Dog breeds often suggested for first-time owners, ranked by health

Of the 47 breeds with trait data, these are described as first-time owners in Kennel Club and breed-standard descriptions, ranked by Breed Health Score. Trait bands are general tendencies, not guarantees: individual dogs vary with breeding, socialisation and training.

1 Papillontoy 92/100 · 14.5 yr 92A 2 Border Terriersmall 90/100 · 14.2 yr 90A 3 Italian Greyhoundtoy 88/100 · 14.0 yr 88A 4 Poodletoy 88/100 · 14.0 yr 88A 5 English Springer Spanielmedium 83/100 · 13.5 yr 83A 6 Miniature Schnauzersmall 81/100 · 13.3 yr 81A 7 English Cocker Spanielmedium 80/100 · 13.3 yr 80A 8 Yorkshire Terriertoy 80/100 · 13.3 yr 80A 9 West Highland White Terriersmall 80/100 · 13.4 yr 80A 10 Whippetmedium 80/100 · 13.4 yr 80A 11 English Setterlarge 79/100 · 13.1 yr 79A 12 Labrador Retrieverlarge 79/100 · 13.1 yr 79A 13 Dachshundsmall 79/100 · 13.2 yr 79A 14 Golden Retrieverlarge 79/100 · 13.2 yr 79A 15 Maltesetoy 78/100 · 13.1 yr 78A 16 Pembroke Welsh Corgismall 77/100 · 13.2 yr 77A 17 Lhasa Apsosmall · flat-faced 77/100 · 14.0 yr 77A 18 Bichon Frisesmall 74/100 · 12.5 yr 74B 19 Pomeraniantoy 71/100 · 12.2 yr 71B 20 Basset Houndmedium 70/100 · 12.5 yr 70B 21 Beaglemedium 70/100 · 12.5 yr 70B 22 Staffordshire Bull Terriermedium 67/100 · 12.0 yr 67B 23 Flat Coated Retrieverlarge 65/100 · 11.7 yr 65B 24 Shih Tzusmall · flat-faced 65/100 · 12.8 yr 65B 25 Chihuahuatoy 64/100 · 11.8 yr 64B 26 Greyhoundlarge 61/100 · 11.5 yr 61C 27 Cavalier King Charles Spanielsmall · flat-faced 57/100 · 11.8 yr 57C 28 Pugtoy · flat-faced 55/100 · 11.6 yr 55C 29 Newfoundlandgiant 54/100 · 11.0 yr 54C 30 Boxerlarge · flat-faced 47/100 · 11.3 yr 47D 31 Bernese Mountain Doggiant 44/100 · 10.1 yr 44D 32 Bulldogmedium · flat-faced 38/100 · 9.8 yr 38D 33 French Bulldogsmall · flat-faced 38/100 · 9.8 yr 38D

Showing 33 breeds. Score is 65% longevity, 20% conformation and 15% hereditary burden (methodology). Lifespan: McMillan 2024, CC-BY. See the full directory or other leaderboards.