Breed database
Dog and cat breeds
Breed descriptions are population tendencies, not promises about an individual animal. Use them to understand likely needs — exercise, grooming, health screening — rather than to predict personality.
120 of 120 breeds
Abyssinian
A tireless, elegantly ticked cat that investigates everything and rarely sits still for long.
Medium · 12–16 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Airedale Terrier
The largest of the terriers, nicknamed the 'King of Terriers.' Airedales are versatile, clever and game for almost any activity, but they keep a strong independent streak typical of the terrier group.
Large · 11–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Akita
A powerful, quiet guardian from northern Japan, deeply devoted to family and aloof with everyone else.
Large · 10–13 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Alaskan Malamute
A heavy freighting sled dog built for hauling, not speed; dignified, sociable and very strong.
Large · 10–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
American Shorthair
A robust, undemanding working cat that adapts well to families, other pets and ordinary household life.
Medium · 15–20 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Australian Cattle Dog
A tough, resourceful herding dog bred to drive cattle across long distances in harsh conditions. Cattle dogs are extremely intelligent and need constant purposeful work to avoid becoming frustrated or destructive.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Australian Shepherd
A versatile ranch dog with enormous stamina and a strong desire to work alongside its person.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
Balinese
Essentially a long-haired Siamese — the same pointed elegance and conversation, in a silky plumed coat that mats far less than it looks.
Medium · 12–20 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Basset Hound
A low, heavy scent hound with a wonderful nose and an unhurried attitude to almost everything.
Medium · 10–12 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 2/5
Beagle
A cheerful pack hound built to follow a scent for hours. Delightful company, but recall and food security need real work.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Bearded Collie
A shaggy Scottish drover famous for the 'beardie bounce' — leaping to see over the flock. Merry, boisterous and high-maintenance in coat and spirit.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 5/5
Belgian Malinois
An elite working dog used by police and military worldwide — magnificent in skilled hands and overwhelming in the wrong home.
Large · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 2/5
Bengal
A spectacular, highly active cat derived from crosses with the Asian leopard cat, needing far more enrichment than an average cat.
Large · 12–16 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Bernese Mountain Dog
A striking Swiss farm dog: placid, family-focused and happiest in cool climates.
Giant · 7–10 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 4/5
Bichon Frise
A cheerful white companion that suits apartments and families, provided the coat is professionally maintained.
Small · 14–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 5/5
Birman
A colourpointed cat with distinctive white gloves and a famously even, unruffled temperament.
Medium · 13–16 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 3/5
Bloodhound
A giant scent hound with the most sensitive nose of any breed, used for centuries to track missing people over enormous distances. At home Bloodhounds are placid and affectionate, but a scent trail can override every other instinct.
Giant · 10–12 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Bombay
Bred as a 'miniature black panther' — glossy black coat, copper eyes and a Burmese-derived love of people and warm laps.
Medium · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Border Collie
Widely regarded as the most trainable of all breeds, and correspondingly demanding. A Border Collie without a job will invent one.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
Border Terrier
One of the mildest-mannered terriers, bred to run with hounds and bolt foxes. Keeps the terrier spirit with a more biddable, people-oriented nature.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Boston Terrier
A tidy, city-friendly companion nicknamed the American Gentleman for its tuxedo markings and polite manners.
Small · 11–13 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Boxer
A boisterous, long-adolescent guardian that adores its people and rarely stops moving until middle age.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
British Shorthair
A sturdy, teddy-bear-faced cat that is affectionate on its own terms and dislikes being carried.
Medium · 13–18 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 2/5
Brittany
A compact pointing dog that works closer than a pointer and retrieves too. Sensitive, trainable and built for endurance.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 2/5
Bulldog
A calm, affectionate housemate with serious conformation-related health needs. Prospective owners should budget for veterinary care.
Medium · 8–10 years · Energy 1/5 · Grooming 2/5
Bullmastiff
A massive but generally calm guardian bred by nineteenth-century English gamekeepers to silently pursue and pin poachers without mauling them. At home Bullmastiffs are famously placid and devoted.
Giant · 7–9 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 1/5
Burmese
A dense, muscular cat often described as a brick wrapped in silk, and one of the most people-oriented breeds.
Medium · 15–18 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Burmilla
Born from an accidental Burmese × Chinchilla Persian mating in 1981, combining Burmese sociability with a softer, sparkling silver coat.
Medium · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Cairn Terrier
A sturdy little working terrier — Toto in The Wizard of Oz — happiest when busy, digging and investigating.
Small · 13–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Cane Corso
A large Italian mastiff-type guardian, descended from Roman war dogs and later used to guard farms and drive livestock. Cane Corsos are watchful and devoted to their family but need an experienced, consistent handler.
