If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies surged in the last couple of years.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, 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 crossbreed.
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There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
In America some communities love certain breeds of dog so much that they make them symbols of their entire state.
So far 13 have named their official pooch, which often have been first bred the state or have some other particular significance.
Other states have a more general doggy icon, including Georgia that has the ‘adoptable’ dog as its state pet, New Jersey which has gone for the seeing eye dog, and New Yorkers who have opted for the working dog.
And there are more in the pipeline, including in Maine, where it’s proposed that the Labrador Retriever should take on the role.
Here are all 13 state dogs of the USA so far.
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