Honest breed profiles for real dog owners
Honest
Every profile covers the good and the bad. Health risks, common complaints, rescue/return reasons — not just the highlights.
Research-backed
Health statistics from OFA, breed club surveys, and published veterinary studies. Every claim has a source.
For all dogs
Purebreds, designer mixes, and common mixes. Not every dog has a breed standard — but every dog has owners who need good information.
Breed Profiles
Health data, breeding tips, and honest guidance for 109 breeds.
Afghan Hound
Elegant ancient sighthound with moderate to large litters and hip, eye, and thyroid screening for responsible breeding.
Airedale Terrier
Largest terrier breed with moderate litters and hip, cardiac, and renal screening priorities for breeders.
Akita
Powerful Japanese guardian breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, and thyroid evaluations for responsible breeding.
Alaskan Malamute
Powerful northern sled breed with moderate to large litters and hip, eye, and polyneuropathy screening priorities.
American Bulldog
Athletic working bulldog with large litters and NCL, hip, elbow, and cardiac screening for responsible breeding.
American Eskimo Dog
Bright spitz breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, patella, and PRA screening for responsible breeding programs.
American Pit Bull Terrier
Athletic medium breed with moderate to large litters and important cardiac, hip, and temperament screening.
Anatolian Shepherd
Ancient livestock guardian with moderate to large litters and hip, elbow, and entropion screening for responsible breeding.
Aussiedoodle
Australian Shepherd-Poodle cross with moderate litters and MDR1, hip, and eye testing from both parent lines.
Australian Cattle Dog
Tough herding breed with moderate litters and important PRA, deafness, and hip screening for breeding programs.
Australian Shepherd
Popular herding breed with moderate to large litters and critical MDR1, HSF4, and hip screening for responsible breeding.
Basenji
Ancient breed with a single annual heat cycle, small litters, and Fanconi syndrome as a critical health screening priority.
Basset Hound
Low-set scent hound with moderate to large litters and thrombopathia, hip, and eye screening needs for breeders.
Beagle
Popular scent hound with moderate litters and MLS, hip, eye, and cardiac evaluations for responsible breeding.
Belgian Malinois
Elite working breed with large litters and hip, elbow, and eye evaluations alongside temperament assessment for breeding.
Belgian Tervuren
Versatile herding breed with large litters and hip, elbow, eye, and thyroid evaluations as breeding clearance standards.
Bernedoodle
Bernese Mountain Dog-Poodle cross with moderate to large litters and full health testing from both parent breeds.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Beloved draft breed with moderate litters and significant cancer concerns that make longevity tracking especially important.
Bichon Frise
Small companion breed with moderate litter sizes and breed-specific concerns including patella luxation and bladder stones.
Bloodhound
Giant scent hound with large litters and hip, elbow, cardiac, and bloat awareness as breeding program priorities.
Border Collie
Premier herding breed with moderate litters and CEA, TNS, and hip screening as breeding program essentials.
Boston Terrier
Compact brachycephalic breed where pregnancy progression, delivery planning, and early puppy growth benefit from consistent monitoring and record-keeping.
Boxer
Energetic brachycephalic working breed with moderate litters and critical cardiac screening including AS/SAS and ARVC.
Brittany
Athletic pointing breed with moderate litters and hip, thyroid, and eye evaluations as standard breeding clearances.
Brussels Griffon
Small brachycephalic breed with very small litters and a high C-section rate due to puppy head size.
Bull Terrier
Distinctive medium breed with moderate litters and critical screening for kidney disease, heart conditions, and deafness.
Bullmastiff
Powerful guardian breed with moderate litters and hip, elbow, cardiac, and eye screenings as breeding priorities.
Cairn Terrier
Hardy small terrier with moderate litters and breed-specific concerns including GCL and liver shunts.
Cane Corso
Most-Googled breed in the US with rising popularity. DCM cardiac screening and temperament evaluation are critical for this guardian breed.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Older of the two corgi breeds with moderate litters and PRA and DM DNA testing alongside standard hip clearances.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Beloved companion breed with significant cardiac concerns — MVD screening is essential before any breeding decision.
Cavapoo
Cavalier-Poodle cross with small to moderate litters and critical MVD cardiac screening from the Cavalier side.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Powerful sporting breed with large litters and breed-specific DM, EIC, and PRA testing alongside standard hip and elbow clearances.
Chihuahua
One of the smallest dog breeds, Chihuahuas require careful attention during pregnancy, delivery, and early puppy growth.
Chinese Crested
Unique toy breed with hairless and powderpuff varieties, small litters, and specific genetic considerations for breeders.
Chow Chow
Ancient Chinese breed with moderate litters and hip, elbow, eye, and thyroid evaluations for breeding decisions.
Cockapoo
Cocker Spaniel-Poodle cross with moderate litters and important PRA, hip, and eye testing from both parent lines.
Cocker Spaniel
Popular sporting breed with moderate litters and breed-specific eye, ear, and hip concerns for responsible breeders.
Dalmatian
Spotted coach dog with large litters and critical BAER hearing testing alongside hip and urinary screening needs.
