Lab or Lhaso, what’s the best friend for you?

Watching Velvet and Snickers lead John Baker’s team to the burled arch in Nome on Tuesday morning to win the 2011 Iditarod could inspire anyone to adopt a sled dog, but when it comes to adopting a dog, there are better criteria than popularity.

It is easy to be taken in by so-called “designer breeds” or by that cute dog in a movie. Anyone looking to adopt a dog from a breeder, a private party, an animal shelter or a rescue group needs to do the homework it takes to find the right dog for his or her circumstances, family, future and the needs of the dog.

Take Robert, a military man who adopted a Weimaraner pup before his family’s transfer to Alaska. In Alaska, busy new schedules, a postage stamp-sized yard and harsh weather kept the pup confined to a kennel. When outside, the high-energy hunting dog would routinely knock down Robert’s toddler. Robert felt it necessary to rehome his 7-month-old puppy.

Then there’s John, the quintessential couch potato in his 20s. Instead of picking a couch potato dog, which would have meshed with his lifestyle, he adopted an adorable, high-maintenance Jack Russell. The dog is entirely wrong for John, and his cure is to have the dog take calming medicine daily.

Or Carol, who loved her Brittany dog so much she got a second one to keep him company, and then found that while one Brittany may stay in your yard, two take off like rockets whenever they get the chance.

There are many things in life that are beyond human control, but choosing the right dog breed for your family is not. There are more than 400 registered dog breeds worldwide, and many of the differences are more important than size, shape or color.

Different breeds of dogs have very different temperaments, and while there are variations in the individual animals, being aware of breed characteristics will help you make an informed decision when you select your new canine friend.

There are plenty of resources available to guide you. The American Kennel Club (akc.org) has a wealth of information on more than 150 breeds, how to select the one for you and breed rescue groups. If you are looking to adopt from a shelter or rescue, staff at these groups will generally have a good notion of what ancestry is in a mixed-breed dog. Eukanuba has a breed match on its website (eukanuba.com) to guide dog owners. Local resources include veterinarians, dog trainers, animal shelter staff and rescue advocates.

If you think you like a breed, look for someone with that breed and ask some questions. Most pet owners are more than happy to talk about their animals.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you determine if your new pooch is to be a bulldog or a Beauceron.

• What are the dog’s intended roles? Is he to be a hunting dog or a watchdog? Will he be your hiking companion or your foot warmer? Dogs can perform multiple roles, but don’t be unrealistic in your expectations.

• What is your living situation? If you are in an apartment, a lively medium- to large-breed dog isn’t a good option. But size isn’t everything. Some large breeds are happy just to lie on the couch, while some small breeds need lots of room to play.

• What’s your family situation? The new dog will be a member of your family. Pick a breed that will interact well with everyone, including other pets.

• How much time will you devote to the pet? There’s walking, training, playing — some dogs need more interaction than others.

Do our homework. It’s a relationship that could last a dozen or more years.

Karen Procter is volunteer coordinator for Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue (akdogandpuppyrescue.com) is, a 501c3 nonprofit, all-volunteer rescue helping dogs and their owners in Mat-Su, Anchorage and beyond.