Breed library
218 breedsDog breeds A–Z
Temperament, exercise, grooming, health screening, cost and history for every breed — so you know what living with one is really like.
A
Affenpinscher
The “monkey terrier” — a tiny, shaggy comedian with a big-dog attitude.
Toy · Toy
Afghan Hound
Aristocratic, aloof and breathtakingly fast — a glamorous sighthound with a mind of its own.
Large · Hound
Airedale Terrier
The “King of Terriers” — versatile, confident and full of mischief.
Large · Terrier
Akita
Dignified, loyal and fearless — a powerful Japanese guardian for experienced hands.
Large · Working
Alaskan Malamute
An Arctic freight hauler — friendly, powerful and built for the cold.
Large · Working
American English Coonhound
A fast, friendly night hunter with a voice that carries for miles.
Large · Hound
American Eskimo Dog
A dazzling white spitz — clever, showy and a born performer.
Small · Non-Sporting
American Foxhound
A lean, sweet-natured pack hound with deep roots in American history.
Large · Hound
American Hairless Terrier
A lively, hairless ratter — energetic, affectionate and allergy-friendly.
Small · Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier
Athletic, people-loving and tenacious — devoted at home, demanding on the lead.
Medium · Other registries
American Staffordshire Terrier
A muscular, people-loving athlete — devoted at home, strong on the lead.
Medium · Terrier
American Water Spaniel
A compact, curly retriever from the Great Lakes — keen in the marsh, devoted at home.
Medium · Sporting
Anatolian Shepherd Dog
An ancient Turkish flock guardian — calm, independent and fiercely protective.
Giant · Working
Aussiedoodle
A brainy, bouncy doodle with herding smarts and a lot of energy.
Medium · Crossbreeds
Australian Cattle Dog
Tough, tireless and fiercely loyal — a working partner that needs a job.
Medium · Herding
Australian Shepherd
Brilliant, athletic and people-focused — a herding dog that needs a job.
Medium · Herding
Australian Terrier
A spunky little worker from the Outback — confident, cheerful and hardy.
Small · Terrier
Azawakh
A slender desert sighthound — loyal, watchful and fiercely devoted to its own.
Large · Hound
B
Barbet
A shaggy French water dog — joyful, cuddly and at its best soaking wet.
Medium · Sporting
Basenji
The “barkless” dog — clean, clever, cat-like and endlessly curious.
Small · Hound
Basset Hound
Low-slung, mellow and nose-first — a gentle hound with a loud bay.
Medium · Hound
Beagle
Merry, sociable and led by the nose — a compact hound with a big voice.
Small · Hound
Bearded Collie
A bouncy, shaggy Scottish herder with a sense of humour.
Medium · Herding
Beauceron
France’s powerful all-round shepherd — confident, protective and double-dewclawed.
Large · Herding
Bedlington Terrier
A lamb in looks, a terrier in spirit — gentle at home, fast as a whippet outdoors.
Medium · Terrier
Belgian Laekenois
The rarest and scruffiest Belgian shepherd — watchful, loyal and work-ready.
Large · Herding
Belgian Malinois
The elite working dog — intense, brilliant and far too much for most homes.
Large · Herding
Belgian Sheepdog
An elegant black Belgian shepherd — devoted, sensitive and eager to work.
Large · Herding
Belgian Tervuren
A glamorous, fawn-and-black Belgian shepherd with a working brain.
Large · Herding
Bergamasco Sheepdog
An Alpine shepherd in a felted coat — calm, thoughtful and gentle with family.
Large · Herding
Berger Picard
A scruffy, tall-eared French herder with a mischievous grin.
Large · Herding
Bernedoodle
Goofy, affectionate and fluffy — Berner warmth with a Poodle coat (usually).
Large · Crossbreeds
Bernese Mountain Dog
A gentle giant in a tricolour coat — calm, loyal and devoted to family.
Giant · Working
Bichon Frise
A cheerful white powder puff — sociable, playful and eager to please.
Small · Non-Sporting
Biewer Terrier
A playful, tricoloured lap dog with Yorkie roots and a sunny temperament.
Toy · Toy
Black and Tan Coonhound
A big, mellow trailing hound — easygoing at home, relentless on a scent.
Large · Hound
Black Russian Terrier
A bearded Soviet guardian — calm, confident and devoted to its family.
Giant · Working
Bloodhound
The ultimate nose — gentle, patient and famously drooly.
Large · Hound
Bluetick Coonhound
A speckled Southern scent hound — sweet at home, loud and dogged on the trail.
Large · Hound
Boerboel
A massive South African farm guardian — confident, loyal and not for beginners.
