You can love your shoes and monogrammed handbags unconditionally for all you want but all that plastic and leather will never reciprocate the same sentiment. Of late, however, this ‘It’ accessory has us wondering if lap dogs are a gal’s best friend.

Puppy love can be therapeutic. Heartbroken, lonely, grief-stricken or just having a bad day; snuggle up to your pooch and, lo and behold, sunshiny days are back again. Why else do you think the likes of Miranda Kerr and Jennifer Aniston are such avid dog-lovers? Betrayal is never an issue with dogs; wish we could say the same about men and bffs.

From the wide-eyed pugs to adorable yorkies; it’s practically impossible stay the aloof to their charm. These little pooches, in all their shiny coats and silky hair glory, can make even the toughest of us pamper and cosset them silly. Grooming is the key when it comes to toy dogs. With the wide array of designer threads available: Burberry sweaters, Chanel collars and Juicy Couture …everything, pup fashion has turned into serious business.  And, honestly, a well dressed pooch only makes the owner look twice as fashion savvy.

Celebrities, Paris Hilton to be specific, started the fad of being spotted everywhere with travel-size mutts and the trend caught on like wildfire with everyone from Mischa Barton to Sienna Miller catching onto it. Carrie Underwood has gone and declared her dog the ring bearer for her wedding!  And these celeb-pooches sure know how to make headlines: Paris Hilton’s Tinkerbell drama and Jessica Simpson’s Daisy trauma to name a few.

However, if a lap-dog is to be your potential best friends (diamonds beware, you have competition) make sure you pick the right one that agrees with your personality. Here are the 10-best breeds to choose from:

Maltese: These little play creatures with their long, silky white coat are docile and peaceful unless its playtime.

Yorkie: While they are active and bold, they do show signs of stubborness if not trained well.

Chihuahua: Perhaps Hollywood’s most beloved breed, they are fiercely loyal and sweet-natured.

Bichon Frise: Tiny fur-balls known for their cheerful attitude and sensitivity.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Lively, affectionate and extrovert; they like the indoors as much as the outdoors.

Papillon: Highly energetic  and intelligent, they are your perfect jogging partner.

Pug: Although they draw mixed reactions on their apperance they are extremely lovable and even-tempered.

Toy Poodle: Pleasent and haughty, they demand constant attention and hate being ignored.

Shih Tzu: Don’t let their pompous features fool you, they are actually very gentle and good-natured.

Pomeranian: Perky, spunky and sturdy, they are known to have a dynamic personality.

Always keep in mind,though, that with a great pooch comes great responsibility.The grooming, the pampering, the maintenance…these aren’t easy tasks and who really has the time these days. Thankfully, New York is blessed with some amazing pet grooming centres like Beasty Feast, DoggyStyle NYC (get past the name, the place is actually quite good), Le Chien and the celeb favorite: Precious Pets. And for those of you who feel a little lost, check out Pampered Puppy: your guide to all things pooch-y. They have a directory of breeders and day-care where you can choose a service you like. Do we need to elucidate further? Go get yourself some much desereved puppy love.