Part II-I — European regional breeds (19)

Appenzeller Sennenhund

Origin and purpose

Working (FCI). Origin: Switzerland.

One of the four Swiss mountain dog breeds.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Alert, active, herding/watchdog breed.

Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (Routine) — genetic retinal degeneration.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Progressive retinal atrophy — Ophthalmologist eye examination, plus DNA test where one exists for the breed

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Beauceron

Origin and purpose

Herding (AKC). Origin: France.

One of the oldest French breeds.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Confident, biddable, protective; French herding breed.

A guarding breed: it is naturally suspicious of strangers, and that is what it was bred for. Early, broad, positive socialisation — many people, many places, many situations, before sixteen weeks — is not optional for this breed; it is the difference between a discriminating guardian and a dangerous liability. A guarding dog that has not been socialised is a problem you have created, not a temperament you have discovered.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') (EMERGENCY) — stomach twists on itself.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') — No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds
• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)

Feeding

Slow, controlled growth is essential — giant-breed puppies grow for eighteen months or more, and pushing that growth with over-feeding or calcium supplementation causes lasting orthopaedic damage. Use a diet formulated for large- or giant-breed growth and keep the puppy visibly lean. As an adult, two measured meals a day, never one large one. Feeding costs are substantial and should be budgeted before acquiring the dog.

This breed is deep-chested and at risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus (bloat), which kills quickly. Feed two or more smaller meals rather than one large one, avoid vigorous exercise for an hour either side of eating, and slow down a gulping eater. Learn the signs — a restless dog with a swelling belly, retching without bringing anything up — and treat them as an immediate emergency. Ask your vet whether a preventive gastropexy is appropriate at neutering.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: Very high.

This is a genuinely high-energy dog and the commonest reason such dogs are rehomed is that their owners underestimated this. It needs hard daily physical exercise AND a job to think about; a walk around the block is not exercise for this breed. An under-exercised dog of this type becomes destructive, noisy, and anxious — behaviour problems that are, correctly understood, an exercise deficit.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across climates; needs a committed handler..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 10–12 years. This dog is a senior from around 5–6 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Giant breeds age fast and live short lives, and this is the hardest fact about owning one. Senior screening should start early, orthopaedic support matters from middle age, and cardiac and bone cancer risks are real. Go in with your eyes open. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Belgian Laekenois

Origin and purpose

Herding (AKC). Origin: Belgium (Laken).

The rarest of the four Belgian shepherd varieties.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Alert, protective, wary of strangers.

A guarding breed: it is naturally suspicious of strangers, and that is what it was bred for. Early, broad, positive socialisation — many people, many places, many situations, before sixteen weeks — is not optional for this breed; it is the difference between a discriminating guardian and a dangerous liability. A guarding dog that has not been socialised is a problem you have created, not a temperament you have discovered.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Idiopathic epilepsy (URGENT) — seizure disorder with no identifiable cause.
• Elbow dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal elbow joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Elbow dysplasia — Radiographic elbow evaluation
• Idiopathic epilepsy — No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: Very high.

This is a genuinely high-energy dog and the commonest reason such dogs are rehomed is that their owners underestimated this. It needs hard daily physical exercise AND a job to think about; a walk around the block is not exercise for this breed. An under-exercised dog of this type becomes destructive, noisy, and anxious — behaviour problems that are, correctly understood, an exercise deficit.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 10–12 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Berger Blanc Suisse (White Swiss Shepherd)

Origin and purpose

Herding (FCI). Origin: Switzerland.

A white variant of the German Shepherd.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Friendly, biddable, family-oriented.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Degenerative myelopathy (URGENT) — progressive spinal-cord degeneration in senior large breeds (German Shepherd, Boxer).
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Degenerative myelopathy — SOD1 DNA test
• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Berger Picard

Origin and purpose

Herding (AKC). Origin: France (Picardy).

