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EnglishWhere to Find Expert Dog Breed Advice on the Royal Kennel Club Website
Updated
The Royal Kennel Club website provides breed-specific information and advice through its breed directory, which lists recognised breeds from Affenpinscher to Foxhound and beyond. You can use it to compare breeds and understand their needs before choosing a dog. The site describes itself as the UK's largest organisation devoted to dog health, welfare and training, and its stated aim is to offer expert advice on every breed.
How to Use the Breed Directory
The homepage includes a "Find your new best friend" section with an alphabetical list of recognised breeds. To use it:
- Open the breed list from the homepage section.
- Scan alphabetically for the breed you have in mind — entries include Affenpinscher, Afghan Hound, Airedale Terrier, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Australian Cattle Dog, Beagle, Border Collie, Border Terrier, Boxer and many more.
- Open the breed entry to read the advice and characteristics for that breed.
- Compare several breeds by working through their entries side by side before deciding.
The expected result is a shortlist of breeds whose needs match your home, activity level and experience.
Reading the List Correctly
Some entries carry an "(Imp)" marker, such as Azawakh (Imp), Barbet (Imp) and Bergamasco (Imp). This signals an imported breed entry rather than a separate breed. Varieties are listed separately — for example, Chihuahua (Long Coat) and Chihuahua (Smooth Coat), or the six Dachshund entries covering Long Haired, Miniature Long Haired, Miniature Smooth Haired, Miniature Wire Haired, Smooth Haired and Wire Haired. If you are comparing breeds, treat these as distinct entries so you do not double-count them.
What Else the Site Offers Beyond Breed Profiles
The breed directory sits alongside other resources that support a decision about dog ownership:
| Resource | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Find a Breeder | A platform where breeders showcase their breed, expertise and health tests in one place |
| Pet Insurance | A quote route for Royal Kennel Club Pet Insurance, described on the site as a Which? Best Buy for Dog Insurance 2026 |
| Events and exhibitions | Agility coverage (IAF 2026, 6–9 August) and a dog portraiture exhibition, "Leaders of the Pack" |
| Annual Report 2025 | A summary of the organisation's work and achievements from January to December 2025 |
For prospective owners, the Find a Breeder platform is the natural next step after shortlisting a breed: it lets you see breeders' health testing information before making contact.
Common Pitfalls
- Treating the list as complete without checking spellings. Entries follow breed-name conventions that vary (for example, "Bracque Du Bourbonnaise" and "Braque D'Auvergne" both appear), so search by the first letter rather than assuming a spelling.
- Skipping the variety entries. Coat and size varieties can have different needs; read the specific entry rather than the general breed name.
- Assuming the site only covers buying. The stated scope includes health, welfare and training advice, so use it for ongoing care questions as well as breed selection.
If your goal is simply to understand what the organisation is, see the related question on what the Royal Kennel Club website is; if you are ready to contact breeders, see the guide to finding a breeder on the site.