Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the Royal Kennel Club (formerly 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 even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
One thing to consider is that some dogs have webbed feet - an attribute more commonly associated with birds and aquatic mammals.
Having thin layers of connecting tissue between the toes – commonly known as webbed feet – can help dogs in a several ways.
Most obviously, it helps them swim more efficiently, meaning many dogs bred to retrieve items from water are web-footed. The shape of the foot means that they can paddle quicker, displacing more water than otherwise would be possible, and be more controlled in their movements.
It also helps dogs dig faster, while the greater surface area created makes it easier to walk on surfaces like sand, snow and mud.
This means that web-footed pups are also prized by hunters and those looking for the perfect search and rescue dogs for all terrains.
Here are 11 of the breeds of dog that have webbed feet.
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9. Otterhound
Thankfully the Otterhound is no longer used to hunt the cute aquatic mammals from which they got their name. When they did though, they were greatly assisted in their task by having the same webbed feet as their prey. | Getty Images
10. German Short-Haired Pointer
Another dog bred to hunt, the German Short-Haired Pointer has quite small ‘scoop-like’ webbed paws for paddling through water with ease. Their close cousins the German Wire-Haired Pointer also have webbed feet. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
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11. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Small but mighty, Tollers use webbed feet to chase and retrieve waterfowl. They have boundless energy, high intelligence, and a thick coat built for cold-water hunting. | Getty Images