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 even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
In the book Coren ranked 130 breeds of dog in order of intelligence using three categories of canine cleverness, namely: the instinctive intelligence of the ability to perform the tasks it was bred for, the adaptive intelligence of solving problems on its own, and the obedience intelligence of learning from humans.
Here are the 12 that came top of the brains league - and the dozen who came bottom. They’re still adorable though.
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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. | 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. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The second of three smart 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. | Getty Images
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12. Miniature Schnauzer
Unusually, the Miniature Schnauzer is more intelligent than its larger cousins - the Standard Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer. Bred to hunt rats, these little characters can easily outsmart even the craftiest rodent. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken