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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13. Beagle - 9.85 years
A boisterous scent hound that love to run around in a pack, Beagles have an average lifespan of 9.85 years. These days they are often used as a detection dog to check for prohibited items in airposrt customs. | Canva/Getty Images
14. Husky - 9.53 years
A hardy Arctic sledge dog that can pull people and produce over miles of icy tundra, the Husky can be expected to clock up an average age of 9.53 years. | Canva/Getty Images
15. Chihuahua - 7.91 years
A 21-year-old Chihuahua was named the world's oldest living dog a couple of years ago, but researchers found the average pup only lives for 7.91 years. It holds the crown of the world's smallest dog. | Canva/Getty Images
16. American Bulldog
All four of the dog breeds that have the shortest lifespans, starting with the American Bulldog, are brachycephalic (flat-faced). The lower life expectancies are associated with the animals suffering from several conditions, including breathing problems and spinal disease. The American Bulldog lives for an average of 7.79 years. | Canva/Getty Images