Large · 9–12 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The older, tailed corgi — a Welsh cattle drover with a more reserved, thoughtful character than its Pembroke cousin.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
An exceptionally sweet-natured lap spaniel that suits many households, but with two serious inherited conditions that must guide breeder choice.
Small · 9–14 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Chartreux
A sturdy French breed known for its blue-grey coat, quiet nature and an expression often described as a permanent smile. Chartreux are affectionate but undemanding companions.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Chihuahua
The smallest recognised breed, fiercely loyal to its chosen person and much braver than its size suggests.
Small · 14–17 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Chow Chow
An ancient northern Chinese breed with a lion-like ruff, a blue-black tongue and a notably reserved character.
Large · 9–12 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 5/5
Cocker Spaniel
A happy, tail-wagging gundog that loves company and needs regular grooming and plenty of sniffing work.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Collie (Rough)
The elegant, long-coated herding breed made famous by Lassie — gentle, devoted and highly attuned to its family's moods, with a strong instinct to watch over children and other animals.
Large · 12–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Cornish Rex
A slender, whippet-like cat with a washboard-wavy coat, famous for sprinting, leaping and staying playful for life.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 2/5
Dachshund
A determined earth dog in a long, low body. Charming and brave, but the build carries a significant spinal risk that shapes daily management.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Dalmatian
A striking spotted breed historically used as a coaching dog that ran alongside horse-drawn carriages. Dalmatians need a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation to stay settled and content.
Large · 11–13 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 2/5
Devon Rex
A pixie-faced, curly-coated cat that behaves more like a mischievous small monkey than a typical cat.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Doberman Pinscher
An elegant, athletic guardian that bonds closely and dislikes being left out of family life.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Domestic Longhair
A non-pedigree cat with a long coat — common in shelters and needing more grooming than a shorthair.
Medium · 13–18 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 4/5
Domestic Shorthair
The most common cat in the world and the majority of cats in shelters. Personality varies enormously, so meet the individual rather than relying on a type description.
Medium · 13–18 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Egyptian Mau
One of the few naturally spotted cat breeds, and reputedly the fastest domestic cat, the Egyptian Mau is athletic, alert and deeply attached to its chosen people.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
English Setter
An elegant bird dog that combines a mellow, affectionate house presence with real stamina and drive in the field. English Setters do best with owners who can give them both companionship and exercise.
Large · 11–12 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
English Springer Spaniel
A hard-working flushing spaniel with boundless enthusiasm for fieldwork, water and family life.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
Exotic Shorthair
Essentially a shorthaired Persian: the same sweet, quiet nature with far less coat care, but the same flat-faced health concerns.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 2/5
Finnish Lapphund
The Sámi people's reindeer herder — a friendly, fluffy spitz that combines working sense with an unusually soft, family-oriented nature.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Flat-Coated Retriever
The eternal puppy of the gundog world — exuberant, friendly with everyone and slow to mature. A joy for active families.
Large · 8–12 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
French Bulldog
A compact companion bred purely for company. Frenchies are easy-going indoors but their flat face brings real welfare considerations that every owner should understand before buying.
Small · 10–12 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 1/5
German Shepherd Dog
A versatile working breed that thrives on structure, training and a job to do. German Shepherds bond intensely with their household and need thoughtful socialisation to be comfortable with strangers.
Large · 9–13 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
German Shorthaired Pointer
An all-purpose hunting dog bred to point, retrieve and track on land and in water. GSPs are friendly and biddable but have very high exercise needs and a strong desire to be involved in whatever their people are doing.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Golden Retriever
A soft-natured retriever that stays playful well into adulthood and generally enjoys the company of almost everyone it meets.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 3/5
Great Dane
An enormous, mild-mannered companion often described as a gentle giant, with a sadly short lifespan.
Giant · 7–10 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Great Pyrenees
A livestock guardian bred to make its own decisions on the mountainside — serene, immovable and famously nocturnal in its barking.
Giant · 10–12 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 4/5
Havana Brown
A rare chocolate-brown cat developed from Siamese and black domestic crosses; famously uses its paws to investigate and touch people.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Havanese
Cuba's national dog: a sturdy, sunny little companion that gets along with almost everyone.
Small · 14–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 5/5
Irish Setter
A flamboyant red gundog that keeps a puppyish outlook for years and needs serious daily exercise.
Large · 12–15 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 4/5
Italian Greyhound
A miniature sighthound bred purely as a companion for centuries, combining a racy, athletic build with a gentle, clingy nature. They are fast and playful in short bursts, but fragile and cold-sensitive.
