Alex’s Top Five

Favourite Dog Breeds

Today is International Dog Day, so I have decided to run down my top five favourite dog breeds. Of course, like most dog lovers, I can’t help but love every dog I lay eyes on, but I’ve got a particular soft spot for these five cuties: 

1. Pomeranian

I know many people feel small breeds just aren’t proper dogs, but I think it would be hard not to think these balls of fur are simply adorable. Pomeranians have an average lifespan of up to 15 years and weigh in at just 1.8 – 2.5 kg. They are known to be fiercely loyal, feisty and loving, and they want nothing more than the attention of their human family. 

2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

These misunderstood beauties are often labelled as aggressive or dangerous, but the truth is a dog will always be a product of its surroundings. If you give a Staffie love, that’s exactly what you’ll get in return. Weighing in at 11-17kg, these most definitely fit the bill of a “proper dog”, but that doesn’t stop them being plenty cute; with soft features and a luxurious, velveteen coat, they’re as gorgeous as they are loving. And if you’re lucky enough to have a Staffie in your family, you can expect them to stick round for up to 14 years.  

3. Golden Retriever 

We all know that a puppy is bound to make everyone go ‘aww’, but golden retrievers retain that ability even when fully grown. These giant puppies can weigh as much as 34kg, but they still somehow always think they’re lap dogs. Those big floppy ears and dopey eyes make this dog a lovable family favourite, and with their rich yellow coat and loyal, loving personalities, they really are worth their weight in gold. The lovable nature of the golden retriever quickly makes them part of the family, which makes their life span of only up to 12 years just not long enough to shower them with all the love they deserve. 

(If you want to know more about golden retrievers, make sure you visit Your Dog Advisor, where you’ll find a comprehensive guide on 15 of their favourite golden retriever mix dogs!)

4. Whippet 

The long, slinky shape of whippets contrasts them to the small, fluffy animals typically associated with the word cute. But perhaps it is their minute stature that makes them quite so sweet-looking. Despite their sleek, slim build, whippets weigh a decent 10kg – still small enough to qualify them for the position of lap dog if you ask me (although any dog willing to curl up on my lap is more than welcome there), and the whippet can occupy the position of coach potato for up to 15 years. 

5. Labradoodle 

It’s not all pure dog breeds and pedigrees. Here at The Nature Nook, dogs of all shapes and sizes have a place in our hearts. But I must admit, perhaps a small bias did play into my final choice for this list, as my very own dog, Nelly, who sadly lost her battle to cancer just over a year ago, was a gorgeous miniature labradoodle. My baby girl weighed only around 11kg, in contrast with the enormous full-sized labradoodles who seem more like tiny horses than large dogs. One can expect to share up to a glorious 15 years with their labradoodle if they invite one into their home and heart.

The Nature Nook isn’t done with Dog Day yet, though! Make sure to check out Jason’s article as well, where he’ll be looking at some of the weirdest wild dogs that we share our planet with!