Giant · Working
Border Collie
The workaholic genius of the dog world — brilliant, intense and tireless.
Medium · Herding
Border Terrier
A plucky, otter-headed working terrier — friendly, sturdy and up for anything.
Small · Terrier
Borzoi
The Russian wolfhound — graceful, quiet and a champion napper.
Giant · Hound
Boston Terrier
The “American Gentleman” — lively, friendly and tuxedo-clad.
Small · Non-Sporting
Bouvier des Flandres
A bearded Flemish cattle dog — steady, protective and quietly devoted.
Large · Herding
Boxer
Bouncy, clownish and loyal — a perpetual puppy with a guardian’s heart.
Large · Working
Boykin Spaniel
“The dog that doesn’t rock the boat” — a small, sweet-natured Southern retriever.
Medium · Sporting
Bracco Italiano
An ancient Italian pointer — soulful, gentle and a devoted sofa companion off duty.
Large · Sporting
Briard
A “heart wrapped in fur” — devoted, protective and full of French charm.
Large · Herding
Brittany
A bright, athletic bird dog — upbeat, eager and always ready for the field.
Medium · Sporting
Brussels Griffon
A bearded, big-eyed Belgian toy with an almost human expression.
Toy · Toy
Bull Terrier
The egg-headed clown — muscular, mischievous and full of affection.
Medium · Terrier
Bulldog
Dignified, docile and devoted — a sofa companion with serious health needs.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Bullmastiff
The gamekeeper’s night dog — quiet, courageous and a gentle giant at home.
Giant · Working
C
Cairn Terrier
Toto’s breed — a scruffy, cheerful Highland terrier with a big heart.
Small · Terrier
Canaan Dog
Israel’s ancient desert dog — alert, resourceful and wary of strangers.
Medium · Herding
Cane Corso
Powerful, intelligent and protective — a guardian that needs an experienced hand.
Giant · Working
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The Corgi with the tail — steady, clever and a little more reserved.
Small · Herding
Cavachon
A soft, sociable cuddle-bug combining two famously friendly breeds.
Small · Crossbreeds
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Sweet, gentle and adaptable — the ultimate affectionate companion.
Small · Toy
Cavapoo
A gentle, teddy-bear companion — Cavalier sweetness with a Poodle coat.
Small · Crossbreeds
Cesky Terrier
A calm, silky Czech terrier — gentler and more laid-back than most of its cousins.
Small · Terrier
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
A tough, loyal water retriever built for icy bays — and with a mind of its own.
Large · Sporting
Chihuahua
Tiny body, huge personality — a loyal, spirited pocket companion.
Toy · Toy
Chinese Crested
A dainty, devoted lap dog — hairless or fluffy, always a velcro companion.
Toy · Toy
Chinese Shar-Pei
A wrinkled, dignified guardian — loyal to family, aloof to everyone else.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Chinook
A rare, gentle sled dog from New England — calm, devoted and great with kids.
Large · Working
Chow Chow
A lion-maned, blue-tongued ancient breed — dignified, aloof and fiercely loyal.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Cirneco dell'Etna
A lean, alert rabbit hunter from the slopes of Mount Etna.
Small · Hound
Clumber Spaniel
A gentle, heavyset spaniel with a dignified manner and a love of naps.
Large · Sporting
Cockapoo
One of the original “doodles” — cheerful, clever and people-loving.
Small · Crossbreeds
Cocker Spaniel
A merry, gentle spaniel with soulful eyes and a coat that needs real care.
Small · Sporting
Collie
Lassie’s breed — gentle, devoted and famously good with children.
Large · Herding
Coton de Tulear
The Royal Dog of Madagascar — cottony, cheerful and devoted.
Small · Non-Sporting
Curly-Coated Retriever
The tallest, most independent retriever — elegant, athletic and slow to grow up.
Large · Sporting
D
Dachshund
Brave, bold and long-bodied — a badger hound in a small package.
Small · Hound
Dalmatian
Spotted, athletic and endlessly energetic — a coach dog built to run.
Large · Non-Sporting
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
A long, low terrier with a silky topknot and a literary name.
Small · Terrier
Doberman Pinscher
Sleek, loyal and fearless — a sensitive guardian that loves its people.
Large · Working
Dogo Argentino
A powerful white big-game hunter — loyal, courageous and a job for experts.
Large · Working
Dogue de Bordeaux
The French mastiff — massive, loving and famously drooly, with a short life.
Giant · Working
E
English Cocker Spaniel
A busy, merry working spaniel — affectionate, clever and always wagging.
Medium · Sporting
English Foxhound
A sturdy, sociable pack hound built for long days across the English countryside.