An ancient French herding breed; rare.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Lively, sensitive, biddable.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (Routine) — genetic retinal degeneration.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Progressive retinal atrophy — Ophthalmologist eye examination, plus DNA test where one exists for the breed

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Bracco Italiano

Origin and purpose

Sporting (AKC). Origin: Italy.

One of the oldest pointing breeds.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Gentle, biddable, family-friendly Italian pointer.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') (EMERGENCY) — stomach twists on itself.
• Entropion (Routine) — eyelid rolls inward.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Entropion — Eye examination
• Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV, 'bloat') — No screening test. Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet in deep-chested breeds
• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

This breed is deep-chested and at risk of gastric dilatation and volvulus (bloat), which kills quickly. Feed two or more smaller meals rather than one large one, avoid vigorous exercise for an hour either side of eating, and slow down a gulping eater. Learn the signs — a restless dog with a swelling belly, retching without bringing anything up — and treat them as an immediate emergency. Ask your vet whether a preventive gastropexy is appropriate at neutering.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Briard

Origin and purpose

Herding (AKC). Origin: France.

The Berger de Brie, a French herding breed.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Confident, protective, biddable; distinctive shaggy coat.

A guarding breed: it is naturally suspicious of strangers, and that is what it was bred for. Early, broad, positive socialisation — many people, many places, many situations, before sixteen weeks — is not optional for this breed; it is the difference between a discriminating guardian and a dangerous liability. A guarding dog that has not been socialised is a problem you have created, not a temperament you have discovered.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Hypothyroidism (Routine) — underactive thyroid.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Coat and grooming

Long, coarse, goat-like coat. Brush 3× weekly; it mats readily.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across climates, with grooming-intensive coat care in any environment..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 10–12 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Cirneco dell'Etna

Origin and purpose

Hound (AKC). Origin: Sicily (Mount Etna).

An ancient Sicilian sighthound.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Alert, active, affectionate.

Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

No breed-linked conditions are recorded for this breed. For landraces and village dogs this is often a genuine finding rather than a gap — a broad genetic base leaves them with markedly fewer inherited disorders than the closed-studbook breeds, and it is one of the strongest arguments for them. The routine risks that apply to every dog — parasites, tick-borne disease, heat — still apply here.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Excellent for hot, dry Mediterranean climates..

This breed is well adapted to hot climates — which is one of the strongest practical arguments for it. It still needs shade, unlimited fresh water, and walks outside the hottest hours, but it is not fighting its own biology to live here.

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Clumber Spaniel

Origin and purpose

Sporting (AKC). Origin: England.

The heaviest spaniel.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Steady, dignified, family-affectionate.

Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) (EMERGENCY) — disc herniation.
• Ectropion (Routine) — eyelid rolls outward.
• Entropion (Routine) — eyelid rolls inward.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) (Routine) — very common in drop-eared breeds (Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound) and warm, humid climates.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Ectropion — Eye examination
• Entropion — Eye examination
• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — DNA test for the chondrodystrophy variant; imaging if signs appear

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: Moderate.

Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.

Coat and grooming

Dense, straight, feathered coat. Brush 3× weekly.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable, though its heavy build calls for care in the heat..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 10–12 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Origin and purpose

Herding (AKC). Origin: Switzerland.

The smallest of the four Swiss mountain dogs.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Confident, biddable, family-oriented.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (Routine) — genetic retinal degeneration.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Progressive retinal atrophy — Ophthalmologist eye examination, plus DNA test where one exists for the breed

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 11–13 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Field Spaniel

Origin and purpose

Sporting (AKC). Origin: England.

A rare AKC-recognised breed.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Docile, sensitive, family-oriented.

Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Cataracts (Routine) — congenital or diabetic or senior.
• Ectropion (Routine) — eyelid rolls outward.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) (Routine) — very common in drop-eared breeds (Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound) and warm, humid climates.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Cataracts — Ophthalmologist eye examination
• Ectropion — Eye examination
• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: Moderate to high.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Coat and grooming

Long, silky, feathered coat. Brush 3× weekly.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Lagotto Romagnolo

Origin and purpose

Sporting (AKC). Origin: Italy (Romagna).

The world's only recognised truffle-hunting breed, with a hypoallergenic-adjacent coat.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Loyal, alert, biddable; renowned truffle hunter.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Idiopathic epilepsy (URGENT) — seizure disorder with no identifiable cause.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Idiopathic epilepsy — No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: Moderate to high.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Coat and grooming

Dense, woolly curls. Comb weekly; clip 2–3× a year. Low-shedding but mats readily.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across climates, with grooming-intensive coat care..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 14–17 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Large Munsterlander

Origin and purpose

Sporting (UKC). Origin: Germany.

The larger cousin of the Small Munsterlander.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Loyal, biddable, versatile hunter.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Osteosarcoma (URGENT) — bone cancer, aggressive.
• Cataracts (Routine) — congenital or diabetic or senior.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Cataracts — Ophthalmologist eye examination
• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Osteosarcoma — No screening test. Radiographs on any persistent limb lameness in a large breed

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Portuguese Podengo

Origin and purpose

Hound (AKC). Origin: Portugal; ancient.

Comes in three size varieties; an ancient rabbit-hunter.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Alert, lively, primitive Spitz-hound.

Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

No breed-linked conditions are recorded for this breed. For landraces and village dogs this is often a genuine finding rather than a gap — a broad genetic base leaves them with markedly fewer inherited disorders than the closed-studbook breeds, and it is one of the strongest arguments for them. The routine risks that apply to every dog — parasites, tick-borne disease, heat — still apply here.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Very well suited to hot, Mediterranean and warm climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–15 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Slovakian Rough-Haired Pointer

Origin and purpose

Sporting. Origin: Slovakia.

A rare continental hunting breed.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Biddable, energetic, family-friendly hunter.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) (Routine) — very common in drop-eared breeds (Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound) and warm, humid climates.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)

Feeding

Growth is the thing that matters. Large-breed puppies must be fed a diet formulated for large-breed growth and must NOT be overfed or supplemented with calcium — growing too fast is a direct route to the joint disease this size of dog is already prone to. A lean puppy is a healthy puppy. As an adult, two measured meals a day, and keep the dog lean for life: excess weight is the single biggest accelerator of hip and elbow disease and arthritis.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 7 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Large dogs age faster than small ones. Arthritis and cancer are the dominant concerns; do not dismiss a limp in an older large dog as 'just age' — bone cancer presents exactly that way. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Small Munsterlander

Origin and purpose

Sporting (UKC). Origin: Germany.

A continental hunting breed.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Biddable, versatile hunter, family-friendly.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Spanish Water Dog

Origin and purpose

Herding (AKC). Origin: Spain.

An Iberian water dog with a corded coat.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Biddable, energetic, multi-purpose; distinctive corded coat.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Hypothyroidism (Routine) — underactive thyroid.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (Routine) — genetic retinal degeneration.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel
• Progressive retinal atrophy — Ophthalmologist eye examination, plus DNA test where one exists for the breed

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across climates, with grooming-intensive corded-coat care..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–14 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Sussex Spaniel

Origin and purpose

Sporting (AKC). Origin: England (Sussex).

One of the rarest AKC breeds, with a global population under 1,000.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Cheerful, family-loyal, low-key; endangered breed.

Reward-based training from the day the puppy arrives, with the socialisation window (roughly three to sixteen weeks) treated as the priority it is — what happens in those weeks shapes the adult dog more than anything you do later. Short, frequent, positive sessions. See Parts IV and IX.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) (EMERGENCY) — disc herniation.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — DNA test for the chondrodystrophy variant; imaging if signs appear

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: Moderate.

Moderate daily exercise plus mental stimulation. Adaptable to apartment life provided the daily walk actually happens every day.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across climates with basic heat care..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 11–13 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).

Welsh Springer Spaniel

Origin and purpose

Sporting (AKC). Origin: Wales.

An older breed than the English Springer.

