A huge number of us decided to add dogs to our families over the last few years – according to Kennel Club figures dog ownership has soared to record levels – around one-in-three UK households now contains at least one four-legged friend.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your perfect pooch – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
Some dogs have the most amazing sense of smell, an attribute that has often been intentionally bred into them to make them perfect for tasks such as tracking prey.
These are also dogs that are likely to be able to sniff out food, making it a challenge to keep them from stealing your lunch.
These are the 10 breeds of dog with the best sense of smell, according to the American Kennel Club.
9. Springer Spaniel
Bred specifically to be hunting dogs, the Springer Spaniel's keen nose has been used to sniff out a broad range of scents over tha years - including bombs, fake bank notes, bees and dead bodies. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. German Shepherd
Originally used for herding, nowadays the army, police and search and rescue services all make good use of the German Shepherd's 225 million scent receptors. Unlike some of the other dogs on this list, they mainly use scent held in the air, rather than the ground, to track. Photo: Canva/Getty Images