Small · 13–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Jack Russell Terrier
A small hunting terrier with enormous drive, best suited to active owners who enjoy training.
Small · 13–16 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 2/5
Keeshond
A fluffy Dutch Spitz breed historically kept on barges, prized as an all-round friendly family companion rather than a specialist worker. Keeshonden are sociable with nearly everyone they meet.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 4/5
Korat
An ancient Thai 'good luck cat', traditionally given in pairs to brides. Bonds intensely with its family and dislikes being left out.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Labrador Retriever
A sturdy, cheerful retriever bred to work all day in cold water. Labradors are famously trainable and people-focused, which makes them popular family dogs, assistance dogs and detection dogs alike.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Lagotto Romagnolo
The world's specialist truffle dog — a former water retriever repurposed for scent work. Low-shedding, trainable and happiest with its nose busy.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
LaPerm
A curly-coated farm-cat mutation from Oregon with a sweet, clingy temperament and a coat that sheds very little.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Lhasa Apso
A small but sturdy Tibetan breed originally kept as an indoor watchdog in monasteries and homes. Lhasa Apsos are more independent-minded and less eager to please than many small breeds.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 5/5
Maine Coon
One of the largest domestic cats — friendly, chirpy and famously tolerant, often described as a gentle giant.
Large · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 4/5
Maltese
An ancient white lap dog, sweet-natured and adaptable to small homes.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 5/5
Manx
A tailless or short-tailed island cat, sociable and sturdy, but carrying a spinal mutation with real welfare implications.
Medium · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Miniature Schnauzer
A robust little terrier with a distinctive beard, happy in town or country and quick to announce visitors.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Mixed-Breed Dog
Most dogs in the world are of mixed ancestry. Assess the individual dog in front of you — its age, energy, handling tolerance and history — rather than trying to predict behaviour from a guessed breed mix.
Variable (toy to giant) · 10–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Newfoundland
A powerful water-rescue dog with a famously gentle disposition and a heroic swimming ability.
Giant · 9–11 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 4/5
Norwegian Elkhound
An ancient spitz hunter that held moose at bay by barking and dodging. Hardy, devoted and famously talkative.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 3/5
Norwegian Forest Cat
A hardy Scandinavian natural breed built for cold forests, strong and enthusiastic about climbing.
Large · 14–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 4/5
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
The smallest retriever, bred to lure ducks by playing along the shoreline ('tolling'). A high-drive sporting dog in a handy package.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
Ocicat
Looks like a small wild ocelot but is entirely domestic — Abyssinian, Siamese and American Shorthair ancestry. Confident, sociable and fetch-loving.
Medium · 12–18 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Old English Sheepdog
A big, shaggy herding dog known for its bear-like gait and clownish, affectionate temperament. The breed's famous coat demands one of the heaviest grooming commitments of any dog.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 5/5
Oriental Shorthair
A Siamese in hundreds of colours: equally talkative, equally social and just as reliant on company.
Medium · 12–18 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Papillon
One of the most trainable toy breeds, regularly competing at the top level in agility and obedience.
Small · 14–16 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 3/5
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
A big herding dog on short legs — busy, opinionated and far more athletic than the shape suggests.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 3/5
Persian
A serene, sedentary lap cat whose flat face and long coat both require committed daily care.
Medium · 12–17 years · Energy 1/5 · Grooming 5/5
Pointer (English Pointer)
The aristocrat of gundogs — bred to range far and freeze on game. Calm and clean in the house, relentless in the field.
Large · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Pomeranian
A tiny descendant of large Spitz sledding breeds, the Pomeranian carries an outsized personality in a pocket-sized body. They are alert, confident and often unaware of how small they actually are.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 4/5
Poodle (Standard)
An elegant water retriever with an exceptional mind. Low shedding suits some allergy-affected households, but no breed is genuinely hypoallergenic.
Large · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 5/5
Portuguese Water Dog
A fisherman's working partner that herded fish into nets and carried messages between boats. An energetic, trainable water dog that needs a job.
Medium · 11–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 4/5
Pug
An affectionate, comedic companion with a long history — and with flat-faced health needs owners must take seriously.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 2/5
RagaMuffin
A large, extremely tolerant lap cat closely related to the Ragdoll, available in a wider range of colours.
Large · 12–16 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 3/5
Ragdoll
A large, mellow cat named for its habit of going limp when picked up; typically an indoor-only companion.
Large · 12–17 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 3/5
Rhodesian Ridgeback
A strong, self-reliant hound bred to track and hold big game, requiring confident and consistent handling.
Large · 10–12 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Rottweiler
A powerful, self-assured guardian that is calm and affectionate with its family when raised with clear, kind structure.
Large · 8–11 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Russian Blue
A quiet, elegant cat that is devoted to its own household and shy with visitors.
Medium · 15–20 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 2/5
Saint Bernard
A famous alpine rescue dog: enormous, slow-moving and deeply tolerant of family life.
Giant · 8–10 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 4/5
Samoyed
The smiling sled dog of the Samoyedic peoples: sociable, vocal and extremely fluffy.
Large · 12–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 5/5
Savannah
A tall hybrid of domestic cat and serval. Later generations can live successfully as pets, but early generations have specialist needs and are legally restricted in many places.
Large · 12–20 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 2/5
Scottish Fold
Known for folded ears caused by a cartilage mutation. That same mutation affects cartilage throughout the body, and several veterinary bodies advise against breeding folded cats on welfare grounds.
Medium · 11–15 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 3/5
Selkirk Rex
Sometimes called the 'cat in sheep's clothing,' the Selkirk Rex has a loosely curled, plush coat and a famously tolerant, patient temperament that suits busy households.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Shar-Pei
An ancient Chinese breed best known for its deep wrinkles and blue-black tongue. Shar-Pei are quiet, dignified and deeply loyal to their own household while remaining reserved with outsiders.
Medium · 8–12 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 2/5
Shetland Sheepdog
A small, highly trainable herding dog that excels in obedience and agility but is quick to bark.
Small · 12–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Shiba Inu
A cat-like, self-possessed primitive breed: tidy and quiet at home but rarely biddable off-lead.
Small · 13–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 3/5
Shih Tzu
A companion bred for palace life, content with moderate walks and plenty of lap time.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 2/5 · Grooming 5/5
Siamese
An intensely social, endlessly vocal cat that wants to be involved in everything its people do.
Medium · 15–20 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Siberian
A powerful Russian forest cat, athletic and affectionate, often mentioned in discussions of allergy tolerance — though no cat is truly hypoallergenic.
Large · 12–18 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Siberian Husky
A tireless sled dog bred to run. Sociable with almost everyone and consequently a poor guard dog, but an expert escape artist.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
Singapura
One of the smallest cat breeds — a tiny ticked cat with huge eyes and an outsized, busy personality.
Small · 11–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Famous for the 'Wheaten greetin'' — full-body bouncing welcomes. A friendly, low-shedding terrier with a softer temperament than most of the group.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Somali
Essentially a long-haired Abyssinian, the Somali combines a fox-like plumed tail with the same restless curiosity and athleticism as its shorthaired relative.
Medium · 12–16 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 3/5
Sphynx
A hairless, intensely social cat that seeks body heat and company constantly; not low-maintenance despite having no coat.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 4/5
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
A muscular, deeply people-oriented terrier with a long-standing reputation as a family dog in Britain.
Medium · 12–14 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Swedish Vallhund
A long, low Viking-age cattle herder — 'the little big dog'. Nips heels like a corgi but with a spitz voice and boundless cheer.
Small · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Tibetan Terrier
Not a true terrier — a Tibetan monastery and herding companion bred for sure-footedness in snow. Affectionate and clownish at home, watchful outside.
Small · 12–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 5/5
Tonkinese
A Siamese–Burmese cross that combines the best of both: lively, warm and deeply involved with its household.
Medium · 14–18 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Toyger
A designer breed developed to look like a miniature tiger, raising awareness for wild tiger conservation. Friendly and unusually trainable.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 1/5
Turkish Angora
An ancient Turkish natural breed: graceful, athletic and often the self-appointed supervisor of the household.
Medium · 13–18 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 3/5
Turkish Van
The famous 'swimming cat' of Lake Van — a large, powerful, slow-maturing cat that often genuinely enjoys water.
Large · 12–17 years · Energy 4/5 · Grooming 2/5
Vizsla
A graceful Hungarian pointer nicknamed the velcro dog for its need to stay in physical contact with its people.
Large · 12–15 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Weimaraner
The 'grey ghost' — a demanding all-round hunting dog that wants to be with its people constantly.
Large · 10–13 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 1/5
Whippet
A sprinter that sleeps most of the day: calm and undemanding indoors, explosive for short bursts outside.
Medium · 12–15 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 1/5
Wire Fox Terrier
A high-octane show and working terrier with endless enthusiasm; needs an owner who enjoys training and activity.
Small · 12–14 years · Energy 5/5 · Grooming 4/5
Yorkshire Terrier
A tiny terrier with a full-size personality, originally bred to kill rats in Yorkshire mills.
Small · 13–16 years · Energy 3/5 · Grooming 5/5