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.
One of the terrible truths of dog ownership is that we are likely to outlive our adored pet, with the average dog living just 10-13 years – but there's a fairly substantial gap between the breeds that live the longest and shortest lives.
The Chihuahua, for example, can expect to live for between 15-20 years, while some larger dogs will be around for less than half as long.
Here are the 12 breeds that have the shortest average lifespans - according to a British study that looked at 584,734 dogs from 155 different breeds,.
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1. Dogue de Bordeaux
Also known as the French Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux has the shortest average life of ang dog breed, tending to live between 5 and 7 years. They have obstacles to overcome from the very start - with one of the highest stillbirth rates of any breed - while their brachycephalic (flat) face means that they are at a higher risk of developing breathing problems than other dogs. | Canva/Getty Images
2. Irish Wolfhound
The world's tallest breed of dog is also one of its most short-lived, with an average livespan of 5-7 years. | Getty Images
3. Bernese Mountain Dog
Another gentle giant, the beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog also lives around 6-9 years. | Getty Images
4. Scottish Deerhound
The Scottish Deerhound, or often simply called the Deerhound, was bred to hunt red deer in the Highlands. It's closely related to the Greyhound and lives for around 7-9 years. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken