How to read a breed profile: temperament categories, grooming and exercise scales, lifespan ranges and the trade-offs every prospective owner should weigh.
Kennel clubs sort breeds into groups — gundog, hound, pastoral, terrier, toy, utility and working — that describe the job a breed was developed for. That original job still predicts drive, noise, prey instinct and how much mental work a dog needs.
Low exercise means around 30 minutes daily, moderate roughly an hour, high two hours or more including mental work. Low grooming is a weekly brush, moderate a few sessions a week, high means daily brushing plus regular professional trims.
Larger breeds generally live shorter lives, eat more and cost more to insure; small breeds live longer but often need more dental care. Breed shapes lifetime cost more than any other single choice.
Every breed profile lists the conditions the breed is predisposed to and the health screening you should ask a breeder to evidence before you commit to a puppy.