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.
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 is also scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
Meanwhile, how long a dog lives is partly dependent on its breed - with some far more likely to reach a grand old age than others.
Research published in the journal Scientific Reports has used the Royal Veterinary College’s Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass), a database holding information on over two million animals, to work out the average life expectance of some of the UK’s most popular breeds of dog.
Researchers took a random sample of 30,563 dogs that died over a five year period to come to their findings.
Here’s what they found to be the average lifespan of 19 of the most familiar dog breeds.
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9. Shih Tzu - 11.05 years
Originating in Tibet, the Shih Tzu is a popular companion dog that researchers found will live to an average of 11.05 years. These friendly wee characters were favourites of Chinese Royalty during the Ming Dynasty - so much so that they refused to trade them. | Canva/Getty Images
10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - 10.45 years
Known for being gentle and affectionate, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can expect to live for an average of 10.45 years. It was bred to resemble Charles II's spaniel during the English Civil War, when the king's supporters were known as Cavaliers - hence the name. | Canva/Getty Images
11. German Shepherd - 10.16 years
Popular with the army and police forces - and used for everything from sniffing out drugs to sentry duty - the German Shepherd lives for an average of 10.16 years. | Canva/Getty Images
12. Boxer - 10.04 years
The charismatic Boxer has an average lifespan of 10.04 years according to the research. Developed in Germany, it is now particularly popular as a family pet in America. | Canva/Getty Images