Dog Breed Directory

Dog Breeds

Browse 26 dog breed profiles, filter by size, energy and shedding, and compare dogs before you commit to a lifetime together.

26 Breeds Published profiles

Browse Dog Breeds

All Dog Breeds

Browse the complete directory below. Search by name or filter by size, energy level and shedding to narrow the list.

A
Airedale Terrier

Airedale Terrier

Medium Moderate_high energy

Playful, independent, alert, confident

A

Akita

Large Moderate energy

Dignified, loyal, independent, watchful

A

Alaskan Malamute

Large High energy

Friendly, powerful, independent, endurance-driven

A

American Leopard Hound

Very_high energy

Spot a speckled, powerful dog racing through the woods, all muscle and determina…

A

American Pit Bull Terrier

Medium High energy

People-oriented, athletic, tenacious, variable

A

Appenzeller Sennenhund

Medium High energy

Energetic, alert, versatile, confident

A

Australian Kelpie

Medium Very_high energy

Alert, driven, independent, tireless

B
B

Basset Hound

Medium Low energy

Gentle, patient, stubborn, scent-driven

Boerboel

Boerboel

Large Moderate energy

Confident, watchful, calm, protective

B

Border Collie

Medium Very_high energy

Intelligent, alert, responsive, driven

Borzoi

Borzoi

Large Moderate energy

Sensitive, affectionate, independent, reserved

B

Bullmastiff

Large Moderate energy

Quiet, watchful, loyal, powerful

D
D

Doberman Pinscher

Large High energy

Alert, loyal, intelligent, watchful

D

Dogo Argentino

High energy

The Dogo Argentino is a pack-hunting dog, bred for the pursuit of big-game such…

F
French Bulldog

French Bulldog

Small Moderate energy

Playful, alert, adaptable, stubborn

G
G

German Pinscher

Medium High energy

Alert, curious, confident, energetic

German Shepherd

German Shepherd

Large High energy

Alert, confident, intelligent, reserved with strangers

Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever

Moderate_high energy

Friendly, social, active and highly people-oriented. Eager to please but needs c…

G

Greyhound

Large Low_to_moderate energy

Gentle, independent, quiet, sensitive

H
H

Hanoverian Scenthound

High energy

The Hanoverian Scenthound (Hannoverscher Schweißhund) is a German breed of dog o…

L
Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever

High energy

Friendly, outgoing, active

M
M

Mastiff

Large Low_to_moderate energy

Calm, dignified, protective, steady

N
N

Norwegian Lundehund

Moderate_high energy

From the rocky island of Værøy, off the coast of Arctic Norway, comes one of the…

P
P

Puli

Medium High energy

Agile, alert, loyal, vocal

R
R

Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog

Moderate energy

The Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog is a majestic livestock guardian bred in the…

S
S

Shiba Inu

Moderate_high energy

The Shiba Inu is an ancient Japanese breed and the smallest of the six native sp…

How to Choose a Dog Breed

A breed profile helps you compare, but choosing well requires honest self-assessment alongside the research. Consider these factors before narrowing your list.

1

Be realistic about your daily routine

A dog's exercise and mental stimulation needs do not lower themselves to match your schedule. Look at how much structured time you can consistently offer each day, not just on your best weeks.

2

Match space to the breed, not the other way around

Small dogs are not automatically suited to apartments, and large dogs are not automatically suited to yards. What matters is how the breed's energy, noise level and attachment style fit the space you have.

3

Consider grooming honestly

Some coats look beautiful in photos but demand hours of weekly maintenance. Others shed more but require less professional grooming. Decide which tradeoff you prefer.

4

Think about the breed's original purpose

Herding breeds will try to control movement. Scent hounds follow their nose regardless of your recall training. Guarding breeds can be suspicious of strangers. These tendencies are hardwired, not training problems to fix.

5

Factor in lifetime commitment

Some breeds live 12 to 15 years or longer. A puppy is a daily presence in your life for over a decade. Breed choice should account for your stability, not just your current situation.

6

Use breed profiles as a starting point

Every individual dog varies within a breed. Profiles describe general tendencies, not guarantees. Meeting a specific dog and speaking with knowledgeable breeders or rescue organisations matters more than any single data point.

What Breed Profiles Explain

Each breed profile covers more than basic statistics. Here is what you will find when you open a breed page.

Origin and history

How the breed developed, what it was originally bred to do, and why that history still shapes its behaviour today.

Temperament in practice

Not just a list of adjectives, but how the breed typically behaves around strangers, children, other animals and in unfamiliar settings.

Exercise and mental needs

What kind and how much daily activity the breed generally requires, and what happens when those needs go unmet.

Training reality

How responsive the breed typically is to instruction, where it may be independent or stubborn, and what training approaches tend to work best.

Home suitability

Which living situations, family types and experience levels tend to suit the breed, and which combinations regularly create problems.

Ownership challenges

What prospective owners commonly underestimate about the breed, from grooming demands to behavioural tendencies that do not appear in promotional material.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Breeds