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 also scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
This saw every dog breed ranked according instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt - with the combined score giving an indication of their overall intelligence, or IQ.
So, according to to him, here are the 10 dog breeds that should breeze their way into a canine Mensa - and the 10 that would struggle to graduate from puppy nursery.
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13. German Shepherd
Used for everything from drug detection to sniffing out explosives - by everybody from the army to the police - the German Shepherd is another breed in the top tier of canine intelligence. These bright sparks can understanding a new command after only five repetitions and following the command at least 95 per cent of the time. The other five per cent of the time? The command is probably the wrong one. | Canva/Getty Images
14. Golden Retriever
As intelligent as they are friendly (very!), Golden Retrievers are perfect as seeing dogs and search-and-rescue dogs due to their obedience, big brains and dedication to tasks. | Canva/Getty Images
15. Dobermann
The Dobermann, or Doberman Pinscher, is the fifth smartest breed of dog in the world. They have a remarkable talent for gauging perceived threats, which makes them a great guard dog - particularly since they are also very loyal and protective towards their home and owner. | Canva/Getty Images
16. Shetland Sheepdog
Like Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs are great at herding animals due to their extreme intelligence. They thrive on being given new things to learn - the more energetic the better. | Canva/Getty Images