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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5. Dobermann
Dobermanns, also known as Doberman Pinschers, complete the top five of most obedient dogs. They make great guard dogs and are incredibly loyal. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Shetland Sheepdog
You need to be able to follow commands to successfully heard sheep, so it's no surprise that the cheery Shetland Sheepdog makes an appearance in the top 10 most obedient breeds of dog. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Labrador Retriever
The adorable Labrador Retriever may be the UK's most popular dog breed, but it's only seventh when it comes to obedience. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Papillon
The only small dog to make the top 10 is the Papillon, who are also the most agile of the more diminutive breeds. | Canva/Getty Images