Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Family, home and community
  3. Animal welfare and pets
  4. Dogs

Finding the right dog breed for you

There are hundreds of different breeds of dogs. Each breed has its own particular behaviour and knowing about this will help you choose a dog that's right for you.

Examples of dog breed behaviour

Find examples of dog breed behaviour below to help you choose a dog that's right for you. Note that all dogs are individuals and there's no guarantee that a dog will behave like its breed.

Dog breed behaviour Choose the behaviour that's right for you
Adapts to living in a flat or apartment Some breeds are quiet and calm, while others with high-energy will not suit living in a small space.
Affectionate with family Some breeds bond closely with the family while others are independent and aloof.
Child-friendly Some breeds are gentle with children and cope well with lots of hugs while other breeds are quite snappy and aren’t child (or family) friendly.
Dog-friendly Some breeds may try to attack or dominate other breeds, while others prefer to play.
Energy levels Some breeds have lots of energy and need lots of exercise and mental stimulation - other breeds will prefer to doze for most of the day.
Exercise needs  Some breeds will be happy with a slow stroll, while others prefer more energetic exercise.
Prey drive Some breeds have an inborn need to chase and sometimes kill other animals - anything speeding by, for example cats, squirrels and even cars, can trigger that instinct.
  • Banned breeds of dogs in Northern Ireland

Other characteristics to think about

Consider the following points, before you get a dog:

Dog characteristics More dog characteristics 
amount of shedding/ casting of its hair potential for playfulness
drooling potential potential for weight gain
easy to groom potential to wander
easy to train sensitivity level
friendly towards strangers size
general health tendency to bark or howl
good for novice owners tolerates being alone
intelligence tolerates cold weather
intensity tolerates cold weather
potential for mouthiness (tendency to nip, chew and bite at play)  

More useful links

  • Buying and caring for a puppy
  • Welfare of dogs
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Dogs

  • Banned breeds of dogs in Northern Ireland
  • Behaviour patterns - what your dog needs
  • Buying a dog and responsible dog ownership
  • Controlling your dog in public
  • Council dog summary statistics
  • Dealing with dogs that worry livestock
  • Dog barking
  • Dog fouling
  • Dog licensing and microchipping
  • Finding the right dog breed for you
  • Lost and stray dogs
  • Sharing your house with a dog - what to consider
  • Tail-docking dogs
  • Welfare of dogs
  • What you need to know before you buy a puppy

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS