Breed guides

Published-source care guides by Kennel Club breed group and life stage — puppy and junior, adult, senior. Ask your vet about your own pet.

• Gundog

  Gundogs were originally bred to find and retrieve game, and today make active, people-focused companions. Exercise, coat care and health needs vary widely across the group — from a Cocker Spaniel's daily brush to a Labrador's weekly one.

• Terrier

  Terriers were originally bred to hunt vermin and are typically hardy, bold and small to medium in size — the Airedale is the group's large exception. Coat, exercise and known health themes vary a lot breed to breed within the group.

• Toy

  Toy dogs are small companion breeds bred mainly for company rather than work, and generally don't need much exercise. Several conditions — patellar luxation, dental disease and heart disease among them — turn up often enough in UK research to be worth an early, ongoing conversation with your vet.

• Pastoral

  Pastoral dogs were bred to herd livestock, from the small Shetland Sheepdog to the large German Shepherd Dog — most carry a weatherproof double coat and a strong need for mental work, not just exercise.

• Working

  The Working group covers guarding, rescue and draught breeds — mostly large to giant dogs bred for a physically demanding job. Many need well over two hours of exercise a day, and their size brings a recurring set of joint, heart and bloat-related themes worth discussing with a vet.

• Hound

  Hounds were bred to hunt by scent or by sight, from pack scent hounds such as Beagles to fast sight hounds such as Greyhounds and Whippets. For an owner today, that heritage means planning walks, recall practice and secure spaces around a dog that may be led by its nose, its eyes or both.

• Utility

  Utility dogs are a mixed group of mostly non-sporting breeds, many of which were selected for specific purposes outside the sporting and working categories. For an owner today, that variety means looking closely at the individual breed's exercise, coat and day-to-day management needs rather than expecting one utility pattern.