Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the UK Kennel Club recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ to lovable mongrels.
Together they make up the population on over 13 million pups in the UK - that’s around one for every three households.
Each has its own list of positive and negative attributes, and it’s important to take plenty of time to think about what breed will fit into your lifestyle the best - for instance a smaller dog if you live in a flat, or a hypoallergenic dog if the mere mention of dog hair makes you think about sneezing.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
His fascinating research definitively ranked breeds of dog by IQ.
Here are - officially - the 22 most and least brainy breeds of pooch.
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9. Rottweiler
A mixture of obedience and keen instinct makes the Rottweiler the ninth most intelligent dog breed. They are also very adaptive and make great guard dogs - as well as gentle and respectful family pets. | Canva/Getty Images
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Still used today to herd animals on Outback ranches, the Australian Cattle Dog may not be a common site in Britain's parks but it has brains to spare. They respond particularly well to structured training, while also have an incredible ability to learn for themselves. They'll be running rings around you in no time. | Canva/Getty Images
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The second smaller dogs on this list, the Corgi is another dog whose intelligence has been used to heard animals. These dogs just love to learn new stuff and show off their canine skills. | Canva/Getty Images
12. Afghan Hound
Moving on to the pups with the lowest IQs, and Stanley Coren concluded that the beautiful Afghan Hound is the least intelligent breed of dog. Of course this could be largely due to the fact they are also the most stubborn breed of dog - notorious for ignoring their owner's commands. Who's to say they don't understand every word though! | Canva/Getty Images