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 thing to consider is that some dogs need far more exercise than others – with the likes of the Border Collie requiring several walks a day and plenty of outdoor space at home.
Meanwhile, other types prefer to spend most of their time on the couch or in front of the fire and won’t thank you for much more than a quick trot around the park.
But if you are looking for the best of both worlds, you should consider a medium energy dog – that will keep up with you on outdoor adventures but will also be happy to have lazy days accompanying you as you binge on the latest television boxset.
Here are 12 of the breeds that best fit the bill.
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1. Keeshound
The fluffy Keeshound is both medium-sized and medium energy, with moderate daily exercise enough to keep them in shape. They made great family pets too - getting on well with all ages. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken
2. Shiba Inu
A walk a day and a couple of more vigorous exercise sessions each week will keep an adorable Shiba Inu in tip top shape mentally and physically. | Getty Images
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3. Boston Terrier
Quite a few of the Terrier breeds fit firmly into the high energy category, but the Boston Terrier is more chilled than many of its cousins. Well known for being playful, they'll happy relax at home once they've had their daily dose of adventure. | Getty Images
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4. Dachshund
The independently minded (or, in other words, naughty) Dachshund needs a fair amount of exercise to stay healthy but, due to their tiny legs, what feels like a gently amble to you will feel like a marathon to them. | Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images