🐕 Australian Shepherd
Temperament
Smart, eager, devoted, sometimes reserved with strangers. Aussies bond closely with their family and often have a "one-person" preference. Without enough work they herd children, cats, and bicycles.
Exercise
90–120 minutes of daily structured exercise plus mental work. Excels at agility, herding trials, dock diving, scent work. Long off-lead hikes are ideal.
Grooming
Medium-long double coat. Brush 2–3× weekly, daily during moult. Bathe every 6–8 weeks. Light trimming around feet and ears.
Health
MDR1 drug sensitivity (DNA test essential — many common drugs are dangerous to MDR1+ Aussies). Hip and elbow dysplasia. Eye conditions (CEA, cataracts). Epilepsy in some lines. Avoid breeding two merles (double-merle puppies are often deaf and blind).
Full Australian Shepherd profile →
🦮 Labrador Retriever
Temperament
Outgoing, even-tempered and gentle. Labs are people-oriented to the point of being terrible guard dogs — they tend to greet strangers like long-lost friends. They're known for their patience with children, tolerance of other dogs and "puppy-like" exuberance well into their adult years.
Exercise
Labs need 60–90 minutes of vigorous daily exercise as adults — running, swimming, fetch and scent work all suit them. Without enough activity they gain weight quickly (Labs are genetically predisposed to obesity) and develop destructive boredom. Two walks plus 20 minutes of off-lead play is a good baseline.
Grooming
A short, dense double coat that sheds year-round and "blows" twice a year. Weekly brushing keeps it manageable; daily during shedding seasons. Labs only need bathing every 8–12 weeks. Don't shave a Lab — the undercoat insulates against both cold and heat.
Health
Common issues: hip and elbow dysplasia (always check parental hip scores), exercise-induced collapse (genetic test available), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-prcd test), bloat / GDV in deep-chested dogs, and obesity-related arthritis. Lifespan averages 10–14 years; lean, active Labs can reach 15+.
Full Labrador Retriever profile →
