How We Rate Dog Breeds

Our Rating Philosophy

Every breed on PickADogBreed is scored across 15 standardized attributes on a 1–5 scale. Our goal is not to make every dog sound perfect — it's to give prospective owners an honest, data-based picture of what living with each breed is actually like.

We believe that honest ratings — including low scores for health robustness, apartment compatibility, or trainability — prevent the lifestyle mismatches that send dogs to shelters. A breed that scores 1/5 on apartment friendliness isn't a bad dog; it's a bad fit for apartment living. Saying so clearly is more useful than inflating scores to avoid scaring off prospective buyers.

Data Sources

Our breed attribute data is compiled from multiple authoritative sources:

• American Kennel Club (AKC) — Official breed standards, temperament descriptions, and AKC popularity rankings. The AKC's breed standards represent the consensus view of the breed's parent clubs, which are typically the most authoritative voices on a breed's characteristics.
• The Kennel Club (UK) — British breed standards and health testing requirements, particularly useful for breeds that originated in the UK.
• Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) — International breed standards covering breeds not recognized by the AKC, particularly European and Asian working breeds.
• Veterinary research literature — Peer-reviewed studies on breed-specific health conditions, lifespan data, and genetic predispositions. Health scores reflect documented prevalence of heritable conditions in each breed population.
• Breed health surveys — Owner-reported health surveys conducted by breed clubs (such as the Golden Retriever Club of America's health surveys or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals data) provide real-world health incidence rates.

The 15 Attributes Explained

Each breed is rated 1–5 on the following attributes. Here's exactly what each score means:

Editorial Standards

Our ratings are not influenced by breeders, breed clubs, or commercial interests. We do not accept payment to change breed scores or suppress health information. When a breed has significant health concerns, we document them clearly — even when this makes the breed less appealing to prospective owners.

Ratings are reviewed periodically as new research becomes available. If you believe a rating is inaccurate and can point to veterinary research or official breed documentation to support a correction, we welcome that feedback via our contact page.

Cost Data

Purchase price ranges are based on breeder surveys, AKC Marketplace listings, and documented regional pricing variations as of 2025–2026. Prices vary significantly based on breeder reputation, bloodlines, and geographic location — our ranges represent typical market prices, not guarantees.

Monthly food costs are estimated based on breed size, typical daily feeding requirements, and mid-range commercial food pricing. Annual vet costs represent average baseline care costs, not costs for breeds with known health issues (which will typically be higher). Grooming costs reflect professional grooming requirements at average salon rates in the United States.

A Note on Individual Variation

Breed ratings describe typical characteristics, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary significantly based on genetics, early socialization, training, and environment. A breed that scores 1/5 on trainability can absolutely be trained by a skilled, patient owner. A breed that scores 5/5 on good-with-kids can still bite if mistreated or startled.

Use our ratings as a starting point for research, not as a definitive verdict on any individual dog. Meeting a breed in person — ideally through a reputable rescue or shelter — before committing is always the best approach.