Dog Categories

The Basset Hound is perhaps best known for his long drooping ears, short stumpy legs and long body. He is part of the Hound Dog group and originally bred to track and hunt small animals. His excellent sense of smell is beaten only by the Blood Hound.

These days the Basset Hound is most often found presiding over his favourite couch in the living room as this dog makes an incredibly friendly and family orientated pet. They are affectionate and loving but have a determination and stubbornness that must be controlled by a firm but gentle owner.

General Basset Hound Information:

The Basset Hound is an affectionate, loyal breed who as a pack animal will settle into family life with ease. They are however not for the faint hearted as this dog has a mind of its own and [read more]

The Portuguese Water Dog breed has certainly had its profile raised since the US President Barack Obama’s family chose to adopt Bo, pictured below. Bo is probably the most famous puppy alive at the time of writing and even Bo’s father, stud dog Watson, has received a lot of attention. Portuguese Water Dog puppies are adorable, as can be seen from the picture on the right courtesy of SeattlePI.com, but before anyone rushes out to buy their own Portie as the breed is affectionately known or PWD for short, it is important to know a bit more about the Portuguese Water Dog breed in general.

The Portuguese Water Dog is a fun loving dog and unsurprisingly from his name, a real water lover. They are generally great with families and children and ideal for active people who want an affectionate yet adventurous companion. This is certainly not a dog for couch potatoes.

This dog breed is very intelligent and responsive, so an owner needs to be calm and show consistent authority.

Typical Portuguese Water Dog
Height: 20 – 23 inches for males; 17 – 21 inches for females
Weight: 40 – 60 lbs for males (18 – 27 kg); 35 – 50 lbs for females (16 – 23 kg)
Average Litter Size: Around 5 – 7 puppies
Life Expectancy: 10 – 14 years; they mature well and generally remain active into their senior years
Good with Children: Yes if properly trained and kept active (see below)
Kennel Club Classification: Gundog Group [read more]

The Maltese dog breed (pronounced Mall-teez) is a lively, intelligent and playful breed.  It is not as common in the UK as other long haired breeds, such as the shih tzu or the llasa apso, but nonetheless, has grown in popularity since its first introduction to the UK.

It is said that nobody ever ‘owns’ a Maltese, but rather this regal little dog owns the owner.  Its pure white coat, when grown to its fullest, adds to its glamorous appearance but even when cut short this little dog retains its regality.

When purchasing a Maltese, it is not uncommon to see breeder’s advertisements stating ‘tiny’ or ‘toy Maltese’, ‘miniature Maltese’ or other such names that may imply a smaller and cuter Maltese but these should be ignored.  Like any other breed, there are smaller and larger forms of the breed but they are no different to any other Maltese in any way.

Typical Maltese
Height: 8 – 10 inches
Weight: 6.5 – 9 lbs (3-4 kg)
Average Litter Size: Around 3 – 5 puppies
Life Expectancy: 11 – 14 years, has been known to live as long as 18 years
Good with Children: Yes if handled with care (see below)
Kennel Club Classification: Toy Group [read more]

At the time of writing, the Shih Tzu (pronounced shi-zoo), is one of the most popular family dogs in the UK. It is also referred to as the chrysanthemum dog, because of the shape formed around the nose and mouth when the fur first starts to grow, which resembles the flower. The plural of ‘shih tzu’ is also ‘shih tzu’.

General Shih Tzu Information:
This dog breed is generally good natured, non aggressive and just loves being with its owners. They are very cuddly and fluffy, and they are known as non-shedding, so are often suitable for those who suffer from pet allergies. Actually, the shih tzu is not completely non-shedding – see the below Grooming section for more detail.

Typical Shih Tzu

Height: 9 – 11 inches
Weight: 7 – 8 lbs
Average Litter Size: Around 3 – 5 puppies
Life Expectancy: 12 – 14 years, although known to live up to 18 years
Good with Children: Yes
Kennel Club Classification: Utility Group [read more]