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XOPet XOBreed & Training Library

Breed library

Training guidance, breed by breed

Each entry covers what the breed was built to do, the three things to work on first, and the problems that show up when nobody does.

All breeds (25)SportingHoundWorkingTerrierToyCompanionHerding
An adult yellow Labrador Retriever lying in grass, blocky head and otter tail visible
Sporting

Labrador Retriever

Outgoing · Food-motivated · Mouthy as a puppy

LargeEnergy 4/5Trainability 5/5
A cream Golden Retriever standing on wet sand with a tennis ball in its mouth, feathered tail raised
Sporting

Golden Retriever

Soft · People-focused · Slow to mature

LargeEnergy 4/5Trainability 5/5
A liver-roan German Shorthaired Pointer crouched low on ice, mid-stride
Sporting

German Shorthaired Pointer

Driven · Athletic · Velcro-close indoors

LargeEnergy 5/5Trainability 4/5
A black-and-white roan Cocker Spaniel walking toward the camera on a beach, long ears framing its face
Sporting

Cocker Spaniel

Cheerful · Sensitive · Busy

MediumEnergy 3/5Trainability 4/5
A tricolor Beagle sitting alert in tall grass, nose lifted, scenting the air
Hound

Beagle

Merry · Nose-led · Vocal

SmallEnergy 4/5Trainability 2/5
A young red Dachshund lying low on a rug, long body and short legs visible
Hound

Dachshund

Bold · Tenacious · Alert

SmallEnergy 3/5Trainability 3/5
A Bloodhound standing in snow, deeply wrinkled face and long drooping ears
Hound

Bloodhound

Gentle · Stubborn · Single-minded

LargeEnergy 3/5Trainability 2/5
A close, low-angle shot of a brindle Greyhound lying in dry grass, ears folded back
Hound

Greyhound

Quiet · Sensitive · Sprinter

LargeEnergy 2/5Trainability 3/5
A fawn and white Boxer sitting indoors in dramatic side light, its blocky head and undershot jaw visible
Working

Boxer

Playful · Exuberant · Devoted

LargeEnergy 4/5Trainability 4/5
A Rottweiler standing alert on a cobbled path, black and tan markings and blocky head visible
Working

Rottweiler

Confident · Watchful · Steady when well-raised

LargeEnergy 3/5Trainability 4/5
A close portrait of a Siberian Husky with ice-blue eyes and classic black and white face markings, backlit
Working

Siberian Husky

Independent · Sociable · Escape-prone

MediumEnergy 5/5Trainability 2/5
A tall blue Great Dane standing on a lawn, its great height evident against the garden behind it
Working

Great Dane

Gentle · Sensitive · Enormous

GiantEnergy 2/5Trainability 4/5
A tan and white Jack Russell Terrier on a beach, on lead, ears alert
Terrier

Jack Russell Terrier

Fearless · Clever · Relentless

SmallEnergy 5/5Trainability 3/5
A West Highland White Terrier in profile, shaggy white coat and pricked ears, one paw raised
Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Confident · Chatty · Self-possessed

SmallEnergy 3/5Trainability 3/5
Terrier

Bull Terrier

Comical · Strong · Stubborn

MediumEnergy 4/5Trainability 3/5
A cream Chihuahua running toward the camera on grass, mouth open and ears back
Toy

Chihuahua

Bold · Loyal · Easily overwhelmed

SmallEnergy 3/5Trainability 3/5
An orange Pomeranian with a full fox-like coat standing in grass
Toy

Pomeranian

Lively · Extroverted · Alert

SmallEnergy 3/5Trainability 4/5
A Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel close up, long feathered ears and dark round eyes
Toy

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Affectionate · Gentle · Adaptable

SmallEnergy 2/5Trainability 4/5
A brindle French Bulldog mid-run across a grass field, bat ears up, tongue out
Companion

French Bulldog

Comic · Companionable · Obstinate

SmallEnergy 2/5Trainability 3/5
A cream Toy Poodle standing on a city pavement on a leash, tight curly coat visible
Companion

Poodle

Brilliant · Sensitive · Easily bored

MediumEnergy 4/5Trainability 5/5
A close portrait of an English Bulldog with its tongue out, deeply wrinkled face and rose ears
Companion

Bulldog

Placid · Determined · Low-gear

MediumEnergy 1/5Trainability 2/5
A black and white Border Collie running full stretch across grass with a ball in its mouth
Herding

Border Collie

Intense · Analytical · Tireless

MediumEnergy 5/5Trainability 5/5
A close portrait of a sable German Shepherd, erect ears and mouth open
Herding

German Shepherd Dog

Loyal · Serious · Discerning

LargeEnergy 4/5Trainability 5/5
A young blue merle Australian Shepherd in profile, mouth open, mottled coat visible
Herding

Australian Shepherd

Eager · Watchful · Busy

MediumEnergy 5/5Trainability 5/5
A Pembroke Welsh Corgi trotting along a path beside water, large ears up, tongue out
Herding

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Bossy · Bright · Vocal

SmallEnergy 4/5Trainability 4/5