When deciding what type of dog to get, the experts agree: Size and breed are not determining factors. This is why Amanda Gagnon, an anthrozoologist and dog behavior consultant in New York City, recommends mixed breeds. With a shelter dog, she explains, you won’t assume you’re getting the goofy disposition of a Golden Retriever or the aloofness of a Husky. Instead, you’ll have to pay attention to the unique personality and needs of the individual animal. “We should look at a new dog as a blank slate, the same way we would look at a new human friend as a blank slate,” she says.

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