Large · Hound
English Setter
A gentle, elegant bird dog — a “gentleman by nature” with a speckled coat.
Large · Sporting
English Springer Spaniel
An eager, tireless flushing spaniel — friendly, trainable and full of bounce.
Medium · Sporting
English Toy Spaniel
The original King Charles spaniel — quiet, gentle and devoted to comfort.
Toy · Toy
Entlebucher Mountain Dog
The smallest Swiss mountain dog — a compact, energetic cattle herder.
Medium · Herding
F
Field Spaniel
A rare, sensitive spaniel — docile at home, tireless and cheerful in the field.
Medium · Sporting
Finnish Lapphund
A fluffy reindeer herder from the Arctic — friendly, calm and gentle.
Medium · Herding
Finnish Spitz
Finland’s fox-like national dog — lively, independent and famously vocal.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Flat-Coated Retriever
The “Peter Pan” of retrievers — joyful, optimistic and forever young at heart.
Large · Sporting
French Bulldog
Quiet, comical and compact — an apartment companion with real health costs.
Small · Non-Sporting
G
German Pinscher
A sleek, spirited ratter — the ancestor of the Doberman and Miniature Pinscher.
Medium · Working
German Shepherd Dog
Loyal, clever and serious about its job — the archetypal working dog.
Large · Herding
German Shorthaired Pointer
An all-round hunting athlete — keen, friendly and always ready to go.
Large · Sporting
German Wirehaired Pointer
A rugged, all-terrain hunting dog — loyal, driven and ready for any weather.
Large · Sporting
Giant Schnauzer
A big, bearded working dog — brilliant, loyal and relentlessly energetic.
Large · Working
Glen of Imaal Terrier
A sturdy, low-slung Irish working terrier — quiet, spirited and strong for its size.
Medium · Terrier
Golden Retriever
Gentle, eager to please and endlessly sociable — with a coat to match its heart.
Large · Sporting
Goldendoodle
Friendly, clever and fluffy — the Golden’s warmth with a Poodle’s brain.
Medium · Crossbreeds
Gordon Setter
A bold, loyal Scottish setter — the heaviest and most protective of the setters.
Large · Sporting
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
A shaggy, happy French scent hound — longer-legged cousin of the PBGV.
Medium · Hound
Great Dane
The Apollo of dogs — gentle, dignified and enormous.
Giant · Working
Great Pyrenees
Calm, majestic and independent — a livestock guardian at heart.
Giant · Working
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
The largest Swiss mountain dog — a gentle, hard-working family giant.
Giant · Working
Greyhound
The 45 mph couch potato — gentle, quiet and surprisingly low-maintenance.
Large · Hound
H
I
Ibizan Hound
A leaping, big-eared island hound — graceful, clownish and extremely athletic.
Large · Hound
Icelandic Sheepdog
Iceland’s cheerful Viking-era spitz — friendly, playful and chatty.
Medium · Herding
Irish Red and White Setter
The original Irish setter — good-natured, athletic and friendly to all.
Large · Sporting
Irish Setter
Rollicking, redheaded and endlessly friendly — a setter with a sense of fun.
Large · Sporting
Irish Terrier
The fiery-coated “daredevil” — bold, loyal and full of spirit.
Medium · Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
The clown of the spaniel family — curly, clever and built for cold water.
Large · Sporting
Irish Wolfhound
The tallest dog breed — “gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked”.
Giant · Hound
Italian Greyhound
A miniature sighthound — elegant, affectionate and built for speed and blankets.
Small · Toy
J
K
Keeshond
The smiling Dutch barge dog — friendly, fluffy and devoted to family.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Kerry Blue Terrier
Ireland’s blue-coated all-rounder — smart, playful and strong-minded.
Medium · Terrier
Komondor
Hungary’s corded flock guardian — a mop-like giant with serious protective instincts.
Giant · Working
Kuvasz
A regal white guardian from Hungary — loyal, fearless and fiercely independent.
Giant · Working
L
Labradoodle
Friendly, bright and bouncy — a Lab’s heart with a Poodle’s coat (often).
Medium · Crossbreeds
Labrador Retriever
Friendly, food-driven and forgiving — the benchmark family retriever.
Large · Sporting
Lagotto Romagnolo
Italy’s curly truffle hunter — affectionate, clever and nose-first.
Medium · Sporting
Lakeland Terrier
A bold, cheeky fell terrier from England’s Lake District.
Small · Terrier
Lancashire Heeler
A small, smiling cattle-heeler — clever, alert and full of fun.
Small · Herding
Leonberger
A lion-maned gentle giant — calm, sociable and devoted to family life.
