Quick Breed Selection Guide |
Breed |
Size |
Grooming |
Exercise |
Feeding |
Temperament |
1. Good Loyal Companions |
AFFENPINSCHER |
small,
24-28cm's (9½-11in), 3-4kg
(6½-9 lb) |
medium |
medium |
undemanding |
lively and self confident |
BORDER TERRIER |
small,
dog: 30.5 cm (12in)
6-7kg (13-15½ lb), bitch: 28cm (11in) 5-6.5kg (11-14 lb) |
undemanding |
medium |
small |
game, friendly |
ROUGH COLLIE |
medium-large,
dog: 56-61cm (22-24½in)
20.5-29.5kg (45-65 lb)
|
demanding |
medium |
medium |
friendly |
IRISH WOLFHOUND |
giant,
dog: minimum 79cm (31in)
54.5kg (120 lb), bitch: minimum 71cm (28in) 40.9kg (90 lb)
|
regular |
regular |
very considerable |
gently dignified |
SMOOTH FOX TERRIER |
small-medium,
39.5cm (15½in) dog: 7.5-8kg
(16½-17½ lb), bitch: 6.5-7.5kg (14-16½ lb) |
undemanding |
medium |
medium |
friendly and fearless |
PUG |
small-medium,
25-28cm (10-11in), 6.3-8kg
(14-17½ lb) |
undemanding |
medium |
medium |
lively and cheerful |
DACHSHUNDS |
small-medium,
standard: 9-12kg (20-26½ lb)
miniature: maximum 4.5kg (10
lb) |
varies with variety |
reasonable |
undemanding |
independent |
KING CHARLES SPANIELS |
small,
3.6-6.3kg
(8-14 lb),
dog: 25.5cm (10in)
bitch: 20.5cm (8in) |
medium |
undemanding |
medium |
gentle and affectionate |
YORKSHIRE TERRIER |
very small,
maximum 3.1kg
(7 lb)
dog: 20.5cm (8in)
bitch: 18cm (7in) |
demanding |
medium |
undemanding |
alert and intelligent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Good With Children |
BASENJI |
small-medium,
dog: 43cm (17in) 11kg (24
lb)
bitch: 40cm (16in) 9.5kg (21
lb) |
minimal |
reasonable |
undemanding |
intelligent and affectionate |
AUSTRALIAN SILKY TERRIER |
small,
23cm (9in)
4kg (9 lb) |
medium |
medium |
undemanding |
alert and friendly |
LABRADOR RETRIEVER |
large,
dog:56-57cm
(22-22½in) 30.5kg (67
lb)
bitch: 54-56cm (21-22in)
28.5kg (63 lb) |
easy |
demanding |
reasonable |
friendly and intelligent |
ENGLISH SETTER |
large,
dog: 65-68cm (25½-27in)
28.5kg (63 lb)
bitch: 61-63cm (24-25½in)
27kg (59½ lb) |
demanding |
demanding |
reasonable |
a friendly enthusiast |
POODLES |
three sizes,
standard: over 38cm (15in)
30-34kg (66-75 lb)
miniature: 28-38cm (11-15in)
4.5kg
(10 lb) |
demanding |
medium |
straightforward |
sparky and cheerful |
SIBERIAN HUSKY |
medium-large,
dog: 60cm (23½in) 23.5kg (52
lb)
bitch: 53.5cm (21in) 19.5kg
(43 lb) |
medium |
very demanding |
demanding |
friendly but reserved |
POMERANIAN |
very small,
22-28cm
(8½-11in)
1.8-2kg (4-4½ lb) |
demanding |
undemanding |
undemanding |
intelligent and extrovert |
DALMATIAN |
large,
dog: 58.5-61cm (23-24in)
27kg
(60 lb)
bitch: 56-58.5cm (22-23in)
25kg (55 lb) |
easy |
demanding |
medium |
outgoing and friendly |
CHIHUAHUA |
very small,
15-23cm (6-9in) 1-3kg (2-6½
lb) |
medium |
undemanding |
undemanding |
spirited and intelligent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Breed |
Size |
Grooming |
Exercise |
Feeding |
Temperament |
3. Good Guards |
BOUVIER DES FLANDRES |
large,
