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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1. Labrador Retriever
The world's most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever was originally used to retriever (hence the name) fish, fishing nets and even fishermen from the ice cold sea. This made their webbed feet invaluable - as well as their water repellent coat and rudder-like tail. These dogs are one of the strongest swimmers. | AFP via Getty Images
2. Newfoundland
Like the Labrador, the web-footed Newfoundland was used by fishermen to help them bring in the daily catch. Their thick coats mean they can stay in icy water for longer than almost any other dog - and these days they are frequestly used as search and resuce dogs. A real all-rounder. | Getty Images
3. Golden Retriever
What is true for the Labrador Retriever is also often true for their close cousins the Golden Retriever. That's certainly the case with their webbed feet, although they tend to be slightly less webbed than the Lab. | AFP via Getty Images
4. Poodle
Bred to retrieve waterfowl, Poodles may now be more at home at dog shows and as family pets. Whatever the size - toy, miniature or standard - they all have webbed feet. It also helps them walk on mud, hopefully meaning less muck gets into those beautiful coats during walkies. | AFP via Getty Images