Giant · Working
Lhasa Apso
The Tibetan monastery sentinel — confident, aloof and quietly devoted.
Small · Non-Sporting
Löwchen
The “little lion dog” — a playful, affectionate companion with a regal haircut.
Small · Non-Sporting
M
Maltese
An ancient, silky white lap dog — gentle, playful and devoted.
Toy · Toy
Maltipoo
A tiny, affectionate lap dog with a soft, low-shedding coat.
Toy · Crossbreeds
Manchester Terrier
A sleek, clever rat-catcher — affectionate, alert and long-lived.
Small · Terrier
Mastiff
The gentle heavyweight — dignified, loving and among the largest dogs on earth.
Giant · Working
Miniature American Shepherd
An Aussie in a smaller package — clever, athletic and devoted.
Medium · Herding
Miniature Bull Terrier
All the Bull Terrier’s comedy and character in a smaller package.
Small · Terrier
Miniature Pinscher
The “King of Toys” — fearless, energetic and full of swagger.
Toy · Toy
Miniature Schnauzer
Bearded, bright and spirited — a sturdy small dog with a big personality.
Small · Terrier
Morkie
A silky, lively lap dog that blends Maltese sweetness and Yorkie sass.
Toy · Crossbreeds
Mudi
A curly-coated Hungarian farm dog — versatile, alert and endlessly busy.
Medium · Herding
N
Neapolitan Mastiff
An ancient, heavily wrinkled Italian guardian — devoted, imposing and drooly.
Giant · Working
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
A cheerful Dutch decoy dog with a plumed tail and famous black “earrings”.
Small · Sporting
Newfoundland
A gentle, heroic water dog — sweet-natured, patient and huge.
Giant · Working
Norfolk Terrier
A tiny, fearless drop-eared terrier with a sunny disposition.
Small · Terrier
Norwegian Buhund
A Viking farm dog — cheerful, energetic and eager to work.
Medium · Herding
Norwegian Elkhound
A bold Viking-era spitz bred to hold moose at bay — loyal, loud and hardy.
Medium · Hound
Norwegian Lundehund
The six-toed puffin dog — a rare Arctic climber with astonishing flexibility.
Small · Non-Sporting
Norwich Terrier
A tiny prick-eared terrier with a huge, happy personality.
Small · Terrier
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The smallest retriever — a fox-like, high-energy dog with a famous “Toller scream”.
Medium · Sporting
O
P
Papillon
The butterfly dog — tiny, bright and one of the most trainable toy breeds.
Toy · Toy
Parson Russell Terrier
The Parson’s fox terrier — athletic, clever and never off duty.
Small · Terrier
Pekingese
The lion dog of the Chinese emperors — regal, independent and unapologetically dignified.
Toy · Toy
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Short legs, big heart — a clever herding dog with royal credentials.
Small · Herding
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
The “happy breed” — a scruffy, merry little hound with a big voice.
Small · Hound
Pharaoh Hound
The blushing dog of Malta — graceful, playful and quick as the wind.
Medium · Hound
Plott Hound
A fearless brindle bear hound — loyal, athletic and loud.
Large · Hound
Pointer
An elegant athlete of the field — the classic pointing dog.
Large · Sporting
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
The shaggy PON — clever, self-confident and devoted to its family.
Medium · Herding
Pomeranian
A fluffy, fearless toy spitz with a big bark and bigger confidence.
Toy · Toy
Pomsky
A mini Husky look-alike — fluffy, spirited and very vocal.
Small · Crossbreeds
Poodle
Brilliant, athletic and low-shedding — far more dog than the haircut suggests.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
A tiny, tireless Portuguese rabbit hunter with big ears and bigger attitude.
Small · Hound
Portuguese Water Dog
A tireless, curly-coated fisherman’s dog — clever, athletic and water-mad.
Medium · Working
Pug
Charming, comical and devoted — a lap dog with serious health needs.
Small · Toy
Puggle
A wrinkly, sociable mix — part clown, part scent hound, all appetite.
Small · Crossbreeds
Puli
A bouncing, corded Hungarian herder — clever, loyal and full of life.
Medium · Herding
Pumi
A curly, whimsical Hungarian herder — always alert, always busy.
Medium · Herding
Pyrenean Shepherd
A tiny, tireless mountain herder — quick, clever and devoted to one person.
Small · Herding
R
Rat Terrier
An all-American farm terrier — smart, playful and eager to please.
Small · Terrier
Redbone Coonhound
A handsome red hound — easygoing at home, determined on the trail.
Large · Hound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
The African lion hound — dignified, strong-willed and devoted to its family.
