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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Page 7 of 10 • 120 breeds

Griffon Bruxellois
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
Groodle
companionGroodleThe Groodle is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, bred widely in Australia and the United States from the 1990s. It is a friendly, people-focused family dog that comes in miniature, medium and standard sizes depending on the Poodle parent. Many Groodles have a low-shedding wavy or curly coat, but shedding varies with generation and coat type, and no Groodle can be promised to be hypoallergenic. Groodles need daily exercise, regular professional grooming and steady training. As a crossbreed there is no breed standard, so size, coat and health depend heavily on the parents a breeder uses.View Details
Havanese
toyHavaneseThe Havanese is a small, sturdy companion dog of the Bichon family and the national dog of Cuba. It is cheerful, affectionate and playful, bonds closely with its people and is known for a long, soft, silky coat in a wide range of colours. Under the Dogs Australia standard it stands 23 to 27 cm at the withers, and most adults weigh about 3 to 6 kg. The coat sheds little but mats easily, so regular brushing or a short puppy clip is essential. A UK study recorded a median lifespan of 14.5 years, among the longest of any breed.View Details
Irish Wolfhound
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
Italian Greyhound
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
Jack Russell
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
Japanese Spitz
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
Keeshond
companionKeeshondThe Keeshond is a medium-sized Dutch spitz, bred as a watchdog on canal barges and farms and named after the eighteenth century Patriot leader Cornelis "Kees" de Gyselaer. It is affectionate, people-focused and alert, with a plush wolf-grey double coat, a curled tail and distinctive "spectacle" markings around the eyes. Dogs stand about 46 cm and bitches about 43 cm, most weigh 14 to 20 kg, and many live 12 years or more. It is a good family dog but vocal, dislikes being left alone and needs real care in Australian heat. Owners should be aware of primary hyperparathyroidism, an inherited condition with DNA testing available.View Details
Kerry Blue Terrier
terrierKerry Blue TerrierThe Kerry Blue Terrier is a medium-sized, soft-coated Irish terrier from County Kerry, originally an all-purpose farm dog that herded stock, hunted vermin and guarded the house. Puppies are born black and the coat gradually clears to a shade of blue-grey, usually by about 18 months. The coat is soft, wavy and low shedding, but it needs regular brushing and clipping. Dogs stand 46 to 48 cm and weigh 15 to 17 kg under the breed standard, with bitches a little smaller, and most live 12 to 15 years. It is loyal, playful and alert with its family, can be assertive with other dogs, and is rare in Australia.View Details
Labrador Retriever
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
Lagotto Romagnolo
sportingLagotto RomagnoloThe Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian water dog that became the world's specialist truffle hunter after the marshes of Romagna were drained. It is affectionate, keen and easy to train, with an outstanding nose and a strong urge to dig. Its dense, woolly, curly coat sheds very little but must be combed regularly and fully clipped at least once a year. Under the Dogs Australia standard, males stand 43 to 48 cm and weigh 13 to 16 kg, and females stand 41 to 46 cm and weigh 11 to 14 kg. It is a long-lived breed, with published lifespans ranging from 12 to 17 years.View Details
Lhasa Apso
companionLhasa ApsoThe Lhasa Apso is a small, long-coated companion and watchdog from Tibet, where it guarded monasteries and homes from the inside. It is confident, loyal and playful with its family, but naturally wary of strangers and quick to bark at anything unusual. The Dogs Australia standard gives an ideal height of 25 cm for dogs, with bitches slightly smaller, and most adults weigh about 5 to 8 kg. The heavy, straight coat needs regular brushing, and most pet owners keep it in a shorter puppy clip. It is a long-lived breed, commonly reaching 12 to 15 years.View Details