BONUS: How to choose the perfect dog for you.

Click the links above to learn how to decide if you should get a dog or not.

In order to answer this question I’ve compiled a very complete list of dog breeds. This list is divided in 3 different groups: those that have some kind of restrictions or are used for other purposes, those that are banned from most places, and those that are kept free.

Note: Some of the following restrictions or bans are recent. A lot of dogs used to be banned, and some still are. I just added them into my list of banned dogs as a reminder of this.

Any dog breed can be banned in one country, even if it isn’t the only breed in that country.

All dogs of the same species that have similar characteristics are often compared by showing in great-breed dog shows. It can be a good indicator of the potential of a given breed, and it’s always interesting to see them in action.

For example, see the Irish Setter’s mating circle:

Being in the ring isn’t a good indicator of the breed’s performance or even health. But it can help us to compare them.

How to decide whether to get a dog or not?

If you do decide to get a dog, you have to ask yourself a few questions.

Are you interested in having a dog, and if so, for what reason? Do you want it to be the only dog in your home, or would you consider sharing the experience with another dog in your family? Are you willing to become involved with your dog, either as a trainer, a nurse or a caretaker, and be responsible for it? Or would you prefer to just have a dog, that is cute and pretty and not considerate at all? What type of activity would you like your dog to participate in? Is having it outside, in a fenced-in yard, OK? Or do you prefer a dog that is part of a pack, with you as the leader and rules for the rest of the pack, or do you prefer having your dog at home and only caring for it when it needs your attention? Do you want a dog that can accompany you when you go out, or would you prefer to have one that you can leave in the house with your children when you go out? For how long? What do you feel is its personality and temperment?

Let’s check some reasons why people choose to have a dog.

Why to get a dog?

There are many people who love dogs and want to have one.

Maybe you are a lady who wants to have a dog for company.

You have children, and you’d like to share your love for dogs with them.

You have pets already, and want another one.

You would like a dog that would help you to interact with your spouse, since you’re married and all, but only have pets so far.

You want a friend at the end of the day, when you come home tired and have no-one to talk to.

You are dog-lover, but you’re not interested in having a dog that will be your responsibility all day long, especially if you already have a lot of pets at home.

Top 20 scientific facts on dogs  

1. All working dogs, regardless of size, must be muzzled or under control in public.

2. A dog's sense of smell is 20,000 times stronger than that of a bloodhound.

3. Your dog's ears are a 400-micrometer long extension of its nose.

4. Dogs are highly social animals that are extremely loyal to their pack.

5. You may be suffering from a “dognapping” disorder if your friends always get a new pet when you get tired of the old one.

6. Because of its tail, some may think that a Labrador has flaps on its hind legs.

7. Dogs are too clean for their own good. Their breath contains twice the levels of carbon dioxide found in humans.

8. The number of hairless dogs has increased more than 400 percent in the last century.

9. Dogs have eight original limbs (included the front ones) and many more "appendages" or limbs.

10. There are no non-human species with whom you can compare your dog.

11. Dogs have no hands. They use their paws instead to grasp and pull objects.

12. Dogs do not have eyelids.

13. The first case of inbreeding in a dog was registered in 17th century England.

14. Although some sources claim that dogs were domesticated in Africa around 100,000 years ago, in truth it's unknown how domesticated they were.

15. It's not true that dogs are lazy. They actually spend about 45 percent of their time walking.

16. There are no worldwide data on the age of dogs, although the oldest is the Central Asian Coydog and her name is Balkanate, she's a 22-year-old female.

17. Dogs are 60 times more intelligent than apes.

18. Some scientists claim that dogs don't have a vestigial tail because they have started using it as a tool to manipulate things, and dogs use tools to hunt.

19. The beagle is one of the two remaining breeds used as a hunting dog.

20. When a dog has died, its body can be identified by a layer of fat called the “paw fat”, which has the characteristic scent of the animal.