Large · Hound
Rottweiler
Confident, loyal and powerful — a calm guardian with a soft side.
Large · Working
Russell Terrier
A short-legged bundle of terrier energy — clever, bold and relentless.
Small · Terrier
Russian Toy
A tiny, leggy Russian companion — lively, affectionate and elegant.
Toy · Toy
S
Saint Bernard
The legendary Alpine rescuer — gentle, patient and enormous.
Giant · Working
Saluki
The royal dog of the desert — ancient, graceful and independent.
Large · Hound
Samoyed
Smiling, sociable and snow-white — a friendly Arctic worker with a big coat.
Medium · Working
Schipperke
The “little black devil” — a curious, confident Belgian barge dog.
Small · Non-Sporting
Schnoodle
A clever, low-shedding blend of Schnauzer alertness and Poodle brains.
Small · Crossbreeds
Scottish Deerhound
The royal dog of Scotland — gentle, dignified and built to run down deer.
Giant · Hound
Scottish Terrier
The dignified “Diehard” — independent, loyal and unmistakably Scottie.
Small · Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
A rare, bearded Welsh terrier — calmer, funnier and more relaxed than most.
Small · Terrier
Sheepadoodle
A fluffy panda-coloured doodle — playful, gentle and great with families.
Large · Crossbreeds
Shetland Sheepdog
A bright, sensitive mini herder — the Sheltie is eager, loyal and vocal.
Small · Herding
Shiba Inu
Bold, alert and self-possessed — an ancient Japanese hunter with a cat-like streak.
Small · Non-Sporting
Shih Tzu
Affectionate, outgoing and regal — a palace lap dog through and through.
Small · Toy
Shihpoo
A small, cuddly companion with a teddy-bear face and a low-shedding coat.
Toy · Crossbreeds
Siberian Husky
Friendly, athletic and free-spirited — a sled dog built to run.
Medium · Working
Silky Terrier
A toy with a terrier’s heart — silky, spirited and busy.
Toy · Toy
Skye Terrier
A long, low, flowing-coated Highland terrier — loyal to its people, reserved with others.
Small · Terrier
Sloughi
A sensitive North African sighthound — devoted to its people, reserved with the world.
Large · Hound
Smooth Fox Terrier
A sleek, alert fox hunter — lively, clever and always on the go.
Small · Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
The happy Irish terrier — bouncy, affectionate and famous for the “Wheaten greetin’”.
Medium · Terrier
Spanish Water Dog
A curly Spanish all-rounder — herder, retriever and devoted companion.
Medium · Herding
Spinone Italiano
A gentle, whiskered Italian gundog — patient, easygoing and devoted.
Large · Sporting
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
The Staffie — a muscular, people-mad cuddlebug with boundless courage.
Medium · Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
The original Schnauzer — clever, spirited and a born watchdog.
Medium · Working
Sussex Spaniel
A low, rolling golden-liver spaniel with a frown, a bark and a big heart.
Medium · Sporting
Swedish Vallhund
The Viking cattle dog — sturdy, cheerful and a big personality on short legs.
Small · Herding
T
Tibetan Mastiff
An ancient Himalayan guardian — majestic, aloof and nocturnally vigilant.
Giant · Working
Tibetan Spaniel
The monastery watchdog — small, clever, cat-like and devoted.
Small · Non-Sporting
Tibetan Terrier
The holy dog of Tibet — affectionate, agile and shaggy, but no terrier.
Medium · Non-Sporting
Toy Fox Terrier
A pint-sized American terrier — clever, cheerful and full of spunk.
Toy · Toy
Treeing Walker Coonhound
“The people’s choice” coonhound — friendly, fast and full of voice.
Large · Hound
V
W
Weimaraner
The “Grey Ghost” — a sleek, driven hunter with a clingy, clever heart.
Large · Sporting
Welsh Springer Spaniel
A loyal red-and-white Welsh gundog — steady, affectionate and a touch reserved.
Medium · Sporting
Welsh Terrier
A spirited, square little Welsh terrier — friendly, clever and game for anything.
Small · Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
The cheerful white terrier — confident, friendly and full of self-esteem.
Small · Terrier
Whippet
A sprinter on the field, a couch potato at home — gentle, quiet and elegant.
Medium · Hound
Wire Fox Terrier
The most decorated show terrier — bold, bright and bursting with energy.
Small · Terrier
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The “supreme gundog” — shaggy, friendly and eager to work with you.
Medium · Sporting
Wirehaired Vizsla
A rugged, bearded Hungarian pointer — gentle at home, tireless in the field.
Medium · Sporting
