The medium-sized, elegant Irish Terrier has a wire coat that comes in red, red/wheaten or yellow/red shades. The Irish Terrier is an affectionate dog that loves attention and can be a bit strong-willed at times. But they make lovely, playful companions that get along great with kids.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a dayMedium dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• 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 largest of all dog breeds, the minimum height for an adult male Irish Wolfhound dog breed is 79cm and for the female 71cm. An average height is 81-86cm for the breed, with adult dogs weighing a minimum of 54.5kg and adult females 40.9kg. Although he's huge, he is graceful and athletic. The rough, medium-length coat comes in grey, brindle, red, black, white, fawn, wheaten and steel-grey.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some 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
• Not a guard dog
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

This is an elegant and slender dog, looking like a standard Greyhound but in miniature. The coat is smooth and glossy and can come in a variety of shades. The head is narrow with a very fine muzzle and ears are softly folded and set high on the head. The spine slopes gently and there is a defined tuck-up in the loins. The gait is high stepping and free.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Basic training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Little toy 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

Large, shaggy and friendly, the Italian Spinone is a solid and robust member of the Gundog group. They come in a white coat of medium length, that’s coarse and dense. The Spinone has an attractive, characterful face with expressive eyebrows and a dense beard and moustache.

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
• Quiet dog
• Not a guard dog
• May require training to live with other pets
• Great family dog

Japanese Akita dogs are large, powerful dogs with much substance and dignity. Their proud head carriage and stance are enhanced by their small ears and dark eyes. They make a striking picture with their thick, plush coats.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Large dog
• Heavy drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Quiet 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 Japanese Chin is an elegant, aristocratic, and compact little dog with a profuse coat. As a short-faced breed, they should have large eyes and open nostrils giving an appealing if slightly astonished-looking expression. The soft, silky coat is long and straight.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Little toy dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Quiet dog
• Not a guard dog
• Great with other pets
• Great family dog

The Shiba Inu is a sturdy, medium-sized, Spitz-type dog (i.e. he has prick ears, a thick coat, and a curled tail). A smaller version of the Akita, the adult male stands at around 39.5cm and adult females at 36.5cm. The thick, soft undercoat is covered in a hard, straight topcoat that comes in red, red sesame (red with black guard hair), black and tan, or white.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking 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
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Japanese Spitz is an attractive small to medium-sized dog, very typical of the spitz type with a foxy face, pricked ears, and tail held curled up over the back. Their plush, stand off coat is pure white, and the contrast between the white of the coat and their dark pigmented eyes and nose lend an attractive expression of laughter and merriment.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small 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 pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Keeshond is typical of the spitz type, with a foxy face, prick ears, thick stand-off coat and a plumed tail that curls over the back. The coat forms a huge and spectacular ruff around the neck and chest. This is a medium-sized dog, under the plush coat they are a lean, muscular, and sturdy dog.

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
• Some 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

Short-coupled, compact and muscular, the Kerry Blue Terrier is a strong, medium-sized dog, although one of the larger terriers. The coat has a soft, silky texture, profuse and wavy, and comes in a blue-grey colour, with or without black points. This colour fades over time with puppies being born black and fading out to blue-grey as they mature.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walksEnjoys walking an hour a day
• Medium dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• 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 noble-looking, compact dog, the King Charles Spaniel has a short, sturdy build and a long, silky coat that is straight or slightly waved. The coat comes in black and tan; tricolour (black, white and tan); Blenheim (white with red); and ruby. Adult King Charles Spaniels stand at approximately 30-33cm and weigh 3.6-6.3kg.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum 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 Komondor is a large, powerful dog with an extremely distinctive white coat that is allowed to mat, patiently split by hand and formed into long cords.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Large dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• 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