How do you choose the breed that is just the right match for your family? Dogs come in more shapes and sizes than any other animal we know.

With some, it is hard to believe they are members of the same species: a full-grown Pomeranian fits in the palm of a hand, while an Irish wolfhound barely fits in the backseat of a car; the komondor looks like a string mop, while the Chinese crested dog is hairless but for poofs of fuzz on its head, feet and tail.

There are at least 324 dog breeds, and the American Kennel Club recognizes 137. Each is different, not only in appearance, but also in temperament and in the amount of care required.

To narrow your choices, consider these variables: size, cost, trainability, grooming needs, exercise needs, common health problems, amount of activity both indoors and outdoors, constancy of temperament and, most importantly, tendency to bite and personality with adults and children inside and outside your immediate family.

With most breeds, it is best to get a puppy--not a full-grown dog--so you can be sure your pet's exposure to children begins at the earliest possible age.

FAMILYFUN's all-around family dog choices are broken down into the classic categories, according to what the dog was initially bred for. Although the modern dog's most basic function (and need) is companionship, most dogs were at one time bred to work, and a breed's working category is your first clue to its behavior.