This goofy, bright, and affectionate breed is happiest when shuffling around with an active family. An athletic herder by nature, the Old English sheepdog requires regular exercise or a job to flourish. Its shaggy coat needs a lot of grooming to keep it from becoming overgrown, tangled, and matted. 

The vizsla's ancestors were bred in Hungary to hunt game with power and endurance, which means it needs lots of daily exercise in today's world, too -- note this dog's graceful strides. This gentle, affectionate, active dog is highly trainable.

This breed is at its best as an active family member or hunting companion. Regular grooming is a must, since Labs shed their water-resistant coat seasonally. Gentle, loyal, smart, and easy to train, Labs are America's top dog.

Strong, fearless, and devoted, this family dog requires regular exercise (think agility training) and diligent grooming. German shepherds are the world's leading police, guard, and military dogs but were derived from herding and farm dogs.

A peppy and popular toy breed, Yorkies travel well and need minimal exercise. Once bred to catch rats in clothing mills, this dog is brave, curious, and full of energy. A Yorkie's small size makes it a great apartment dog. Silky, long coats require regular brushing.

Bred as a hunting dog, this breed has a water-repellent double coat (an outer coat and an undercoat) that sheds seasonally and requires regular brushing. Lively and alert, with an outgoing personality, Golden retrievers demand daily exercise to stay fit and happy; homes with large fenced-in yards for running and play are ideal.

This compact hunting dog is friendly and inquisitive, and needs daily exercise to feel its best. Small bodies and short coats, which are easy to maintain, let this dog thrive in urban homes. Carefree and sociable, beagles enjoy being with people and other dogs.

Their strong, intelligent expressions may seem serious, but boxers have a soft spot: They love attention from their families and are playful and patient with children. This breed earned its name from the way the dogs stand on their back legs and "box" with front paws during play. Requires little grooming.

With gentle, agreeable, and steadfast personalities, bulldogs are terrific family pets and bond easily with kids. This breed requires minimal exercise -- though its lumbering walk is particularly charming. Grooming is easy, but the dogs' folds need some extra care: Wipe them daily to clean them and keep them dry.

Whether smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired, these dogs are affectionate pets and determined hunters. Energetic dachshunds need moderate exercise and regular grooming. Long and low bodies once helped them catch badgers; now they make apartment living a breeze, though dachshunds love the outdoors, so walks or access to a yard are important.

Known for their full and fancy hypoallergenic coat, poodles are great for allergic owners but require regular professional grooming. This breed is intelligent and active, requiring daily exercise. Bred as a water retriever -- though miniature poodles sniffed out truffles and toy poodles were circus stars -- poodles now make great family pets.

Wide-eyed, affectionate, and trusting, this sweet breed has an aloof carriage but a genuinely loving disposition. Shih tzus require minimal exercise, but their traditionally long coat needs daily brushing and maintenance. Great for small apartments and urban homes.

When it comes to exercise, a brisk walk around the block will suffice for the alert and animated Chihuahua. This breed makes great city dogs in warmer climates, since they are sensitive to cold. Shorthair coats need less grooming than long coats, but both require little maintenance.

This sweet-natured breed -- with its short, heavy body and squat legs -- enjoys a slow, daily stroll for exercise. Basset hounds love to chase down a scent, which makes indoor hide-and-seek games a fun way to spend rainy days. The short, smooth coat needs little grooming.

Bred in China as pets for Buddhist monasteries, pugs are even-keeled dogs with loving temperaments; they thrive around their families. This is a nice breed for small spaces, though pugs can adjust to all living situations. A smooth, glossy coat sheds but requires little grooming.

This obedient, distinguished breed is equally game for short walks or long naps. This dog has an easy, spritely nature that's ideal for busy families. Its long, silky coat requires weekly brushing.

Adaptable to city, suburban, or country life, this terrier enjoys a moderate amount of exercise each day. It also requires regular grooming to keep the soft and wavy coat tangle-free, though shedding is minimal. All in all, this is a happy, graceful dog.

Once a popular hunting companion in Sussex, England, this dog has a long, low, muscular body. But don't let its heavy brow fool you: Sussex spaniels are cheerful and love being with kids and other dogs. Weekly brushing is a must, with careful attention to the ears.

This breed requires obedience training and daily exercise to maintain its strong but gentle form and temperament. Originally used as a guard dog, a carting dog, and an avalanche dog to locate travelers trapped in the snow in the Swiss countryside, giant Saint Bernards thrive in larger spaces that let them move around. Long- and short-haired varieties shed and drool excessively.

This breed can have great speed and endurance, despite its small size, and needs regular exercise. Bright and gentle, this dog is popular and pleasant. Requires regular trims and brushing.

Its weather-resistant wiry coat needs occasional brushing and stripping (when a groomer uses a special blade to remove dead hair from the coat) twice a year. Affectionate and easily trained, the border terrier is an active breed that needs regular walks and playtime to keep its mind and body in top form.

Athletic and smart, this prized sheepherder is one hard worker. The energetic border collie thrives on exercise and space to run, and is best with mature, well-behaved kids. Its weather-resistant double coat sheds seasonally and requires regular brushing.

Though this breed sheds very little, a dense double coat requires regular trips to the groomer. Once used by farmers to help on hunts and to chase vermin, the Lakeland terrier is bold but gentle, with a lot of energy that makes it best suited for active owners. This breed requires regular brushing and combing that an owner can do, but let a groomer clip the dog on a regular basis.

