Temperament
Playful, Stubborn, Affectionate, Energetic.
Health problems to know about
- Deafness (especially in white dogs)
- Kidney disease (hereditary nephritis, polycystic kidney disease)
- Heart valve disease
- Patellar luxation
- Lethal acrodermatitis
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
An hour or more of exercise and play daily, with short, upbeat training sessions; this breed tunes out repetition. Weekly brushing and sun protection for white dogs. Check local breed rules and insurance terms.
A good fit for
Active owners with a sense of humour, families with older children, people around much of the day.
Probably not ideal for
Homes with small pets or other dominant dogs, people wanting an obedient dog, owners out all day.
Sources
Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.
