 9 lbs., and Standard, with a height between 14-18 inches and weighing about 20 lbs. There are also three different varieties in the length of their coat, short-haired, wired-haired and long-haired. Their life expectancy is about 12-15 years.

Dachshunds are lively, affectionate, mischievous dog which are bold, willful, playful, fun and often humorous. They are clever dogs, but tend to be harder to train. They are also very devoted. They do tend to have a louder bark, which makes them good as a watchdog. Dachshunds also crave the companionship of their owners and do not like to be left alone. But, they also tend not to like strangers. Not all Dachshunds are known to be good with children.

Various breeds of dogs offer different strengths and weaknesses that may or may not be the right fit for your family. A little research into the different dog breeds to find the right choice would be well advised and would be time well spent.

This article cannot possibly list all the dog breeds and their qualities, but it will go into a few to give you a hint of what you may want to take into consideration. I would suggest, however, that before you decide on a particular breed you need to familiarize yourself with the type of dog want. Do your research by finding books at the library or book store, or even on the internet. Visit kennel and breeding websites and read through the attributes of each breed before making your final decision.

According to the American Kennel Club (2006) the five most popular breeds of dogs are as follows (listed in order of kennel registrations):

Labrador Retriever – Labradors are fairly large dogs, standing at about 22-24 inches and weighing approximately 60-75 lbs, full grown. They have a short, water-resistant double coat which is relatively easy to care for. They are friendly, loving, affectionate, patient and highly intelligent. They are loyal, willing, active all-around good natured dogs. They have a life span of 10-16 years.

The oldest dog breed in America, the Chihuahua is also the smallest of all breeds. Descendants of a much stronger breed, the Chihuahua now has a sleek and muscular body. Some of the major characteristics of the Chihuahua breed are:

* The coat may be long or smooth. The two different coats have different qualities.
* The color can be a solid one or streaked with one or two colors.
* The breed is energetic and graceful with expressions that match those of humans.
* They are devoted and loyal to the owner, as most dogs are.
* They have the longest lifespan as compared to any other breed.
* They need a lot of patience for training.
* The delicate neck and weak bones require special care.

The Chihuahua breed demands undue attention and is highly individualistic. And therefore, it is a breed that is mainly meant for adults and not children. At the same time a Chihuahua requires relatively less amounts of grooming. A mild brushing and a monthly bath are sufficient to take care of its basic hygiene.

Shih-Tzu is a rare breed of dogs that has a coat that resembles human hair. In fact it is the hair that gives the breed its beauty and unique appearance. Although somewhat similar to a Pekinese, Shih-Tzu is a class apart in the �toy� group of dog breeds.

Like all other dogs a Shih-Tzu also demands great attention. The �living toy� is prone to infections, and diseases like the ones caused by dog ear mites. A cat may become immune to cat ear mites with age but a Shih-Tzu will need proper treatment before the condition can be treated.

Ears can be a primary source of infections and other diseases in dogs. Given the long hair that the breed has, it requires regular and more frequent cleaning and grooming. The need for regular grooming is actually a boon for people who own a Shih-Tzu because regular inspection during cleaning and grooming helps in identifying the early signs of a disease.

But the exceptionally long hair that a Shih-Tzu has, creates a damp environment for the ear mites to breed in. The dampness along with the dirt that tends to accumulate, is an invitation for ear mites to multiply and grow. The regular cleaning exercise helps in spotting the first signs of ear mites so that early action can be taken.

People love big, protective and loving dogs and that�s why there are a lot of german sheperd breeders.

The German Shepherd is sometimes called an Alsatian because that�s where they originated in Germany. Many Germans still called them Deutscher Schaferhund because of their original sheepdog function but the breed is not very old and was really developed from a variety of sheep herding farm dogs in the late 1800s. In 1899 Max von Stephanitz, a German cavalry officer, was president of the first German Shepherd association in Germany. Since then German Shepherds have turned up all over the world and they came to the USA as early as 1908 where they were popular with the Red Cross, the police and as guard dogs.

This was partly because they are extremely loyal and courageous dogs and they are very intelligent and retain specialized training for a long time. Temperament is what ensures the usefulness of the German Shepherd and since this comes from good breeding it is essential to find a good and reputable breeder. With a bad temperament these dogs are a disaster. They are highly territorial and will know and recognize their people and place by about six months of age. This is when their protective loyalty starts to show itself! There are many german sheperd breeders and you should have no problem finding a good one, but just remember that they come in a range of colors and will protect you no matter what!

The decision to have your dogs ears cropped is a matter of preference. Some pet owners believe that a boxer looks much better with cropped ears and therefore opt for a surgical alteration in the structure. Others feel that the soft floppy ears give a soft look to their pet.

Many who are sensitive to animal suffering explicitly voice their dissent about this cruelty that is being meted out to some breeds of dogs. I personally feel that the boxer has been provided by the floppy ears by nature to actually cushion the otherwise gloomy expression that the breed has.

But there are people who prefer to crop the ears of their boxer pets to allow easy cleaning of the ear and prevent dog ear mites. They normally want to do this because drooping ears aid in creating a favorable environment for ear mites to breed. Let me explain how it happens.

If choosing dog is such a straight forward process, and it is, how come so many puppies find their way into adoption centres every year? Well one reason is that people choose the wrong dog breed.

Don�t let your puppy become a statistic. Make it your goal to choose a puppy suited to your family and circumstances. Think about your previous experience of owning a dog and the amount of time you have for training, grooming and exercising. Look at your health including possible allergies, your financial resources and the amount of space in your house and yard. Most of all work out how much time you have for a dog.

Of all the different factors in choosing a the right dog breed, among the most important is the relationship you want with your dog. Some breeds by nature are rather aloof and elegant, others are independent and energetic while others are dependent or submissive. If you want to do specialized training, consider breeds known for courage and trainability. If you want an affectionate pet, choose a breed that typically likes to be close to its people.

To ensure that your puppy fits in with your lifestyle begin by asking yourself these questions:

Even though the differences between non-hypoallergenic dogs and hypoallergenic dogs may not be huge, they are enough to reduce the amount of allergy attacks that people have when they are around certain breeds of dog. For those who want to own a dog, not being able to be in the same room with one for long periods of time, can be frustrating. Buying a hypoallergenic dog may be the only way they can have a dog in their home. While they may still experience allergy attacks, these attacks will be less frequent.

Non-hypoallergenic dogs tend to shed a lot. Their fur can be loose and dense, which means that it may contain a lot of dander as well. Dander is a collection of skin cells, dust, and other particles found in the air. As the dog sheds, these particles float around in the air and cause people to have allergy attacks. These dogs may also have an undercoat, which is a thick coat that protects them from harsh temperatures. This undercoat is what causes the dog to shed frequently. It can also trap dander and other allergens.