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.
Meanwhile, how long a dog lives is partly dependent on its breed - with some far more likely to reach a grand old age than others.
Research published in the journal Scientific Reports has used the Royal Veterinary College’s Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass), a database holding information on over two million animals, to work out the average life expectance of some of the UK’s most popular breeds of dog.
Researchers took a random sample of 30,563 dogs that died over a five year period to come to their findings.
Here’s what they found to be the average lifespan of 13 of the most popular breeds of dog.
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5. Labrador Retriever
Britain's - and the world's - most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever has an above-average lifespan of 11.77 years. It is named after the Labrador region of Canada where its precursors, the St. John's Water Dog, originally came from. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The loving - and often misunderstood - Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average lifespan of 11.33 years. They were first recognised as a pure breed pedigree dog by the UK Kennel Club in 1935. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Cocker Spaniel
Originally bred to be a gun dog like their longer-living Springer cousins, energetic Cocker Spaniels reach an average age of 11.31 years. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Shih Tzu
Originating in Tibet, the Shih Tzu is a popular companion dog that researchers found will live to an average of 11.05 years. These friendly wee characters were favourites of Chinese Royalty during the Ming Dynasty - so much so that they refused to trade them. | Canva/Getty Images