Doberman Pinscher
Athletic working breed with moderate to large litters and DCM cardiac screening as the breed-defining health priority.
Dogo Argentino
Powerful Argentine hunting breed with large litters and critical deafness BAER testing alongside hip and cardiac screening.
English Bulldog
Brachycephalic breed with the highest C-section rate of any breed — over 80% of litters are delivered surgically.
English Cocker Spaniel
Athletic sporting breed with moderate litters and important health testing for PRA, FN, and hip evaluation.
English Mastiff
Massive guardian breed with moderate litters and critical hip, elbow, cardiac, and eye evaluations for breeding decisions.
English Setter
Elegant sporting breed with moderate litters and breed-specific deafness screening alongside standard hip and elbow clearances.
English Springer Spaniel
Versatile sporting breed with moderate litters and important PFK, PRA, and hip screening for responsible breeding programs.
Flat-Coated Retriever
Exuberant sporting breed with large litters and elevated cancer risk that makes longevity tracking especially important.
French Bulldog
Brachycephalic breed with narrow safety margins during pregnancy and early growth.
German Shepherd
Top working breed with a complex health profile. Hip dysplasia screening and DM DNA testing are essential for responsible breeding programs.
German Shorthaired Pointer
Versatile large sporting breed with large litters and hip, elbow, eye, and cardiac evaluations as breeding priorities.
German Wirehaired Pointer
Rugged versatile sporting breed with moderate to large litters and hip, elbow, eye, and cardiac screening requirements.
Giant Schnauzer
Powerful working breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, thyroid, and coagulation factor testing needs for breeders.
Golden Retriever
America's most popular family breed with large litters and thorough OFA health testing requirements including hips, elbows, cardiac, and eyes.
Goldendoodle
Popular Golden Retriever-Poodle cross with variable litters — both parent breeds need full health testing before breeding.
Gordon Setter
Scotland's sporting setter with moderate litters and important hip, elbow, eye, and thyroid evaluations for breeders.
Great Dane
Gentle giant with large litters and breed-specific DCM cardiac screening, hip evaluation, and bloat awareness for breeders.
Great Pyrenees
Livestock guardian breed with moderate to large litters and hip, patella, and neurological condition screening needs.
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Large Swiss working breed with moderate litters and hip, elbow, eye, and splenic health monitoring needs for breeders.
Greyhound
Fastest dog breed with moderate to large litters and unique physiology including naturally elevated creatinine levels.
Havanese
Cuba's national breed with small litters and a growing gene pool that benefits from careful health testing and diversity tracking.
Irish Setter
Elegant large sporting breed with large litters and breed-specific PRA-rcd1 DNA testing alongside standard clearances.
Irish Wolfhound
Tallest dog breed with moderate to large litters and critical cardiac, liver shunt, and bone cancer screening needs.
Italian Greyhound
Fragile toy sighthound with small litters and puppies that need careful temperature management and weight monitoring.
Jack Russell Terrier
Energetic small terrier with moderate litters and breed-specific lens luxation and patella screening needs.
Japanese Chin
Delicate toy breed with small litters and puppies that require attentive monitoring through the first critical weeks.
Keeshond
Fluffy spitz breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, patella, and primary hyperparathyroidism screening needs.
Labradoodle
Labrador-Poodle cross with moderate to large litters and full health testing requirements from both parent breeds.
Labrador Retriever
Largest active breeder population in the US with field and show type differences. Requires EIC and CNM DNA testing alongside standard clearances.
Leonberger
Massive draft breed with moderate litters and critical LPN (Leonberger Polyneuropathy) DNA testing for breeding decisions.
Lhasa Apso
Ancient Tibetan breed with moderate litter sizes and breed-specific eye and kidney health concerns for breeders.
Maltese
Very small toy breed where pregnancy, delivery, and early puppy growth benefit from close monitoring and careful record-keeping.
Miniature Dachshund
Small breed with variable litter sizes and frequent singleton pregnancies, where pregnancy progression and newborn weight trends benefit from careful tracking.
Miniature Poodle
Versatile small breed with moderate litter sizes and breed-specific health testing for eyes, hips, and genetic conditions.
Miniature Schnauzer
Popular small breed with moderate litters and breed-specific concerns including eye conditions and pancreatitis predisposition.
Newfoundland
Gentle giant water dog with moderate to large litters and cystinuria, cardiac, and hip screening priorities.
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Medium sporting breed with moderate litters and a small gene pool requiring careful diversity management and CDDY/CDPA screening.
Old English Sheepdog
Large herding breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, thyroid, and cardiac screening needs for responsible breeding.
Papillon
Delicate toy breed with very small puppies where precise gram-level weight tracking is essential from birth.
Pekingese
Brachycephalic toy breed with frequent C-sections and very small puppies that need careful weight tracking.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Popular dwarf herding breed with moderate litters and DM, vWD, and hip screening requirements for responsible breeding.
Plott Hound
North Carolina's state dog with moderate to large litters and hip evaluation as the primary breeding clearance.
Pomeranian
Toy spitz breed where small body size and limited energy reserves make consistent pregnancy and newborn weight tracking especially important.
