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.
That academic work measured canine intelligence with three different metrics, one of which was “working and obedience intelligence” - in other words a dog’s ability to learn from humans and effectively and consistantly carry out commands.
Here are the 12 breeds of dog that Coren found were the most obedient - starting with the most obedient.
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9. Rottweiler
You won't have to tell a Rottweiler to do something twice. Their combination of obedience, eagerness to please, and loyalty makes them a great canine companion and earns them ninth place on this list. | Canva/Getty Images
10. Australian Cattle Dog
Just sneaking into the top 10 most obedient dogs is the Australian Cattle Dog who, according to the American Kennel Club, are "true-blue loyal, famously smart, ever alert, and wary of strangers". | Canva/Getty Images
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Corgis are spirited, intelligent, and highly responsive. They enjoy learning and thrive on obedience training - they just love to learn! | Canva/Getty Images
12. Miniature Schnauzer
Completing our list is the Miniature Schnauzers. These dogs are alert, intelligent, and eager to please. Their trainability and affectionate nature combine to make them very obedient companions. Good boy. | Canva/Getty Images