If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re in good company – Royal Kennel Club (the new name for the UK Kennel Club) stats show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels.
Dogs come in all shapes, colours and sizes - there are 221 different pedigree dogs recognised by breeders in the UK, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
So there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or an easy to train dog.
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There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
But if you want a pup that is equally at home in the water as on land, then there are certain dogs that should top your wish list.
These are the breeds that have been developed to carry out various water-based tasks, from collecting fishing nets at sea to scampering into lochs to collect felled game birds.
Even if they are now kept as family pets, the love of water is in their very DNA - some even have webbed feet to allow them to swim better.
Here are 14 breeds of dog that make the best swimmers.
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1. Lagotto Romagnolo
An ancient breed though to be the canine from which all water dogs are descended, the Lagotto Romagnolo is now prized for its ability to sniff out precious truffles. | AFP via Getty Images
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2. Otterhound
A fairly rare breed in modern times, the Otterhound was, as its name suggests, used to hunt otters in Britain until the practice was outlawed in 1978. An exceptionally strong swimmer, they even have webbed feet for extra speed in the water. | Canva/Getty Images
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3. Irish Water Spaniel
The clue's in the name of the Irish Water Spaniel! These curly-coated dogs are expert swimmers with great stamina. Known for their buoyant build and unique 'rat tail' (which you can see clearly in this picture) they retrieve game from water effortlessly and enjoy water play year-round. | Canva/Getty Images
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4. Labrador Retriever
The UK's (and the world's) most popular dog breed, the Labrador was bred to collect shot wildfowl that had landed in the water, so being a good swimmer was crucial. Today Labs are happy to fetch sticks and balls from water for hours on end. | Getty Images