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.
One of the terrible truths of dog ownership is that we are likely to outlive our adored pet, with the average dog living just 10-13 years – but there's a fairly substantial gap between the breeds that live the longest and shortest lives.
The Chihuahua, for example, can expect to live for between 15-20 years, while some larger dogs will be around for less than half as long.
Here are the 12 breeds that have the shortest average lifespans - according to a British study that looked at 584,734 dogs from 155 different breeds,.
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9. Newfoundland
Named after the part of Canada in which they were first bred, the Newfoundland has an average lifespan of 8-10 years. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
10. Saint Bernard
Originally bred for rescue work in the mountains on the Italian-Swiss border, the Saint Bernard tends to live for 8-10 years. | AFP via Getty Images
11. Shar Pei
The Shar Pei was nearly driven to extiction in its native China in the 20th century but has staged a comback since. They are expected to live from 8-10 years. | AFP via Getty Images
12. Rottweiler
Rottweilers have a list of conditions they are predisposed to in later life - including hip dysplasia, gastric torsion and bone cancer - and tend to live for 8-11 years. | Getty Images