Dog breeds in Australia

Your go-to source for temperament, size, health and price, plus what each breed is really like to live with
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herdingGerman ShepherdThe German Shepherd is an intelligent, loyal, and highly versatile working breed originally developed in Germany for herding sheep. Today, they are widely used as police, military, search and rescue, and service dogs due to their trainability and strong work ethic. German Shepherds are devoted family companions that thrive with consistent training, mental stimulation, and regular exercise.View Details

sportingGolden RetrieverThe Golden Retriever is a friendly, intelligent, and highly trainable breed originally developed in Scotland to retrieve game for hunters. Renowned for their gentle temperament and eagerness to please, Golden Retrievers are among the most popular family dogs in Australia. They excel as companions, therapy dogs, assistance dogs, and sporting dogs, thriving in active households that can provide regular exercise and social interaction.View Details

workingGreat DaneThe Great Dane is one of the world's tallest dog breeds. Originally developed in Germany for hunting large game and guarding estates, Great Danes are known for their gentle nature, loyalty, and calm temperament. Despite their imposing size, they are often referred to as "gentle giants" and typically form strong bonds with their families.View Details

companionGreat PyreneesThe Great Pyrenees is a calm, patient, and protective breed originally developed in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain to guard sheep from predators. They are known for their independence, gentle nature with family members, and strong guardian instincts. While affectionate with their owners, they are naturally wary of strangers and require early socialisation and consistent training.View Details

companionGreyhoundThe Greyhound is a gentle, affectionate, and athletic breed originally developed for coursing and hunting by sight. Despite their reputation as racing dogs, Greyhounds are often calm and relaxed indoors, earning them the nickname "45 mph couch potato". They are known for their speed, elegant build, and generally quiet temperament.View Details

toyGriffon BruxelloisThe Griffon Bruxellois is a small, intelligent, and affectionate companion breed originating from Belgium. Known for its expressive almost human-like face, this breed forms strong bonds with its family and thrives on companionship. They are alert, lively, and sensitive dogs that generally prefer being close to their owners rather than spending long periods alone.View Details

houndIrish WolfhoundThe Irish Wolfhound is the tallest dog breed by standard, bred in Ireland to course wolves and elk and now kept almost exclusively as a companion. It is gentle, quiet and famously undemanding indoors despite its scale, and is often described as a calm presence rather than an active dog. Males stand from around 79 cm and weigh upwards of 54 kg. The defining consideration for any buyer is lifespan, which is short even by giant breed standards at a median of around seven and a half years.View Details

toyItalian GreyhoundThe Italian Greyhound is a miniature sighthound bred as a companion for European nobility rather than as a working dog. It combines the outline, speed and prey drive of a full-sized sighthound with a body small enough to sit on a lap. Most stand 32 to 38 cm and weigh 2.7 to 4.5 kg, with a lifespan of 14 to 16 years. The breed suits quiet indoor households that want constant company and can manage a genuinely fragile dog, and is poorly suited to homes with boisterous young children or slippery open-plan flooring.View Details

workingJack RussellThe Jack Russell Terrier is a small, energetic, and highly intelligent breed originally developed in England for fox hunting and vermin control. They are known for their bold personality, strong prey drive, and high energy levels. Jack Russells require consistent training, structure, and daily exercise to stay balanced and well-behaved.View Details

companionJapanese SpitzThe Japanese Spitz is a bright, affectionate, and clean companion breed developed in Japan. Known for its fluffy white coat, friendly temperament, and strong family bonding, this breed is well suited to household living. They are intelligent, alert, and generally easy to train, making them a popular choice for families and first-time dog owners.View Details

workingLabrador RetrieverThe Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular family dogs in Australia. Originally developed in Newfoundland for retrieving fishing nets and game, Labradors are known for their friendly temperament, intelligence, and strong work ethic. They are highly trainable, social, and well suited to families, assistance work, and active households.View Details

companionMalteseThe Maltese is a small, affectionate, and elegant companion breed with a long history dating back thousands of years. Known for its silky white coat and friendly personality, the Maltese thrives on human companionship and adapts well to apartments, smaller homes, and family living. They are intelligent, playful, and generally easy to manage, making them popular with first-time dog owners.View Details