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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9. Springer Spaniel
The wonderfully bouncy Springer Spaniel is expected to live around 11.92 years. Before becoming loved family pets, they were used to flush out (or 'spring' - hence the name) and retrieve game by hunters. | Getty Images
10. Cocker Spaniel
Originally bred to be a gun dog like their longer-living Springer cousins, energetic Cocker Spaniels reach an average age of 11.31 years. | AFP via Getty Images
11. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Known for being gentle and affectionate, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can expect to live for an average of 10.45 years. It was bred to resemble Charles II's spaniel during the English Civil War, when the king's supporters were known as Cavaliers - hence the name. | AFP via Getty Images
12. German Shepherd
Popular with the army and police forces - and used for everything from sniffing out drugs to sentry duty - the German Shepherd lives for an average of 10.16 years. | AFP via Getty Images