Dog pictures tell a thousand word story. In this case one that covers the years and years of breeding it has taken to come up with a multitude of variations on man and woman's best friend.

Choosing a purebred is the best way to know what a dog's looks and personality might be like, although it's never a guarantee. Even within breeds there's enormous variety in the way a dog acts and reacts to the world around him.

Also represented among these dog pictures are a few of the many glorious interpretations of the mixed breed, or mutt. For many people, one of the primary satisfactions of owning a mutt can be his utter uniqueness.

Whether your dog is a purebred or mutt, what shapes a dog's personality is as much due to how much he was handled as a youngster, and how well he was trained after bringing him home, to the genetic luck of the draw.

In the end, your dog's preferences and personality are as individual as you are -- and if you can accept that you're bound to enjoy each other.