A DOG is a man’s best friend, or so goes the saying. But what kind of dog?

According to a survey published this week, it’s the Labrador.

Analysis of ten years of microchipping data shows that in Somerset, and across the country, Labradors are top dogs when it comes to winning our hearts.

Nationally, more than 509,000 Labradors were tagged during the past decade, 4,500 of them in the Taunton postcode area.

Second nationally and in Somerset was the Jack Russell Terrier – 4,100 were tagged in the county over the past ten years.

Third were springer spaniels, followed by border collies in fourth and cocker spaniels in fifth.

The BBC carried out the study – click here for the full findings.