The Field Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, slightly longer than they are tall and with a gentle, noble expression. The coat is medium/long, glossy and thick with ample feathering on the chest, stomach and back of the legs.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys vigorous walks
• Enjoys walking more than two hours a day
• Medium dog
• Some 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

The tallest and possibly the most striking looking of all the spaniels, the Irish Water Spaniel has an unusual luxuriant curly coat that comes in a rich dark liver shade with almost a hint of purple to it. A smart, compact dog, they are strong, tall and athletic.

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
• Medium dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Not a guard dog
• May require training to live with other pets
• Great family dog

Heavily built and sturdy on rather short strong legs, the Sussex Spaniel has a short, abundant coat in a rich golden liver, shading to gold at the hair tips. Their broad head and somewhat serious, quizzical expression make them an attractive companion.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys vigorous walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Medium dog
• Some 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

The Welsh Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized gundog, built for endurance and hard work in all weathers. Shorter in the leg than some spaniel types, the Welsh Springer is a little more compact and moderate, with shorter ears and less feathering to ears, legs, body and tail. The coat is silky, flat and glossy, with rich red markings against a white background.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys vigorous walks
• Enjoys walking more than two hours a day
• Medium dog
• Some 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 robust, medium-sized dog, the Spanish Water Dog has a curly, woolly coat that can be corded when long, or kept clipped short. They are strong and muscular and as their name suggests, love getting wet and are well suited to swimming and retrieving from water.

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
• Medium dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Not a guard dog
• May require training to live with other pets
• Great family dog

The St. Bernard is a true giant of the dog world, and everybody recognises this legendary life-saving dog with his massive jowled head, gentle eyes, and short thick orange and white coat. These are muscular dogs with powerful, imposing heads, and are capable of covering very rough ground with unhurried, smooth movements.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Giant dog
• Heavy drool
• Requires grooming daily
• 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

A muscular, smooth-coated dog, the ever-popular Staffordshire Bull Terrier combines both 'bull' and 'terrier' in his physical appearance and gives the impression of strength and agility.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Medium 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

Medium-sized and with the typical spitz characteristics of thick plush coat, curly tail and prick ears, the Swedish Lapphund is an intelligent and attractive dog. Coats come in bear-brown, black, brown or black and brown. Slightly longer than they are tall, the Swedish Lapphund is rectangular in outline.

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
• Minimum 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

The Swedish Vallhund is a short legged sturdy dog of the spitz type. Slightly longer than they are tall, they have an attractive, intelligent face crowned with strong pricked ears, and a thickly furred tail that curls tightly over the back. Their short, thick coat comes in steel-grey, grey-brown, grey-yellow, red-brown and red-yellow and is shaded across the body being darker on the shoulders and back, lighter on the muzzle and underneath the dog. Small white markings are sometimes seen but they should never be more than one-third the total colour of the dog.

The need-to-know

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

A giant dog, slightly longer than he is tall, the Tibetan Mastiff dog is a powerful, muscular breed that is athletic and agile, with a dignified composure. The dense coat is quite long and there is a 'mane' around the neck and shoulders, which is more obvious in male dogs. The coat comes in a range of colours and markings.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Giant dog
• Heavy drool
• Requires grooming daily
• 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 Tibetan Spaniel is an attractive little dog, slightly longer than they are tall and with a silky, medium length coat that forms feathering on the ears, legs and tail. Males may have a thicker coat and mane around the neck and shoulders.

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
• Some drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• Great with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

An attractive, small/medium-sized dog, the Tibetan Terrier has a long, straight or wavy coat that comes in any colour except chocolate/liver. Square-shaped and sturdy, adult dogs stand at 36-41cm, and females are slightly smaller. The weight range is 8-14kg.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• Great family dog