Dog breeds are certain types of dogs which have distinctive looks and temperament. Dog breeds can reveal a lot about the size, appearance, and personality of a canine. Doing research to find out which dog breed will suit your personality and lifestyle is essential. Dog breeds are plentiful and you can always find a reputable dog breeder, but it is important that you understand the dog breed you are interested in before going to the dog breeder.

Size should be a factor when deciding on which type of breed would be best for you. Naturally, if you live in a small house or apartment, a smaller dog would be better, where as a larger dog would be better suited with a large yard or out in the country.

There are different dog breed groupings consisting of: The Sporting Dogs...The Hound Dogs...The Working Dogs...The Terriers...The Toy Group...The Non-Sporting Dogs.

The Sporting dogs were developed as bird dogs. These include the Pointers, Retrievers, Setters, Spaniels and others.

The Hound dogs were developed to hunt using sight (sight hounds) or scent (scent hounds). These include the Beagle, Coonhound, Bloodhound and others.

The Working dogs were developed for a variety of jobs, including guarding property, guarding livestock, or pulling carts. These include the Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Bernese Mountain Dogs and others.

The Terrier dogs were developed mainly to hunt vermin and rodents and to dig them from their burrows or dens. These come in various sizes, from the small Cairn Terrier to the large Airedale Terrier.

The Toy dogs are small companion breeds that include the Toy Poodles, Chihuahua,Toy Spaniels, Miniature Pinscher and others. The Toy Group make up for their small size with their big personalities.These are well suited for older or disabled people, because they are easier to look after, as they eat less and need less exercise. Usually, small dog breeds are just ten inches or less tall at the shoulder. In most breeds, the male is slightly larger than the female, but the difference is generally small.This is referred to as breeding true

The Non-Sporting dogs that do not fit into any of the other groups, are usually larger than Toy dogs. These include the Miniature Poodles, Boston Terrier, Bichon Frises and others.

For those who suffer from allergies, a Hypoallergenic dog is a breed that might enable them to have a pet in their home. Some dog breeds have been considered as hypoallergenic, such as the Yorkshire Terrier and the Afghan Hound whose is the same pH as human hair, therefore, creating no threat. Some other good breed choices for those who have allergies are the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier...Bichon Frise...Shih Tzu...Bolonese... Poodle...Barbet...Portuguese Water Dogs...Schnauzer...Maltese. These dogs shed very little of their hair. However, they do produce dander, but the amount is so small that very few people experience allergy symptoms when in contact with these breeds.However, no canine is known to be completely 100% non allergenic. Hypoallergenic dog breeds are usually single-coated, non-shedding (or low-shedding), and generally smaller dogs.

The top 5 dogs registered for 2007 with the AKC are:

* Labrador Retriever

* Yorkshire Terrier

* German Shepherd

* Golden Retriever

* Beagle

Breed types include Hounds, which are bred to hunt and work with humans; Toys, which are great adult companions; and Terriers, which are excellent dogs for training.

From cute to tough breeds, toy dogs to working dogs - there are many different dog breeds for you to choose from.