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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.
In the book Coren ranked 130 breeds of dog in order of intelligence using three categories of canine cleverness, namely: the instinctive intelligence of the ability to perform the tasks it was bred for, the adaptive intelligence of solving problems on its own, and the obedience intelligence of learning from humans.
Here are the 12 that came top of the brains league.
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5. Dobermann
The Dobermann, or Doberman Pinscher, is the fifth smartest breed of dog in the world. They have a remarkable talent for gauging perceived threats, which makes them a great guard dog - particularly since they are also very loyal and protective towards their home and owner. | United Archives via Getty Images
6. Shetland Sheepdog
Like Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs are great at herding animals due to their extreme intelligence. They thrive on being given new things to learn - the more energetic the better. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
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7. Labrador Retriever
The UK's - and the world's - most popular breed of dog is no slouch in the brain department either. Commonly used as guide dogs and drug detection dogs, the Labrador Retriever's eagerness to please makes them a dream to work with. Sometimes it seems like this clever breed train themselves. | Getty Images
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8. Papillon
Large dogs have dominated the list so far - tending to be more intelligent than smaller breeds - but tiny dogs don't always have tiny brains. The tiny Papillon is proof of that, being the cleverest of the more diminuative pooches. They are responsive, obedient and are regularly take top spot in agility trials at dog shows. | AFP via Getty Images