Waggles

Dogs
A member of the family Canidae — along with wolves, foxes, coyotes and jackals — dogs have been human companions for at least 14,000 years (and possibly much longer than that). Much about how dogs and humans became inseparable remains a mystery, but research finds that the bond is very real. As many pet owners may already attest, there is evidence that dogs understand human distress and want to help their owners when they're sad.

Dog Breed Doesn’t Affect Behavior, According to New Genetic Research
“It’s a major advance in how we think about dog behavior,” Elaine Ostrander, an expert in canine genetics at the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute who was not involved with the study, tells Science’s David Grimm. “No breed owns any particular trait.”

Norwegian Lundehund

Dating back to the Ice Age, the Norwegian Lundehund is recognised as one of the rarest dog breeds on the planet due to its unique characteristics, which aren’t shared by any other breed. Originating from the islands off the Norwegian coast, this crimson-coated canine was developed to hunt Puffin birds along the coastal cliffs. Due to its unusual hunting environment, the agile Norwegian Lundehund evolved to develop the perfect traits for scaling rocky cliffs: six toes on each front paw, adjustable ears and a neck so flexible that it can crane backwards to touch the spine.

This endangered Spitz species neared extinction during World War II, but was miraculously recovered by Norwegian breeders and thankfully remains in small numbers today. Known for its fun-loving nature and affectionate personality, the Norwegian Lundehund would be a perfect pet for active families.

Other, more common, Spitz breeds include the Husky, the Chow Chow and the equally fox-like Shiba Inu.