There's so much to consider when you decide to welcome a new dog into your home - from their energy levels to their physical maintenance and if they get on well with kids. It's also important to remember that some breeds are more intelligent than others, and will therefore be more likely to follow your commands.
A new study conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland has revealed the world's cleverest canines after examining 13 breeds, from the Belgian Malinois to the English cocker spaniel. The research put 1,000 dogs to the test and ranked them in a series of 10 cognitive and behavioural challenges.
This included their ability to read human gestures, solve problems and memorise short-term information.
One task looked at how independent the dogs were by giving them an unsolvable challenge - to work out how to access food in a sealed box.
The study, which was published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports, has been hailed as potentially the largest laboratory study of canine intelligence to date.
The 13 breeds that were examined include the border collie, Belgian Malinois, English cocker spaniel, German shepherd, golden retriever, Labrador retriever and the broad category of 'mixed breeds'.
What is the smartest breed of dog?
The Belgian Malinois, which is often used in the police force, ranked in first place with 35 out of 39 points.
It was followed by the border collie, which is widely known for herding sheep, with 26 points, and the hovawart - a German breed - in third place with 25 points.
Dr Katriina Tiira told The Sunday Telegraph: "The Belgian malinois stood out in many of the cognitive tasks, having very good results in a majority of the tests."
PhD researcher and the study co-author, Saara Junttila, added: "Most breeds had their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Labrador retriever was very good at reading human gestures, but not so good at spatial problem-solving.
"Some breeds, such as the Shetland sheepdog, scored quite evenly in almost all tests."
What is the dumbest breed of dog?
In the study, Labrador retrievers ranked near the bottom in tests involving problem-solving and inhibitory control, which may come as a surprise to many dog lovers.
But experts have been quick to explain this doesn't mean they are the world's dumbest breed.
"All of the dog breeds selected for this study are very bright," Professor Stanley Coren, from the University of British Columbia in Canada, told Newsweek.
"This is equivalent to taking a sample of ten Nobel Prize winners and comparing their intelligence."
The purpose of the study was to "provide a deeper understanding on breed-specific traits in dogs" - not conclude the least intelligent pooch.
However, if you're wondering what the dumbest breed of dog is, Professor Coren's previous research in The Intelligence of Dogs, published in 1994, reveals it's the Afghan hound.
The Afghan hound has a particularly low obedience intelligence and struggles to understand new commands.
The breed is closely followed by the Basenji, bulldog and chow chow, which all rank low in terms of cleverness.
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
