We’re a nation of dog lovers, with around one-in-three households including at least one four-legged friend.
By far the most popular pet in the UK, they make for wonderful companions, all the while improving both our mental and physical health - and that’s a scientific fact.
The army of dog owners continues to grow, with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
There’s also always the option of adopting a dog from a dog shelter for a minimal fee - for example from the Dogs Trust.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts the ability to adapt.
But if you want a pup that will do two laps of the park before more of its canine friends have done one, there are a few dogs you should have at the top of your list.
Meanwhile, if you’d rather have a pet who enjoys life at a slower pace, then there are also many perfect breeds for you.
Here are the 20 fastest and slowest breeds of dog.
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9. Dobermann
Dobermanns were bred as guard dogs, but are no slouches in the velocity department either. A burglar would find it hard to outpace their top speed of 32mph. | Canva/Getty Images
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10. Border Collie
Bred to herd livestock, Border Collies have no problem outrunning sheep with a top speed of 30mph. | Canva/Getty Images
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11. Basset Hound
Now we're onto the pups that will barely outrun a tortoise. Often struggling to reach speeds of more than 5mph, the Basset Hound will only be motivated to go slightly faster if it picks up a particularly interesting scent. | Canva/Getty Images
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12. Chihuahua
It's not a case of a lack of energy when it comes to the tiny Chihuahua. Being the smallest dog in the world, even though it may think that it's speeding along, those tiny legs have a limit of around 5-10mph. | Canva/Getty Images
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