Everyone knows that dogs are a man's best friend, so we want to make sure we're being good friends (and owners) to them as well. This entails giving them proper attention, ensuring they get enough exercise, and, probably most significantly, ensuring that their breed is compatible with your lifestyle before adopting or purchasing them.

What breed of dog is best for you and your lifestyle?

1. Pomeranian

Take a look at that face. A typical Pom weighs less than eight pounds and has only one life goal: to please you. Adorable, cuddly, and earnest, a normal Pom weighs less than eight pounds and has only one life goal: to please you. It's simple to teach them to fetch ping pong balls, and that's usually enough exercise for them.

Poms, despite their thick coats, only shed once or twice a year. They do need to be brushed on a regular basis; if you do, your groomer visits will be reduced to around four times per year.

Oh, and here's a big plus for senior citizens with mobility issues: Pom puppies can be taught to use "litter" boxes filled with horse wood pellets to excrete. It doesn't have the same odor as cat litter.

1. Poodle

There's a reason the poodle appears on every list like this—and why they're crossbred with everything from Golden Retrievers to dachshunds so frequently.

They have it all: calm and affectionate personalities, hypoallergenic, non-shedding fur, and intrinsic intellect.

1. Greyhound

If you want a larger dog but don't want to buy one from a breeder, most greyhounds that become personal pets come from rescue organizations that foster them after their racing careers are over. They're usually between the ages of two and five, so they still have a lot of life ahead of them.

Greyhounds are wonderfully sweet and aesthetically sleek canines who are known to cuddle up and sleep for hours and, unexpectedly, require very little exercise. Experts advise that if you want your greyhound to join you on a jog, you should start with shorter walks.

When not at home, greyhounds must always be leashed because they have a natural desire to chase, which could be dangerous for both of you.

1. Dachshund

These fellas, often known as "weiner dogs" due to their long, reddish brown bodies pushed up on very small legs, are kind, friendly, and hilarious to watch when they play with a toy.

Their small size (the normal weighs around 25 pounds, while the miniature weighs less than 11 pounds) makes them ideal for apartments and easy to transport. Daschunds are low-maintenance dogs that require little care and shed very little. They also frequently live into their late teens, which is forever in the dog world.

1. Golden Retriever

There's nothing quite like the company of this utterly mellow, easily taught, and highly sweet breed for more active persons searching for more than a lap dog. They enjoy long walks or runs and are known to get along well with hyperactive grandchildren and cats, but their demand for stimulation causes them to go a little crazy if left alone at home for too long.

What's good about golden retrievers is that they calm down as they get older, and many once-active seniors find that their golden retriever intuitively recognizes when they need help retaining their balance as they become older.