Picking a new pet is a joyous occasion, but also a difficult one. There are so many decisions to be made – dog or cat (or even fish or bird)? Once you've decided that a dog is the right choice for your household, even more questions come into play. You need to decide what breed will be right for your temperament, location and family. Some people will choose a dog based on other characteristics, such as a specific breed or size. It's important to learn as much as you can about your chosen dog before actually purchasing a puppy.

Few people can look at Skyes without finding them to be extremely cute. This member of the terrier family may not be the dog for everyone, but if you've got a big heart (and even bigger yard) they can grow up to be excellent family dogs. Skyes are a large dog, but have short legs. It's generally around 20 inches in length, but has only 10 inch legs, making it look rather stumpy. Don't let the height fool you, however, these dogs are tough – they were originally used as farm work dogs. Skyes became popular as pets when Queen Victoria started breeding them during her reign, and she popularized the “prick ear” variety of the breed.