Let's talk about dogs. There are many dogs breeds, many sizes and dogs that serve different purposes. With all these choices, only you can decide which makes the most sense to join you and your family.

Consider your lifestyle, your commitments, how much time you have, how large your home/apartment is and see which kinds of dog are best suited for the way you live. Also, take a look at yourself and try to ascertain the kinds of dogs you might be best suited to own.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) divides all of its 154 recognized breeds, all the kinds of dogs it registers, into several large categories. These include:

• Sporting Group. These are the traditional kinds of dogs used for hunting upland game birds and retrieving waterfowl. These dogs can be Retrievers, Pointers, Setters, and Spaniels. There are 26 different breeds in the Sporting Group.

• Hound Group: Also the kinds of dogs used in hunting, there are 22 different breeds in this group. They are as diverse as the Afghan Hound (a sight hound with a long, luxuriant coat and refined feature) and the Beagle (a scent hound as short as just 13 inches and sporting a very short coat). Many are well known for their stamina used to run down their quarry.

• Working Group: These types of dogs have their origins working alongside their masters. These 24 breeds, mostly larger in stature, include the kinds of dogs used by the military and police as guards and sentries, on farms to protect and herd livestock, and also to pull sleds in the northern climates.

• Terrier Group: Terrier means "ground dog". These are the kinds of dogs often used to chase or drag vermin out of their underground dens. These are small, feisty, active dogs and most of the 27 breeds in this group were developed in the British Isles.

• Toy Group: Twenty one different breeds are included in this group, all with one thing in common, their diminutive size. These kinds of dogs are often called a "lap dog" because they are small enough to spend much of their time on their owner's lap.

• Non-Sporting Group: It's tempting to call this group "everyone else" as they seem to be together because they don't fit in any of the other groups. However, these kinds of dogs may have fulfilled several roles. This is the breed home for the Poodle, the Bull Dog, the Dalmatian, and the Chinese Sharpie.

• Herding Group. Finally, these are, in a sense, the traffic cops of the dog world. The 18 breeds in this group represent the kinds of dogs used to herd or drive livestock. Herding Group dogs range from the Pembroke Welsh Corgi to the Collie.

• Miscellaneous Group. Included in this group are breeds that are developing and may one day be recognized by the AKC. In the group are all kinds of dogs: the Beauceron, the Plott, the Redbone Coonhound, the Swedish Vallhund, and the Tibetan Mastiff.

The AKC also has a category called Foundation Stock Service® Breeds. These kinds of dogs are rare purebred breeds. The AKC works with their breed organizations to encourage their development. There are 51 distinct breeds involved in this program.