Portuguese Water Dog
Athletic water breed with moderate litters and GM1, JDCM, and PRA DNA testing alongside hip and eye clearances.
Pug
Brachycephalic breed with compact body structure and reduced tolerance for heat and respiratory strain during pregnancy and early growth.
Rat Terrier
Versatile American breed with variable size and litter ranges, requiring hip and patella evaluation before breeding.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Athletic hound with moderate to large litters and dermoid sinus, hip, elbow, and thyroid screening requirements.
Rottweiler
Powerful working breed with large litters and critical hip, elbow, cardiac, and eye evaluations for responsible breeding.
Rough Collie
Iconic herding breed with large litters and CEA, PRA, MDR1, and DM screening as breeding program priorities.
Saint Bernard
Giant rescue breed with moderate to large litters and hip, elbow, cardiac, and eye evaluations as breeding essentials.
Samoyed
Fluffy northern breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, and cardiac evaluations alongside RD/OSD DNA testing.
Scottish Terrier
Independent small terrier with moderate litters and elevated risk for bladder cancer and von Willebrand disease.
Shar-Pei
Wrinkled Chinese breed with moderate litters and Shar-Pei fever, hip, elbow, eye, and patella screening priorities.
Shetland Sheepdog
Small herding breed with moderate litters and MDR1, CEA, and hip screening priorities for responsible breeders.
Shiba Inu
Japan's most popular companion breed with small litters and breed-specific patella and allergy concerns.
Shih Tzu
Small brachycephalic breed where pregnancy, delivery, and early puppy growth benefit from careful monitoring and accurate record-keeping.
Siberian Husky
Athletic northern breed with moderate litters and hip and eye evaluations as the core breeding clearance requirements.
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Medium terrier breed with critical PLN and PLE screening — protein-losing conditions define breeding decisions.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Muscular medium breed with moderate litters and breed-specific L-2-HGA and HC DNA testing requirements.
Standard Dachshund
Low-set breed with moderate litter sizes and IVDD as the defining health concern for breeding decisions.
Standard Poodle
Foundation breed for most doodle crosses with unique health concerns including vWD, Neonatal Encephalopathy, and Sebaceous Adenitis.
Standard Schnauzer
Versatile medium breed with moderate litters and hip, eye, and DCM cardiac evaluations for breeding decisions.
Tibetan Mastiff
Primitive guardian breed with a single annual heat cycle, moderate litters, and hip and thyroid screening priorities.
Toy Poodle
Tiny, intelligent breed with very small litters and puppies that need precise weight monitoring from birth.
Treeing Walker Coonhound
Athletic American hound with moderate to large litters and hip and eye evaluations as core breeding clearances.
Vizsla
Lean, athletic sporting breed with moderate to large litters and breed-specific hip, eye, and thyroid screening needs.
Weimaraner
Large sporting breed with moderate litters and important hip, elbow, eye, and thyroid evaluations before breeding.
West Highland White Terrier
Hardy small terrier with moderate litters and breed-specific skin conditions and Legg-Calve-Perthes concerns.
Whippet
Medium sighthound with moderate litters and eye and cardiac evaluations alongside BFJE Myostatin testing.
Yorkshire Terrier
Toy breed with very small puppies and limited reserves, where subtle changes in pregnancy and early growth trends matter quickly.
Recommended Breeding Tools
Free tools that pair with these breed guides.
Animal Weight Tracker
Track daily puppy weights and view a side-by-side litter growth chart.
Whelping Date Calculator
Estimate your due window from the date of breeding.
Breeding Window Calculator
Find the optimal breeding window using progesterone timing.
Heat Cycle Tracker
Log heat cycles and estimate the next breeding window.
Stud Fee Calculator
Estimate appropriate stud fees based on breeding factors.
Related Learning Resources
Breed & Breeding FAQs
1What makes small breeds different to whelp?
Small and brachycephalic breeds often have narrower birth canals relative to puppy size, smaller energy reserves, and less room for error during labor and the newborn period. Close monitoring, accurate weight records, and an established vet relationship are especially important for these breeds.
2How often should I weigh newborn puppies?
Most experienced breeders weigh puppies 2–3 times per day for the first two weeks. This makes it easy to spot a puppy that isn't gaining — or is actively losing weight — which is the earliest warning sign of a fading pup.
3Do brachycephalic breeds always need C-sections?
Not always, but many brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers, Shih Tzus) have a higher rate of C-sections due to head and shoulder size relative to the dam's birth canal. Your vet can advise based on the individual dog's anatomy and prior whelping history.
4What tools does BreedTools offer for breeders?
The Animal Weight Tracker is the core tool — it tracks multiple puppies in a litter simultaneously, shows a comparison growth chart, and lets you log notes. The Whelping Date Calculator and Gestation Calculator help you plan ahead. All tools are free and completely private — data stays in your browser.
5Do large and giant breeds need the same monitoring as small breeds?
Yes — while the specific concerns differ, all breeds benefit from consistent weight tracking, health testing, and careful pregnancy monitoring. Large breeds have unique challenges like extended growth timelines, bloat risk, and breed-specific genetic conditions.