A huge number of us decided to welcome new puppies into our homes in the last few years – Kennel Club figures show dog ownership has soared to a record high.
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
Our lifestyle has a huge bearing on which type of dog will work best for us – if you have limited space you might want to look at small dogs, while the more elderly pet owner should place certain breeds at the top of their wishlist.
Some breeds are sure to be a hit both at the park, where they will enjoy playing with other dogs, and at home, welcoming human friends and strangers alike.
Meanwhile, other dogs have a reputation for being timid, uncertain of their fellow canines and shy of humans thay don’t know well.
Here are the 10 most sociable and timid breeds of dog according to the American Kennel Club.
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5. Golden Retriever
Moving to the most sociable dog breeds and a real family favourite. The most popular dog in any given park is likely to be a Golden Retriever. This breed love their family but have plenty of affection left over to shower upon anybody else they happen to meet on any given day. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. Great Dane
Another gentle giant that doesn't tend to be very sociable is the Great Dane. They can be as shy as they are big and their perfect ides of company is their owner - and nobody else. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Poodle
All three sizes of Poodle - Standard, Miniature and Toy - are equally sociable. In fact, the only way to make a Poodle more sociable is by breeding it with a Labrador or Golden Retriever, creating the super-sociable Labradoodle and Goldendoodle. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog in the UK for good reason - it has a wonderfully sociable temperament. In fact, a potential problem with Labradors is that they love people too much, finding it difficult to keep their distance if somebody is scared of dogs. Photo: Canva/Getty Images