There are owners who seek to put their dogs to use according to the dog's activity or training. Some are made into therapy dogs, others as guide dogs. If you are considering a dog for specific purposes, you are advised to pick ones that have undergone special training or, in general, have the traits suitable for the function. There is no definite category for these dog breeds except that over the years their function were deemed less important than the general value that they serve whether as pets, entertainers, companions, guardians etc. Generally these dogs have good appearance but because there is no particular breeding for purpose, non-sporting dogs are now what we may call an all-purpose dog that shares all the positive features found in all dog breeds but may have no particular outstanding trait. This tradition of having small dogs for decoration dates back thousands of years to Chinese nobility where the Pug and the Pekingese where favorites. In Europe, lap dogs are also popular with royalties and the wealthy throughout history and are still used as gifts today. In fact because of their generally small breed, companion dogs loves to sit on their owner's lap that earned them the term of lap dogs aside from their comforting warmth. For would-be owners who want to be very specific with the type of dog they would adopt, the following characteristics could help with identifying the best dog that would match their preferences: Breed Purebred or mutt? Size Big, midsize, small, or little? Activity level High-energy or low-energy? Grooming and maintenance High-maintenance or low-maintenance? Toy and lap dogs are the best choices if you are looking for a small dog that you can bring with you to most places. You should also check whether the puppy is purebred or mixed bred. It is often hard to identify a purebred or mix bred puppy, but try to use the source as an indicator. There are rescue groups that are breed specific, there are those that are aren't. Because of these qualities, the popularity of positive reinforcement in dog training grew, one of the reasons is that it is never pleasant to have an animal in the house that only obey based on fear. The dog need to fear its owner from time to time, but mostly it does not create very strong bonds. It is often more recommended to build that bond out of mutual love, not fear.