If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies surged in the last couple of years, with around one-in-three UK households now owning at least one four-legged friend.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
One thing to consider before welcoming a particular breed of dog into your home is that some pups are complete dirt-magnets - having never met a puddle of mud they don’t love, or something decomposing that they haven’t wanted a roll in.
A recent scientific study by Jeep surveyed dog owners to see which dogs collected most muck while out on a walk.
So here are, scientifically, the 10 muckiest breeds of dog.
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5. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog has been bred to work - whether guarding property, herding cattle or pulling carts. Sometimes it can be a dirty business - a perl of the job for this gentle giant. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
6. Saint Bernard
When a dog is as big as a Saint Bernard, there's a lot of surface area for the dirt to attach to. These gentle giants love getting mucky. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Cocker Spaniel
There are actually two different breeds of Cocker Spaniel - the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel. They share a love of getting delightfully grubby. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Leonberger
The Leonberger is an outdoorsy dog that loves long treks - and picking up plenty of the 'landscape' as it adventures. Photo: Canva/Getty Images