Breeds
Breed profiles, built for buyers
Evidence-led dog breed profiles: temperament, exercise, health risks, and the gear and diet implications buyers actually need to plan for.
sporting group
Labrador Retriever
Friendly, food-motivated sporting dog bred to retrieve waterfowl. Needs 60+ minutes of daily exercise, is genetically predisposed to obesity and hip/elbow dysplasia, and is one of the easiest breeds to train with positive reinforcement.
herding group
German Shepherd Dog
Working herding breed with high drive, strong handler focus, and a serious need for daily mental and physical work. Genetically predisposed to hip and elbow dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy; needs careful socialization through adolescence and a well-fitted Y-front harness for any pulling work.
non-sporting group
French Bulldog
Small, affectionate companion breed and currently the most-registered dog in the U.S. Brachycephalic conformation drives serious airway, heat-tolerance, dental, and spinal welfare issues, buyers should screen breeders carefully and never use a neck collar for restraint.
sporting group
Golden Retriever
Friendly, trainable sporting dog bred to retrieve waterfowl. Needs 60+ minutes of daily exercise, sheds heavily year-round, and is genetically predisposed to hip/elbow dysplasia and one of the highest lifetime cancer rates of any breed, buy from breeders who screen hips, elbows, eyes, and heart.
non-sporting group
Poodle (Standard)
Highly intelligent, low-shedding retriever in a curly coat. Standard Poodles need 60+ minutes of daily exercise and serious mental work, require professional grooming every 4-6 weeks, and are predisposed to gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) and Addison's disease.
non-sporting group
Bulldog (English)
Stocky, easygoing companion breed with serious conformation-driven welfare issues. Brachycephalic airway, heat intolerance, skin-fold dermatitis, and a roughly 80% C-section rate at birth are the norm, buyers should screen breeders carefully and never use a neck collar for restraint.
hound group
Beagle
Small, scent-driven pack hound bred to trail rabbits. Needs 60+ minutes of daily exercise, is famously food-motivated and easily obese, and follows its nose past any recall, secure fencing and a long line are baseline gear.
hound group
Dachshund
Small, bold scent hound bred to bolt badgers from earthworks. The long-back, short-leg conformation drives a roughly 1-in-4 lifetime risk of intervertebral disc disease, manage weight strictly, ban jumping from furniture, and use a harness rather than a neck collar.
cat
Domestic Shorthair
The non-pedigreed mixed-ancestry shorthaired cat that makes up the large majority of the U.S. and EU pet cat population. Genetically diverse and generally healthier than narrow-breed cats, but still benefits from indoor housing, environmental enrichment, and routine FLUTD-aware husbandry.
cat
Maine Coon
Large, longhaired North American breed with a dense water-resistant coat and sociable, dog-like temperament. Genetically predisposed to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and hip dysplasia, buy only from breeders who screen both, and budget for weekly grooming.
toy group
Yorkshire Terrier
A 4-7 lb long-coated terrier with a big-dog personality in a toy-dog body. Coat is single (hair, not fur) and needs daily line-brushing or a monthly clip; dental disease and luxating patella are the two lifetime buys to plan around.
working group
Rottweiler
A 80-135 lb Roman-descended working guardian. Confident and biddable in trained hands, physically overwhelming in untrained ones. Plan for hip and elbow screening, joint-supportive gear, and a lifetime training budget from day one.
herding group
Australian Shepherd
A 40-65 lb high-drive stock dog developed in the American West, not Australia. Needs 90+ minutes of daily exercise plus a real thinking job. Under-exercised Aussies redirect the herding drive onto joggers, bikes, and toddlers.
working group
Boxer
A 55-80 lb brachycephalic working breed with the energy of a herding dog and the muzzle length of a bulldog. Heat-sensitive, cancer-prone, and famously exuberant, plan cooling gear, cardiac screening, and 60+ minutes of daily exercise.
herding group
Border Collie
A 30-55 lb working sheepdog widely considered the most trainable and most demanding breed in the AKC. Not a jogging companion, a working partner. If you don't have a job, sport, or 2+ hours of daily structured activity, choose a different breed.
toy group
Chihuahua
A 3-6 lb toy dog from Mexico with the temperament of a much larger terrier. Long-lived (14-16 years is routine), fragile-boned, and prone to dental disease and luxating patella; socialization is the single biggest predictor of adult behavior.
toy group
Shih Tzu
A 9-16 lb brachycephalic toy companion from the Chinese and Tibetan imperial courts. Modest exercise need, high grooming need, and lifetime attention to airway, eye, and dental health.
working group
Great Dane
A 110-175 lb giant working breed with a 7-10 year median lifespan and elevated risks for bloat, dilated cardiomyopathy, and osteosarcoma. A gentle housemate that needs orthopedic support, giant-sized gear, and honest expectations about longevity.
cat
Ragdoll
A large (10-20 lb), semi-longhaired, pointed-pattern cat known for a docile, dog-like temperament and going limp when picked up. Cardiac screening (HCM), a scratching post the size of the adult cat, and weekly comb-outs are the three non-negotiables.
cat
Siamese
A 6-14 lb pointed short-haired cat from Thailand (formerly Siam) known for a loud, expressive voice and intense social bond. Highly interactive, moderately prone to asthma and dental disease, and best kept with a second cat or as a home-office companion.