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There are no lack of four-legged friends in the UK - around one-in-three households now contain at least one dog.
There are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, along with an array of crossbreeds and ‘designer dogs’, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your perfect pup.
And it’s important to find a pup that will fit into your lifestyle.
If you have plenty of room you might consider a larger dog, while somebody with allergies will be looking for a hypoallergenic dog.
And if you are looking for a dog that you can train to follow lots of commands, there’s scientific research that can guide you.
Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs is a key piece of canine literature, judging breeds’ relative IQs – including by looking at how obedient they are.
So these are – officially – the 14 most naturally obedient dogs.
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9. Rottweiler
You won't have to tell a Rottweiler to do something twice. Their combination of obedience, eagerness to please, and loyalty makes them a great canine companion and earns them ninth place on this list. | Canva/Getty Images
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10. Australian Cattle Dog
Just sneaking into the top 10 most obedient dogs is the Australian Cattle Dog who, according to the American Kennel Club, are "true-blue loyal, famously smart, ever alert, and wary of strangers". | Canva/Getty Images
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11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Corgis are spirited, intelligent, and highly responsive. They enjoy learning and thrive on obedience training - they just love to learn! | Canva/Getty Images
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12. Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers are alert, intelligent, and eager to please. Their trainability and affectionate nature combine to make them very obedient companions. Good boy. | Canva/Getty Images