When I was growing up (and not allowed to have a dog) I used to read the books about the different breeds. I knew them by heart. I wanted each and every one of them all for different reasons. THEN I started to work with dogs. Today the list of breeds that I would actually want in my home has shrunk considerably. Too many breeds have been ruined by popularity and therefore over breeding (BAD breeding). Your average mutt is still the way to go (IMO). But then again, I don't have a dog.