Each pedigree dog breed has its own characteristics and with over 200 different breeds there is certainly an ideal breed for everyone. If you match these characteristics with your personality and lifestyle, it is more likely that you will have a happy and fulfilling relationship with your dog.

Dog characteristics to consider:

• Energetic and lively or couch-potatoes
• Strong-willed and ambitious or easy-going and indulgent
• Friendly with humans or reserved with strangers
• Playful or disinterested in toys
• Friendly to other dogs or disinterested or incompatible
• Friendly to cats and other pets or disinterested or incompatible
• Affectionate or aloof

What is a pedigree dog?
A pedigree dog is the offspring of a dam and sire of the same breed, which is eligible for registration with a recognised club or society that maintain a register for dogs of that description.

All pedigree dogs carry a breed standard – a picture in words that describes each breed of pedigree dog - for their likely character and health needs. Consider what job your intended breed was designed to do, and whether you can cope with the innate behaviour that will accompany it.

Advantages of pedigree dogs podcast (MP3)

Pedigree Dog Breeds
All pedigree breeds are divided into seven Breed Groups:

• Hound
• Working
• Gundog
• Terrier
• Utility
• Pastoral
• Toy

Vulnerable Native Breeds
The Kennel Club is particularly concerned with protecting some breeds of dog which are of British origin and are considered to be vulnerable native breeds i.e. those whose numbers are declining and whose status within the world of dogs has diminished over a number of years.

Crossbreeds
In addition to the pedigree dogs there are also Crossbreeds to consider. These dogs often display a mixture of their ancestors traits. So it is important to take this into account. If you know the mix of breeds this may help but otherwise find out what you can about the parents.

Pedigree rescue dogs
Consider giving a home to a pedigree rescue dog. Find out how to choose the right pedigree rescue dog for you.

Non-moulting breeds of dogs
For those owners who wish to obtain a dog which supposedly does not shed its coat, one of these non-moulting breeds listed  may be a suitable choice

Find the right breed for you:

Discover Dogs
You can also find out more about many of the 210 different pedigree dogs registered by the Kennel Club at Discover Dogs. This annual event showcases nearly every dog breed and is the perfect way to find out which dog breed would be right for you.

Kennel Club Find a Breed service
The Kennel Club understands that finding your perfect companion isn’t always easy. So we’ve developed the Find a Breed service with our Breed Information Centre to help you. Simply click on the button on the left and answer all the questions. You can click ‘get results’ at any point, but your selection will be more accurate if you answer all the questions.

N.B The Kennel Club, makes no warranty as to whether any of the breeds you select via Find a Breed are suitable for you. The Find a Breed application is only intended as a basic guide to help you choose a breed to fit your lifestyle and we would strongly recommend that you contact the relevant Breed Clubs to find out more about your chosen breed (s) prior to purchasing a new pedigree puppy.

Kennel Club Puppy Buying Guide - Episode 2 Choosing the right breed

This film, the second of three, runs through the different types of dog breed so that you can be sure that you are getting a dog that fits with your lifestyle.

Produced by dogsclub.tv – Britain’s first online TV channel dedicated to dogs.

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Choosing the right dog 

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