Two of my favorite sections of a bookstore are career development (human capital) and dog breeds (canine capital).

The human capital books are written from the standpoint of either the job seeker or the hiring manager. The dog books are aimed at the owner, given dogs' literary limitations. (In fairness, dogs would probably read self-improvement books if they were able, while cats wouldn't want to be bothered.)

These dual interests have led me to develop a canine-inspired hiring template that includes workplace breeds to avoid -- whether as managers or employees. To avoid angering dog lovers or corporation haters, please consider these comparisons as metaphors, rather than comparisons of people to dogs, or disparagement of particular breeds.

Employee breeds

1. Brilliant Border Collie. "I want the smartest dog," you say. But do you own a flock of sheep? If so, your border collie's fierce intelligence and hypnotic stare will be well utilized. But if he spends his days lying around the house, he is more likely to use that intelligence to excavate the couch.

No organization seeks to hire mediocrities, but workers' abilities and ambitions should broadly match their roles. Brilliant or wildly ambitious employees in a small job, with no path for advancement, will often act in a disruptive fashion.

2. Obsessive Basset Hound. Basset hounds never lose the scent and will stubbornly follow the trail even if it leads to an old shoe. The workplace equivalent is the artistic professional, whether business analyst, programmer or marketer, who obsesses over elegance in their craft to the detriment of utility. Reliable sources tell me this is also an occupational hazard for journalists.

3. Bored Borzoi. Borzoi are Russian wolfhounds, bred for many centuries to hunt, and are happiest when running all day. Some adapt well to being companions, while others pine for their specialized purpose.

Many professionals have four to seven years of specialized training. Some are flexible or curious enough to do work unrelated to their field; others will feel under-utilized and unfulfilled. Bottom line: boredom results for the sight hound with nothing to chase, or the actuary with nothing to count.

4. Tail Chaser. Not a specific breed, but any dog with a neurotic obsession to chase its tail. Surely it will catch it soon! But even the fastest tail chaser will lose the race to a slower dog that runs in a straight line.

Some people have all sorts of talents but are constantly distracted or are unable to get out of their own way. These corporate tail chasers achieve a fraction of what they are capable of.

Manager Breeds

1. Lone Wolf. Some breeds were not cultivated to have an emotional connection with people, as their job was to be an isolated herder, or even to serve as a food source.

Similarly, avoid managers with low "emotional IQ." They might have been effective as individual contributors based on their functional skills. But if they lack empathy, they are unlikely to manage or mentor people effectively.

2. Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. The Bedlington terrier looks remarkably like a lamb, but is actually a snarly, aggressive terrier bred to hunt vermin in coal mines. A boss or employee with passive-aggressive or manic-depressive tendencies will make your life miserable, however charming the exterior persona. "Cute but vicious" is a toxic cocktail.

3. Inbred Blueblood. Some breeds have been inbred to the point of no return. The resulting purebred is classy and dumb, with a strong sense of entitlement. This Dumb Chum will not be a very responsive companion. Similarly, the CEO's Dumb Chum frat brother will expect you to do the work and will take the credit for it.

4. Killer Komondor. The komondor is a Hungarian mastiff with a beautiful corded white coat. It is a flock guardian that can kill a bear. Question: Do you have a bear infestation problem? If not, then a dog with millennia of aggression in its genes might not be the perfect pet.

Executives who are terminally abusive to those around them will eventually turn on you as well. It might be in your interest to work for them if the job is a great one, but skepticism and a thick skin are called for.