Once you have made your list of the breeds you like, it's time to narrow down your options to find out which one suits you best. After considering various factors, such as children, space, and cost, you can rule out any breeds that seem inappropriate or unappealing. You can use an online search engine to get help finding your perfect match by entering the keywords “dog breed selector” or “dog breed quiz.” You can also find any number of books on the subject.

If you have young children, you have probably ruled out the Chihuahua, Pekingese, Lhasa apso, and Scottish terrier for temperament reasons, along with all of the toy breeds except the pug. With school-age children, you may be considering the miniature schnauzer, miniature poodle, bichon frise, dachshund, shih tzu, Brussels griffon, pug, Boston terrier, West Highland white, cairn terrier, Border terrier, Australian terrier, Welsh terrier, cavalier King Charles spaniel, Tibetan spaniel, or schipperke. Many mixed breeds also make great family pets.

If you are a city dweller in a high-rise building or a senior citizen, your pick may be one of the toys. These petite pets can be litter-box trained, eliminating late-night elevator trips outside for their potty calls. Other highly adaptable pets that don't need a great deal of exercise are the Boston terrier, bichon frise, poodle, Chinese crested, and lowchen. If you think housebreaking and training a pup would present too much of a challenge, consider adopting an adult dog from a breed rescue group or a shelter.

If your budget would buckle under the grooming costs of longhaired breeds or those requiring regular precision styling by a professional groomer, consider the short-coated breeds like the pug, Boston terrier, Chinese crested, min-pin, Manchester terrier, smooth fox terrier, smooth dachshund, Italian greyhound, or the short-haired Chihuahua.

If you want a lively little companion that is always up for a romp or a play session, perhaps the Parson Russell, fox, Border, Welsh, or Lakeland terriers or the American Eskimo would fill the bill. If you don't have a fenced backyard, these are probably not for you.

When it comes to humorous little characters that will always bring a smile to your face, you can't beat the pug, min-pin, affenpinscher, Brussels griffon, Boston terrier, or dachshund. If elegance and glamour turn you on, it's hard to beat the Japanese Chin, Maltese, shih tzu, Lhasa apso, Havanese, papillon, English toy spaniel, cavalier King Charles spaniel, or Italian greyhound.