Choosing to welcome a dog into your home - and your heart - is a big decision.
You are committing yourself to looking after an animal who will rely on you for pretty much everything for years to come.
It’s a daunting prospect for new dog owners and it’s worth doing your research before picking the perfect breed for you - there are 221 different pedigree dogs to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of homework to do.
For inexperienced first-time owners it’s worth looking for a breed known to be easy to train, eager to please, naturally friendly and relatively low maintenance.
Here are 14 breeds that tick all those boxes.
13. Maltese
The Maltese is another breed of dog delighted to just curl up and nap for most of the time - not needing much in the way of exercise. Naturally friendly and easy to train, it's impossible to not be happy with one of these cute characters around. Few people ever regret inviting a Maltese into their home. | Canva/Getty Images
14. Pug
Pugs are a bundle of laughs - being charming, affectionate, and comical. Their small size and moderate exercise needs make them ideal for city flats and they thrive on human interaction. Requiring little in the way of maintenance to keep healthy and happy, they are great companions for first-time owners - particularly suiting the more elderly dog fan. | Canva/Getty Images