A dog trainer at has picked the best breeds for first-time pet owners, families looking for a pooch, and pensioners wanting some four-legged companionship. With more than 200 breeds to choose from, it can be very tricky when it comes to deciding which you should share your life with.

But Claire Coughlan, a professional trainer from Solihull, has her own views on which dog breeds are best suited for first-time owners, which breeds to avoid, as well as recommendations .

According to Claire, breeds of the Spaniel family, such as Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles make for great first-time dogs. "Obviously, you always have to think about health testing with any dog that you're going to get," Claire said. "There are a lot of super little crossbreeds out there in rescue centers that would be quite good for a first timer, as long as they've investigated the background, made sure of what they're actually getting."

Claire says Spaniels enjoy . "They're in the mindset of a little sponge, taking everything in," she says, while pointing out they do not tend to be aggressive. "Any dog needs to be socialised properly and get them used to everything."

She admits Spaniels "can be bouncy" and says: "Obviously, you have to bear that in mind. In general, they're quite a good dog for first-timers."

"Every dog could be trained," Claire says. "I would say there's no dogs I'd be saying absolutely not. (But) there are some that are definitely more difficult for a first timer."

Claire does "definitely not recommend" Malinois : "They're super dogs, but they're for very experienced dog people, really. Also some of them are primitive breeds.

"So we've got the Huskies, the ones that are very instinctive in what they're bred for. Border Collie is not really for a first-timer. I have collies myself, and I love them, but they're not a first-time owner dog."

"Equally, you've got more primitive breeds, like the Spanish water dog. They've got very ingrained instincts. They can be quite willful. So although they're lovely dogs in the right hands, they're very difficult for your first timers."

Pensioners seeking companionship with a loyal pet may one to consider a labrador or a golden retriever, says Claire. However, she also cautions: "Be careful about the size, because obviously, if you are retired, maybe you've got some health conditions yourself, mobility or something, maybe (get a breed that's) not too big."

Claire again mentions Spaniels, or a "nice little crossbreed, something like that".

The trainer says it's not guaranteed a specific breed will behave in a certain way. "You can't say that breed will definitely be that.

"I have a little Pomeranian who absolutely adores children. Not every Pom does, but a lot of them do. And again, small breeds generally like children, not all of them.

"You've got to really put in that socialization work. The dog is not going to automatically love children."

Claire says prospective dog owners should thoroughly research a breed's traits and natural instincts before making a decision. "Definitely do your research. Look into what that breed is, what the traits are of that breed, what are they bred to do?

"So if they are bred to do certain things and you don't want those things, don't get that dog. As trainers, we see a lot of people coming to us at their wits end with their dog. It's actually not doing anything wrong, it's just doing what it's bred to do, but unfortunately, that trait doesn't fit into that family life."

Claire highlights Border Collies and Huskies, known for their high energy and intensity, as pets who are not ideal for first-timers or families. "Those intense dogs don't always make ideal family pets," she says.

On Border Collies, she says: "They're not an easy dog. They can be very intense. They can be obsessive. If they don't have enough to stimulate their brain, they make jobs up. And that's when people get into difficulties."

When these dogs do not get enough mental stimulation, they can develop obsessive behaviours, like chasing shadows or collecting leaves.