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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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9. Rottweiler
A mixture of obedience and keen instinct makes the Rottweiler the ninth most intelligent dog breed. They are also very adaptive and make great guard dogs - as well as gentle and respectful family pets. | AFP via Getty Images
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10. Australian Cattle Dog
Still used today to herd animals on Outback ranches, the Australian Cattle Dog may not be a common site in Britain's parks but it has brains to spare. They respond particularly well to structured training, while also have an incredible ability to learn for themselves. They'll be running rings around you in no time. | Getty Images