Known for speed and tracking, the Weimaraner was bred as a hunting dog -- take advantage of its endurance and strong scenting ability during runs and hide-and-seek games. Affable and easy to train, this breed loves children and family. It requires little grooming.

A long, soft, wavy coat insulates this breed in harsh weather and requires frequent brushing -- every day or at least several times a week. This dog doesn't shed, which makes it a nice fit for allergic owners. Smart, lively, and affectionate, the Havanese needs daily exercise and makes friends wherever it goes.

Its short, glossy, soft coat is one of the simplest to groom. Italian greyhounds form strong bonds with their owners and like affection in return. Peaceful and gentle, this breed is easy to train and is great for small apartments, but needs a lot of exercise and playtime.

Big in spirit, this toy breed is quick and active, and barks boldly at intruders. Compact bodies make "Min Pins" great apartment dogs that still need daily play and a walk for exercise. As fun family pets originally bred as barnyard ratters, this breed is innately loyal, alert, and fearless.

With a mighty bark and strong protective instincts, this dog is a fine watchdog yet a gentle friend.

A perfect size for the average suburban home, this breed enjoys family time and needs lots of activity in its life. After all, the Pyrenean Shepherd herded sheep in the mountains of southern France for centuries, and acted as search-and-rescue dogs for French troops during World War I. The full coat requires surprisingly little maintenance beyond occasional brushing.

Manageably sized but full of life, the friendly Kerry blue terrier needs daily exercise and patient training. Hypoallergenic coats are soft and wavy, and need regular brushing and trims. As hunters, they may not welcome cats or other small pets.

Bred to lure and retrieve waterfowl (the coat is water repellent), this strong, compact dog is extremely intelligent and always eager for activity. These dogs are patient and affectionate with family members, and need occasional brushing.

Bred as sled dogs, Siberian huskies need plenty of activity -- more than 30 minutes of it per day. This breed is also outgoing and friendly, which makes them great family and therapy dogs. Be careful around small animals, though, since these dogs have strong predatory instincts. Thick, soft coats demand weekly brushing.

For such a massive dog, the Great Dane is endearingly gentle and pleasant. Its carriage is also regal, elegant, and strong -- no wonder distinguished Great Danes were once appreciated as estate guard dogs. Daily exercise is a must, and short coats require little grooming.

Distinct from its cousin the Irish Setter, this dog traditionally worked in the field and is filled with curious energy.

Highly independent and intelligent, these handsome animals developed in the Himalayan mountains as guard dogs. Tibetan mastiffs form strong bonds with their owners, but are very wary of others -- they may even object to guests in their home. Early socialization is crucial, and these dogs must be kept on leashes during walks. Regular brushing is required to maintain this breed's lush, full coat.

Tall and muscular, Irish wolfhounds are grand in size and have a commanding presence to match. Originally a hunting dog, this instinctive runner is highly active. The ideal owner? An endurance athlete with a large sport-utility vehicle and an expansive backyard.

Such thick, silky, and fine-textured hair is typical of dogs developed in high altitudes -- in this case, Afghanistan. The Afghan hound's long locks require lots of upkeep, but paired with an independent spirit and dignified personality, the end result is a dashing breed.

This high-energy breed needs plenty of activity on a leash or in a fenced-in space. Dalmatians are fast, clever, and alert, which explains why they were bred for hunting and coaching (among other reasons). Perhaps best known for their spotted coats, this breed requires regular brushing since it sheds year-round.

There are two types here: "hairless" dogs (with tufts of soft, silky hair on their feet, tail, and head) and those covered with a soft, straight coat. Both are easy to maintain and hardly shed at all since, well, they're practically hairless. But Chinese cresteds are prone to skin irritations, sunburns, and allergies. Bright and fun loving, this gentle dog does best with calm kids. Like many toy breeds, Chinese cresteds are delicate and can be seriously hurt if a child sits on them or drops them. So they're good for homes without children or homes with children who are well behaved, gentle, and supervised.

Brush rarely but exercise often; the active, determined miniature bull terrier is extremely energetic and needs a lot of movement to be happy. Training is required for this dog to play well with children. Not recommended for families with small pets, including hamsters and guinea pigs. (These animals were originally bred to hunt small animals such as rats, and many still have this instinct.)

This breed needs only an occasional bath and ear wash, but its folds must be wiped clean daily and kept dry. The Chinese shar-pei needs early training and socialization to best mesh with families, though it's a quick learner. A serious and aloof dog, but loyal to owners.

Either curly or wavy, this breed's thick hypoallergenic coat requires regular brushing and trimming. The coat is also waterproof, which lets the dog swim all day -- a plus, since it needs daily vigorous exercise. This breed is willful and smart, yet eager to learn good manners.

A coarse, wiry coat has a naturally unkempt look but still needs regular brushing and stripping. Trustworthy, easy to train, and outgoing, this breed makes a reliable hunting dog and a faithful family pet. It needs a lot of activity to be fit and happy.

A soft, dense undercoat and long, straight outer coat mean plenty of brushing and trimming for this breed's owner -- even the long tail is prone to tangles. As a smart, lively breed with a little sass, this outgoing dog demands a great deal of attention but not much exercise.

Known as a working dog in ancient northern China, chow chows are faithful and warm with their families but standoffish with strangers. Daily exercise is important to this breed's health and mind. Regular grooming and bathing maintains their thick, abundant coats.

This breed is known for its beautiful feathered coat that begs to be brushed and clipped regularly. Moving with pride and grace during daily vigorous exercise, the English setter is at its best around family. Calm and agreeable, this dog's lively tail points to a friendly disposition.