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.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that how long a dog lives is partly dependent on its breed - with some far more likely to reach a grand old age than others.
Research published in the journal Scientific Reports has used the Royal Veterinary College’s Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass), a database holding information on over two million animals, to work out the average life expectance of some of the UK’s most popular breeds of dog.
Researchers took a random sample of 30,563 dogs that died over a five year period to come to their findings.
Here’s what they found to be the average lifespan of 12 of the most common dog breeds.
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1. Labrador Retriever
Britain's - and the world's - most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever has an above-average lifespan of 11.77 years. It is named after the Labrador region of Canada where its precursors, the St. John's Water Dog, originally came from. | AFP via Getty Images
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2. French Bulldog
The French Bulldog has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years - even challenging the Labrador for the number one spot. Sadly they have the shortest lifespan according to the research, averaging just 4.53 years. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The loving - and often misunderstood - Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average lifespan of 11.33 years. They were first recognised as a pure breed pedigree dog by the UK Kennel Club in 1935. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
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4. Pug
The adorably wrinkly Pug is cute but these dogs are prone to developing a host of health issues, giving these small pups an average life of 7.65 years. | Getty Images