Choosing a family pet is a big decision, and sometimes we can get caught up in the look of a dog without fully understanding how that dog would fit into our household. Different Dog Breeds come with different personalities and health characteristics that are important to consider when making your decision. While you never want to say no to an adorable face, it’s in the best interest of the household to be well-informed than caught off guard later.

The American Kennel Club recently released a list of the most popular dog breeds of 2010. In an effort to help families who are looking to add a dog to their household, here is a glimpse into the top five most popular breeds and some of the characteristics of each.

Labrador Retriever

It’s no secret that Labrador Retrievers are great family pets. They are friendly, eager to please, and easy to train. But they are also extremely active and need a lot of mental and physical exercise daily. Some of the major health concerns for this breed include cataracts, hip dysplasia (malformed hip joints), patellar luxation (displaced kneecap), and Osteochondritis Dissecans (a cartilage disease).

German Shepherd

Known as the great protectors, German Shepherds are used often as police dogs. As a pet, they offer a sense of security for a family, but can also be dominant and aggressive toward other dogs. This breed is prone to cardiomyopathy (heart dysfunction), cataracts, dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and elbow dysplasia (malformed elbow joints).

Yorkshire Terrier

Also called a Yorkie, these dogs have personalities that far outweigh their little bodies, as they are fearless, bold, and love adventure. They can be very vocal, and their coat needs constant upkeep. Patellar luxation is the main health concern for this breed, but they can also suffer from achondroplasia (a genetic disorder causing dwarfism), Legg-Perthes (a degenerative disease of the hip joint), and portacaval shunts (a serious liver condition).

Beagle

The beagle is known to be one of the happiest of all dog breeds. This dog will love his family unconditionally and is regarded as being a great pet for children. However, they are known to stray and their howls can be very loud. Beagles are prone to Cherry Eye (a congenital eye defect), glaucoma, epilepsy (recurring seizures), and hip dysplasia.

Golden Retriever

Like the Lab, the Golden Retriever is a family-friendly pet who loves to please, but also like the Lab, Goldens need lots of mental and physical exercise daily. Some of this breed’s most common health concerns are elbow dysplasia, hemangiosarcoma (a fatal form of cancer), lymphoma (a disease that causes immune system cancer), and progressive retinal atrophy (deterioration of the retina).

You can never be too informed when it comes to preparing for a new addition to your family. Make sure that you take all characteristics of the breed into consideration when you choose which one is right for you. And remember that pet insurance can help protect your pocketbook against high veterinary costs associated with these and other conditions.

The author of this article, Heather Reynolds, is a pet lover and Internet journalist for the company Trupanion, North America’s fastest growing pet insurance company. Trupanion offers a simple, customizable pet insurance policy with no payout limits and 90% coverage of veterinary bills. Enrolled pets receive lifetime coverage for diagnostic tests, surgeries, and medications if they get sick or are injured, with no incident, annual, or lifetime limit.

Tags: dog breeds, dog health, pet insurance, Trupanion