dog: 62-68cm (24½-27½ in)
35-40kg (77-88 lb)
bitch: 59-65cm (23½-25½ in)
27-35kg (60-77 lb) |
fairly demanding |
medium |
medium |
calm and sensible |
BULLMASTIFF |
large to giant,
dog: 63.5-69cm (25-27in)
50-59kg (110-130 lb)
bitch: 61-66cm (24-26in)
41-50kg (90-110 lb) |
easy |
medium |
demanding |
reserved, faithful |
DOBERMAN |
large,
dog: 69cm
(27½ in) 37.5kg (83 lb)
bitch: 65cm
(25½ in) 33kg (73 lb) |
simple |
demanding |
medium-demanding |
alert and biddable |
GERMAN SHEPHERD (ALSATIAN) |
large,
dog: 60-66cm (24-26in)
36.5kg (80½ lb)
bitch: 55-60cm (22-24in)
29.5kg (65 lb) |
medium |
demanding |
medium |
steady, highly trianable |
GREAT DANE |
giant,
dog: minimum 76cm (30in)
54kg (119 lb)
bitch: minimum 71cm (28in)
46kg (101½ lb)
|
simple |
medium |
demanding |
kindly but dignified |
STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER |
small-medium,
dog:35.5-41cm (14-16in)
12.5-17kg
(27½-37½ lb)
bitch: 35.5cm (14in)
11-15.5kg (24-34 lb) |
easy |
medium |
medium |
fearless, dependable |
ROTTWEILER |
large,
dog: 63-69cm
(25-27½ in) 50kg (110 lb)
bitch: 58-63.5cm (23-25in)
38.5kg (85 lb)
|
simple |
medium-demanding |
demanding |
courageous, trianable |
WELSH CORGI (CARDIGAN) |
small,
30cm (12in)
dog: 11kg (24 lb)
bitch: 10kg
(22 lb) |
medium |
medium |
undemanding |
alert and steady |
BOXER |
medium,
dog: 57-63cm (22½-25in)
30-32kg (66-70½ lb)
bitch: 57-59cm (21-23½ in)
25-27kg (55-59½ lb) |
easy |
demanding |
medium |
biddable and fearless |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. Good For Training |
AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG |
small-medium,
16-20kg
(35-44 lb)
dog: 46-51cm (18-20in)
bitch: 43-48cm (17-19in)
|
easy |
medium |
medium |
alert and trustworthy |
NOVA SCOTIA DUCK TOLLING
RETRIEVER |
small,
43-55cm
(17-21½ in)
17-23kg
(37½-50½ lb) |
medium |
medium |
simple |
playful and trainable |
GOLDEN RETRIEVER |
medium,
dog: 56-61cm (22-24in) 34kg
(75 lb)
bitch: 51-56cm (20-22in)
29.5kg (65 lb0 |
fairly demanding |
demanding |
demanding |
intelligent and biddable |
HUNGARIAN KUVASZ |
large,
66-75cm
(26-29½ in)
30-52kg
(66-115 lb) |
medium |
medium |
demanding |
trainable, wary |
GERMAN SHORT HAIRED POINTER |
medium,
dog: 58-64cm (23-25in)
28.5kg (63 lb)
bitch: 53-59cm (21-23in)
24kg (53 lb) |
easy |
essential |
medium |
highly trainable and
friendly |
WEIMARANER |
medium-large,
dog: 61-69cm (24-27in) 27kg
(59½ lb)
bitch: 55-64cm (22-25in)
22.5kg (49½ lb) |
easy |
demanding |
medium |
fearless and friendly |
SCHIPPERKE |
small,
22-36cm (9-14in) 5.5-7.5kg
(12-16½ lb) |
easy |
medium |
medium |
intelligent and amiable |
OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG |
large,
dog: minimum 61cm (24in)
36.5kg (80½ lb)
bitch: minimum 56cm (22in)
29.5kg (65 lb) |
very demanding |
medium |
medium |
friendly and outgoing |
GIANT SCHNAUZER |
large,
dog: 65-70cm (25½-27½ in)
45.5kg (100 lb)
bitch: 60-65cm (23½-25½ in)
41kg (90 lb) |
medium |
medium |
medium |
bold and good natured |