Large Munsterlanders (or 'Munsters') are well-proportioned dogs who carry themselves well. Their coats are flowing and dense with a good deal of feathering on the legs and tail. Their smaller relations are more setter-like, but in all other aspects, apart from colouration, are similar in appearance. Large Munsterlanders are either black or blue roan with white, while the smaller version is brown (liver) and white or liver roan. The Large Munsterlander adult dog stands at 60-65cm and weighs about 25-29kg, and females are 58-63cm and around 25kg. The adult Small Munsterlander stands at 54cm for adult males and 52cm for females, with weight around 15-17kg.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys vigorous walks
• Enjoys walking more than two hours a day
• Large dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• Great with other pets
• Great family dog

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a truly massive dog, well-built and powerful, and dressed in an oversized skin that forms the iconic loose folds of dewlap and lips the breed is famous for. The coat should be short, dense and hard in texture with a good sheen. Skin should be loose, but not excessively so.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Giant dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks, alerts and it's physically protective
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Newfoundland dog is best described as being a gentle giant. They are large and heavy in both bone and coat. As puppies they look like a cuddly teddy bear but this stage does not last long as they grow very quickly. They can be black, brown or white and black (Landseer) in colour. The average adult male is 71cm in height and 64-69kg in weight; adult females are 66cm and 50-54.5kg.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Giant dog
• Heavy drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Quiet dog
• Guard dog. Barks, alerts and it's physically protective
• Great with other pets
• Great family dog

The Norfolk Terrier is one of the smallest terriers and they have a wiry, hard, straight, weatherproof coat.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

A medium-sized spitz type (thick, double coat, prick ears and a tail curled over the back), the Norwegian Buhund dog has a light frame and a short, compact body. Adult males stand at 45cm in height, females slightly less, and they weigh approximately 14-18kg. The woolly undercoat is covered with a harsh, smooth topcoat that comes in wheaten, black, red or wolf sable.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Medium dog
• Heavy drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

A medium to large spitz dog (with a thick coat, prick ears and tail curled over the back), the Norwegian Elkhound dog is a powerful hound with a squarish shape and compact body. Adult male dogs stand at 52cm and weigh around 23kg and females are 49cm tall and weigh 20kg. The thick, profuse coat comes in shades of grey with the hair of the topcoat tipped black.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Medium dog
• Heavy drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Norwich Terrier, one of the smallest of the terriers, is bright, alert, and cheerful with sharply pricked ears and a hard, wiry, weather-proof coat. Their faces are described as fox-like, and despite their small size, they are a compact and tenacious little dogs.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

Old English Sheepdogs are distinctive the world over thanks to their appearance in advertising campaigns, with their long, shaggy coats covering thickset bodies. Their eyes appear to be totally covered but their vision is never impaired.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Large dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Otterhound is a large, rough-coated scent hound with drop ears and an attractive bearded face. They come in all the usual hound colours, and their rough, shaggy coat has an oily, water resistant quality to it to allow them to work in water and all weather. The long, strong tail is carried high when the hound is working and droops lower when relaxed or at rest.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Large dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Not a guard dog
• May require training to live with other pets
• Great family dog

A glamorous, delicate-looking dog, with ears that resemble a butterfly or a moth, the Papillon dog's coat is long and silky, and essentially white with patches of colour (see the breed standard for full details). The tricolour coat is white and black with specific tan markings. Adult dogs stand at 20-28cm and weigh 3-5kg.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• Great with other pets
• Great family dog

The Parson Russell Terrier is relatively small, active, and lively terrier. They have fairly long legs, which were ideal for keeping up with the horses; but their body is shaped to allow them to be able to get into small spaces. They are white or mainly white with tan, lemon, or black markings (normally seen on the head or tail). Adult males measure about 36cm and adult females 33cm. They weigh approximately 5-8kg.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Pharaoh Hound is a graceful and athletic, medium-sized, short-coated dog with an elegant, chiselled head and alert, erect ears.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Large dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Not a guard dog
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids