Dog

  Dogs   Dog Breeds   Basenji Share  Recommended for:   Couples and singles Maintenance Level:   Low Lifespan:   10-12 years Temperament: Independent, smart, loving, yodelling Health Risk: This breed has an around average probability of having health issues in its lifetime, hence it is one of the more affordable breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overview The Basenji is a hound dog and belongs to the smaller dog group. They are short-haired dogs with long, pointy ears. An interesting fact about the Basenji is that they find it hard to bark, so they can turn to yodelling instead! Basenji’s come in rich chestnut red, black, tricolour, or brindle. No matter which colour they come in, their feet, chest, and tail tips are a...

Recommended for:   Singles, families Maintenance Level:   Medium Lifespan:   11-12 years Temperament: Independent, social Health Risk: High probability of health issues during its lifetime, hence it is one of the more expensive breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overview The Basset Hound is a medium-sized domesticated dog with short, muscular legs and a pair of long drooping ears. Basset Hounds are very long in the body. In fact, they are longer than they are tall and their legs have the thickest bones of any dog of this size. The Basset Hound is related to the Bloodhound.  They are equipped with a short and smooth coat, with rolling loose skin and big floppy ears. Basset Hounds have been around for many years with mentions of the breed st...

Recommended for:   Families with older children Maintenance Level:   High Lifespan:   11-12 years Temperament: Loyal, active Health Risk: This breed has an around average probability of having health issues in its lifetime, hence it is one of the more affordable breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overview Blue Heelers and Red Heelers are also known as Australian Cattle dogs.  These sturdy medium sized dogs have been used as working dogs on farms and cattle stations.  While the use of working cattle dogs has somewhat waned over the years, they are nevertheless known for their loyalty and ruggedness.  They have in some ways become a symbol of the Australian outback. They come in a variety of colours but there are four base colours ...

Recommended for:   Active People Maintenance Level:   High Lifespan:   11-15 years Temperament: Intelligent, very active Health Risk: This breed has an around average probability of having health issues in its lifetime, hence it is one of the more affordable breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overview The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog originally bred for droving and mustering livestock. They are skilled and intelligent dogs with a rich history in Australia. Australian Kelpies have compact bodies with a broad chest, muscular lower body, and a medium-length, low-set tail. Kelpies have a double coat made up of a short, dense undercoat covered by a hard, straight, weather-resistant overcoat. They come in a few different colours and patterns, the ...

Australian Shepherd Recommended for:   Families Maintenance Level:   Medium Lifespan:   13-15 years Temperament: Active, intelligent Health Risk: In the lower risk category for developing health issues, hence one of the most affordable breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overviewa The Australian Shepherd (also known as the Aussie) is loveable medium sized working dog with a huge amount of energy and drive. While this dog is known as the Aussie it actually hails from the United States where it is used as a working dog.  The Aussie has a coat that is straight to slightly wavy and they also have a naturally bobbed tail.  They do tend to shed a fair bit so regular brushing is recommended especially when they shed heavily twice a year ...

Recommended for:   Families Maintenance Level:   Medium Lifespan:   12-15 years Temperament: Loyal, active Health Risk: This breed has an around average probability of having health issues in its lifetime, hence it is one of the more affordable breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overview The Australian Bulldog is essentially the English Bulldog, but bred for Australian conditions. Medium-sized and equipped with a muscular body and short coat, the Australian Bulldog encompasses all of the valued traits of the English Bulldog such as loyalty and its affectionate nature but cancels out some of the physical characteristics that has made bulldogs ill-suited to Australia’s climate. The modern Australian Bulldog was developed by Pip Nobes in Queensland in the e...

Recommended for:   Families Maintenance Level:   Medium Lifespan:   10-12 years Temperament: Intelligent, social Health Risk: This breed has an around average probability of having health issues in its lifetime, hence it is one of the more affordable breeds to insure. Learn More Overview Temperament Diseases & Conditions History Facts Is this breed right for you? Try our  breed selector quiz  to find out your best matching breed! Breed Overview The American Staffy, American Staffordshire Terrier or  Amstaff  is a very muscular and energetic medium-sized breed of domesticated dog with a short silky coat and a highly loyal and courageous temperament. Confident, outgoing, solid and very strong for its size, the American Staffy is a popular pet for the family who likes to include their pets in their daily activities. The breed is highly energetic and enjoys regular exercise. Although to some...

Free Dogs Trust Community Event Our 5 regional teams visit areas within London, Wales, Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland to offer FREE health checks, FREE microchipping and advice on responsible dog ownership as a part of our Community Events programme. At our Community Events, a veterinary nurse will carry out a basic health check, which includes checking eyes, ears, teeth and weight, to make sure your dog is happy, fit and healthy. Alongside the health check, our team will provide advice on diet, training and neutering. Each owner will be provided with a responsible dog ownership pack, including handy tips and useful resources for you to continue to use at home. The team offer free on-the-spot microchipping for dogs that aren’t yet chipped (microchipping is a legal requirement as of April 2016). We can also advise you about  changing your microchip details  should it be needed. You should always make sure you  update your dog’s details  on t...

For years, Dogs Trust have been taking in stray or unlucky dogs and training and caring for them until we can find them new forever homes. To do that, we’ve had to help thousands of dogs overcome training and behaviour problems. We’ve learned that it’s the relationship between dog and owner that’s key, and our expertise is in building better relationships; happy families. Now we’re using our experience and expertise to do even more – helping everyone from first-time owners to passionate doggy people build stronger, healthier and happier relationships with their dogs. We hope that in helping to turn owners and their dogs into happy families earlier, Dogs Trust won’t need to pick up the pieces later when the relationships break down. With a range of courses and consultations on offer, it doesn’t matter whether you bring your puppy Pomeranian or senior Staffie – our professional trainers and coaches are here to help, so you can be sure you’re in the right hands. Built on learn...

Dog training and behaviour Behaviour Understanding and appreciating the behaviour of dogs underlies everything we do at Dogs Trust. As every dog lover knows, each dog is a unique individual, with their own quirks, delights and challenges! Behaviours develop through a combination of multiple elements including breed, individual personality, medical issues and prior experiences. So understanding why an individual dog develops a problem behaviour can be like a detective mystery - identifying all the different elements which tell his or her story.  In our rehoming centres we are committed to caring for and rehabilitating dogs which have behaviour problems. And in Dogs Trust Dog School our mission is to work with owners to prevent problems developing in the first place! Training Pet dogs don't need to be obedience champions, dance to music or speed round an agility course. Of course these activities can be great fun and something to aspire to, but most owners need the...

Summer weather advice Read our six steps to have a safe summer with your dog and what to do if your dog overheats. Dog dental hygiene It is important to look after your dog's teeth. Although they are not prone to cavities like humans, they can still develop problems like tartar, plaque buildup and gingivitis. Find out how. How to have a happy vet visit Visiting the vet is a fact of life for most dog owners, and while some of our four-legged friends may not enjoy it, it certainly doesn't have to be a traumatic trip. Read our guide on how to have a happy vet visit. How to find a good dog walker At times, your schedule may not give you the time you need to exercise your dog, so you may be thinking about using professional dog walking services. Our advice will help you to find a good dog walker so you can ensure your dog is in safe hands. Winter Weather Advice With temperatures dropping and wintry weather on the way, our four-legged friends need to be rea...