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Dog Breeds

Every dog breed is different, so it’s important to choose the right dog for you and your lifestyle carefully.

Getting a dog is always exciting, but there’s plenty to consider when choosing the breed that’s right for your lifestyle.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with expert dog behaviourist Nick Jones and vet Brian Faulkner to bring you essential information about each breed’s temperament, exercise and grooming requirements as well as common health conditions they're prone to.

Dog Breed
Selector Quiz

What breed suits your lifestyle?

Each and every breed comes with it’s own unique needs. Some dogs need a lot of exercise and training, while others might require daily grooming. Many dog breeds also have specific charateristics and traits which affect how well they thrive in different environements. To help you understand the best breeds to fit into your routine, we’ve compiled a few examples of lifestyles and a few of the breeds that might be a good match.

If you enjoy outdoor pursuits and are looking for a companion, the Border Collie – with its stamina, intelligence and agility – is a good choice. But this herding breed will also require a lot of mental stimulation and time commitment from its owner. The  confident Golden Retriever and the personable Cockapoo are also great choices for people who will enjoy getting out and about with their dog.

When choosing a family pet, it’s important to find a breed that will easily fit in, especially if you have children or other pets. Labradors are playful, obedient and get on well with children and other animals, but they do need plenty of exercise so are best suited to active families. Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels also make friendly, playful companions who love people.

Certain breeds, such as the Shih Tzu and Dachshund are more suited for city living due to their compact size. They also don’t have the high exercise requirements of more active breeds. If you’re looking for a larger breed, the laid-back Greyhound could also suit an urban lifestyle, as they are happy to relax at home once their walk is over.

It’s possible to have a dog if you work full-time, but you’ll have to be well organised. Many dogs can be trained to stay at home but some breeds, such as the self-assured Border Terrier or the independent Shiba Inu, fare better than others. However, no matter the breed, no dog shouldn’t be routinely left alone for longer than four hours at a time so think carefully about the commitment that getting a dog involves.

Whilst their big, fluffy coats might suggest otherwise, the low-shedding Bichon Frise and Poodle are good choices for those with allergies or sensitivities to animal dander. The Miniature Schnauzer’s low-shedding wiry double-layer coat also makes it a good choice for allergy-prone owners and these dogs require less grooming than their softer-haired counterparts.

For first-time owners it’s ideal to start with an easy to train, low maintenance breed. Low-energy Greyhounds are known to be one of the easiest dogs to take care of, whilst Golden Retrievers and Labradors are gentle, fun-loving and amenable to training. For those looking for a smaller breed, Border Terriers are alert and playful and the Bichon Frise is a good-natured breed, ideal for owners who enjoy brushing a dog.

Dog Advice

All dog advice

Protect your pet with dog insurance

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We are pet specialists and have an unrivalled knowledge of pet health unlike many other insurers. That's why we've designed our policies to cover as many conditions as possible, and are able to pay 97% of all the claims we receive.

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