About BreedPedia #
BreedPedia helps you find the right dog breed for your lifestyle — not the one that looks good on Instagram, but the one that actually fits your home, your schedule, and your tolerance for dog hair.
Who’s Behind This? #
I’m Mark. I’ve lived with dogs for most of my adult life — different breeds, different temperaments, different medical disasters. I started BreedPedia because I was tired of reading breed guides that all sounded the same: fluffy marketing copy that never mentioned the cancer rate, the breathing problems, or the fact that this adorable puppy will destroy your couch if you skip a walk.
Every guide on this site is written from a simple principle: tell the truth about every breed. The good parts and the parts that cost you $5,000 in emergency vet bills.
How We Research #
Each breed guide is cross-checked against:
- AKC breed standards — official weight, height, temperament, and group classification
- OFA health statistics — hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cardiac, eye, and genetic disease prevalence data from the world’s largest canine health database
- Peer-reviewed veterinary research — including the McMillan et al. (2024) lifespan study of 584,734 dogs, breed-specific cancer and genetic studies
- Breed club health surveys — including the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, Dachshund Health UK IVDD surveys, and national breed council data
- Real owner experiences — because textbooks don’t tell you what it’s like to clean facial wrinkles every day or listen to a Beagle bay at 6 AM
Our Sources #
We cite our sources at the bottom of every breed guide. Common references include:
| Source | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| AKC Breed Standards | Size, weight, temperament, group classification |
| OFA Disease Statistics | Hip/elbow dysplasia rates, cardiac, eye, genetic disease prevalence |
| McMillan et al. (2024), Scientific Reports | Median lifespan for 155 breeds (584,734 dogs) |
| Morris Animal Foundation GRLS | Cancer mortality data for Golden Retrievers (60–65%) |
| Dittmann et al. (2024), Science Advances | POMC gene mutation in Labrador Retrievers |
| Tomlinson et al. (2024), PLOS ONE | BOAS grading in brachycephalic breeds |
| Dachshund Health UK | IVDD prevalence (1 in 4 lifetime risk) |
| Klopfenstein et al. (2016) | Bernese Mountain Dog lifespan and cancer mortality |
| 2025–2026 US breeder market data | Puppy pricing ranges by breed |
Content Updates #
We update guides as new research emerges. Every article shows its last-updated date. If you spot outdated information or a missing source, email us.
Our Promise #
- Honest assessments — every breed has downsides. We tell you what they are upfront.
- Practical advice — not just breed history and cute facts, but daily care realities: grooming schedules, exercise minimums, training challenges.
- Data-backed — specific numbers come from specific sources. No made-up statistics.
- No affiliate fluff — we don’t push products or breeders. Just information.
Contact #
BreedPedia is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the AKC, OFA, or any breed club.