What a breed was built to do explains most of what it will do in your home. A dog selected for hundreds of years to run, guard, herd, or hunt does not stop wanting to because it now lives in an apartment — the drive is the breed, and the job of the owner is to give it somewhere to go.

Temperament and training

Stated temperament: Loyal, biddable, energetic.

This is a biddable breed that wants to work with you, which makes it forgiving of a novice's mistakes — but biddability is not the same as needing no training. Reward-based training, started early and kept short and frequent, is what these dogs thrive on. Punishment-based methods damage exactly the willingness that makes the breed easy.

Health — what this breed is predisposed to

Drawn from this breed's documented health issues and cross-referenced to Part III. A predisposition is not a prophecy — most dogs of any breed never develop these — but it is what you and your vet should be watching for.

• Idiopathic epilepsy (URGENT) — seizure disorder with no identifiable cause.
• Hip dysplasia (Routine) — abnormal hip joint development.
• Hypothyroidism (Routine) — underactive thyroid.
• Otitis externa (ear canal inflammation) (Routine) — very common in drop-eared breeds (Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound) and warm, humid climates.

Health screening — what to test, and when

Derived from the predispositions above. Take this list to your vet; it is a starting point for a conversation, not a prescription, and your vet may reasonably add to it or leave items out for your dog.

Every dog, every breed: an annual health examination (twice yearly from seven years), body-condition scoring at each visit, dental assessment, year-round parasite control, and the core vaccinations.

Vaccination is NOT breed-specific, and any source that claims a breed-specific vaccination schedule should be treated with suspicion. The core schedule — the puppy series and its boosters, and rabies above all — is the same for this dog as for every other, and is set out in Parts VI and IX. What IS specific to the dog is its exposure: a dog that swims, roams, or lives where monsoon flooding occurs has a different leptospirosis risk from an apartment dog, and a dog that boards or meets many other dogs has a different kennel-cough risk. Discuss the dog's actual life with your vet, not its breed.

For breeders — test before you mate

The heritable subset of the screening above. These are the tests a responsible breeder of this breed completes BEFORE a mating, and the results a buyer is entitled to ask to see. A breeder who cannot produce them is telling you something. See Part XII.

• Hip dysplasia — Radiographic hip evaluation (hip scoring)
• Hypothyroidism — Thyroid blood panel
• Idiopathic epilepsy — No screening test. Diagnosis is by exclusion, after blood work and imaging

Feeding

The most forgiving size to feed. A good-quality complete diet appropriate to the life stage, measured with a cup or scales rather than judged by eye, split into two meals a day. Weigh the food; guessing is how dogs get fat. Treats counted within the daily allowance, not added on top.

Exercise and enrichment

Stated requirement: High.

A high-energy dog needing substantial, committed daily exercise plus mental work. Do not take this breed on unless the daily commitment is realistic on your worst week, not your best one.

Climate and living conditions

Stated suitability: Moderately adaptable across a range of climates..

Ageing and senior care

Life expectancy: 12–15 years. This dog is a senior from around 8–9 years, at which point wellness examinations should move to twice a year and senior blood and urine screening begins. Watch for the gradual onset of arthritis, dental disease, and the endocrine conditions of middle age. See Part X.

Before you take one home

• Ask the breeder for the health-test results listed above — for BOTH parents, on paper, before you pay a deposit. A breeder who has done the tests will be proud to show you; one who deflects, or who tells you the tests are unnecessary in this line, is telling you what you need to know.
• Consider adoption. Shelters and rescues have dogs of every kind, including purebreds, and the local native or landrace dog is often healthier, better adapted to its climate, and more in need of a home than almost anything you can buy. See Part XII.

DRAFT — VET REVIEW PENDING. The predispositions, screening schedule, and breeder tests above are derived from this breed's recorded health issues; the feeding, exercise, climate, training, and ageing guidance is derived from its size, skull shape, coat, and temperament. Both are drafts until a veterinarian signs them off (Appendix A.3).