Examine your personality and way of life before searching for the ideal dog. What grade would you give yourself? Which are you—a hermit or a social butterfly? A passionate hiker or couch potato? Is it a well-kept apartment or a vast farm? Would you rather have a “easy keeper” or do you like combing and grooming? Do you want a one-person dog that will stick with you no matter what, or do you want your dog to love all of your friends just as much as you do? Are you seeking for a companion for your youngster, or is this dog actually for you?

Here are a few typical lifestyle examples along with recommended breeds for each. These are only recommendations for places to search; the list is not intended to be exhaustive. And for all of them, kindly think about adopting a mixed breed animal from your neighborhood rescue.

1: Because I love to be active, I would want to go on walks and runs with a lively dog. Naturally, I’ll base my decision on the weather where I live.

Think about the following: Portuguese Water Dog, Tibetan Terrier, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Portuguese Mountain Dog, German Shorthaired Pointer, Bernese Mountain Dog, and Siberian Husky.

2: I want a tolerant dog that can play well and securely with my little children. Of course, I’ll constantly keep an eye on what they do.

Examine the following breeds: Labrador Retriever, Mastiff, Newfoundland, Scottish Deerhound, English Setter, Bulldog, Beagle, Border Terrier, Golden Retriever, and Flat-Coated Retriever.

3: My older kids would like having a dog as a playmate.

Think about the following breeds: St. Bernard, Boxer, English Setter, English Springer Spaniel, Siberian Husky, and Bernese Mountain Dog.

4: I like a peaceful, cuddly pet since I have a tranquil life.

Think about the following breeds: English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Pekingese, Pug, Shih Tzu, Chinese Crested, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, and Basset Hound.

5: I’d prefer an independent breed and sometimes work long hours.

Think about the following: Kuvasz, Lhasa Apso, Shiba Inu, Chinese Shar-Pei, Akita, Black and Tan Coonhound, Brussels Griffon, and Chow Chow.

6: I like the weird, therefore I’d be down for an intriguing dog with an odd personality.

Think about the Bedlington Terrier, Xoloitzcuintli, Puli, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Brussels Griffon.

7: I want a laid-back breed since I’ve never had a dog before.

Affenpinscher, Bernese Mountain Dog, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Greyhound, Basset Hound, Bichon Frise, Bull Terrier, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are other breeds to think for.

8: I need a calm dog since I live in a tiny apartment.

Think about the following: Chinese Crested, French Bulldog, Greyhound, Havanese, Maltese, Pug, Shih Tzu, Basenji, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Chinese Crested.

9: I would want a dog that is simple to groom.

Some breeds to think about include the American English Coonhound, Basenji, Bluetick Coonhound, Bracco Italiano, Great Dane, Mastiff, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and shorthaired Chihuahua.

10: Call me crazy, but I like playing around with my hair. I’d prefer a dog that requires a lot of upkeep so I can treat it well.

Examine the following breeds: Maltese, Old English Sheepdog, Lhasa Apso, Chinese Crested, Cocker Spaniel, Afghan Hound, Puli, Shih Tzu, Skye Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier.

11: I would adore having an intimidating, watchful dog since I live alone.

Think about the following dogs: Rottweiler, Komondor, Doberman Pinscher, Chinese Shar-Pei, Akita, Belgian Malinois, Giant Schnauzer, and Komondor.

12: I would adore having an intimidating, vigilant dog since I live alone.

Think about the following breeds: St. Bernard, Great Dane, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Doberman Pinscher, and Bernese Mountain Dog.

13: I’d prefer a breed that gets along with my cats since I have them. Naturally, until I’m certain they’re close pals, I’ll keep a close eye on them at all times.

Take into consideration the following breeds: Newfoundland, Poodle, Pug, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Beagle, Dachshund, and Collie.

Diane Morgan is a Williamsport, Maryland-based pet care specialist who has produced many books on nutrition and dog care in addition to various publications on horses and dog breeds.