Every time I go to places like dog shows and pet stores where people bring in their pets, I am reminded about how many different type of breeds there are out there in the world.

At the same time, I can't help feeling how crucial your lifestyle (and possibly your personality) has to match the animals you choose. If you're a cat owner, this won't be probably so much of a problem, but if you plan to own a dog (or dogs), the breed you choose may have a big impact on your daily life. You may become either satisfied or miserable.

For example, over the last weekend, I was talking to a nice lady with a greyhound at a local dog fair. Greyhounds are probably suitable for people who like calm and quiet dogs indoors (they are known as "the world's fastest couch potato"!). The lady looked very satisfied with her choice of breed. As we petted her greyhound dog, we were watching a man who was playing with border collies nearby. He was constantly on the move with the dogs. What a difference there is in the choice between these two breeds!

My husband is another good example. He is always telling me that cats don't require as much maintenance as dogs, because cats are such independent animals. That's what makes him like cats better than dogs.

Well, maybe that's very true for him. He is definitely not the type who would enjoy living with dogs, not even a calm or small dog! He'd rather stay home sitting at his computer than going out for a walk with a dog. He seems to know himself well.

Living with my husband helps me realize over and over again that knowing one's own lifestyle before deciding on a particular animal is a key to a successful pet ownership. And also, don't forget to do some homework in advance on the breed (especially dogs) you're interested in!