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UAE Government Licensed MOCCAE

Breed guides  ·  Dogs

Dog breeds in the UAE

The dogs we see most in UAE clinics, each written for this climate. What they cost to keep here, how they cope with a Gulf summer, whether they settle in a flat, and the health problems our vets treat most often in each one.

GroomingAny
MonthlyDaily
EnergyAny
Sleeps all dayNever stops
SheddingAny
Almost noneConstant
VocalAny
SilentTalks back
SociabilityAny
Prefers calmThrives in a crowd
HeatAny
StrugglesBuilt for it

Choose a breed above and these fill in with its scores, then the grid reorders to the breeds closest to it.

All breeds

Image · Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever

Families with space and time for two walks a day.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Weight gain, and the joint problems that follow it.

Guide in progress

Image · Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever

The Labrador temperament, with three times the coat.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Ear and skin infections through the humid months.

Guide in progress

Image · Saluki

Saluki

Someone with a secure space to let them run flat out.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Anaesthetic sensitivity. Bloodwork reads differently too.

Read the guide →

Image · French Bulldog

French Bulldog

Flat living, if you can manage the summer around them.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Airway obstruction and heat stress. The most of any breed here.

Guide in progress

Image · Maltipoo

Maltipoo

First-time owners in a flat who want low shedding.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Dental disease, early. Small mouths, crowded teeth.

Guide in progress

Image · German Shepherd

German Shepherd

Experienced owners with space and a job for them.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Hip and elbow dysplasia. Screen the parents before you buy.

Guide in progress

Image · Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu

A quiet flat, and someone who will groom daily.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Eye ulcers, and breathing that worsens in the heat.

Guide in progress

Image · Pomeranian

Pomeranian

Small flats, if you stay on top of the coat.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Collapsing trachea. Use a harness, never a collar.

Guide in progress

Image · Beagle

Beagle

An active household with a genuinely secure garden.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Obesity and ear infections, usually together.

Guide in progress

Image · Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Someone who is home for most of the day.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Mitral valve disease. We listen for it from year one.

Guide in progress

Image · Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky

Almost nobody in this climate, and we would rather say so.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Heat exhaustion. Also the breed most often rehomed here.

Guide in progress

Image · Chihuahua

Chihuahua

A quiet household without much coming and going.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Dental disease and slipping kneecaps.

Guide in progress

Image · Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel

An active family who will keep the ears dry.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Chronic ear infections. Swimming makes it worse, not better.

Guide in progress

Image · Miniature Poodle

Miniature Poodle

Allergy-conscious homes that will commit to clipping.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Dental disease, and ears that need clearing after every clip.

Guide in progress

Image · Border Collie

Border Collie

Someone who will work their mind daily, indoors in summer.

Grooming
Energy
Shedding
Vocal
Sociability
Heat

Seen most in clinic

Anxiety and compulsive behaviour from under-stimulation.

Guide in progress

Common questions

The ones you type at midnight.

Which dogs cope best with the UAE summer?

Breeds from hot regions with short coats and long muzzles do best, the Saluki above all. Short-nosed breeds struggle badly: a French Bulldog cannot cool itself the way a Labrador can, and heat stress is the reason we see them most.

Which dogs suit a Dubai apartment?

Size matters less than energy and noise. A Saluki rests most of the day and suits a flat better than a Border Collie a third of the weight. Ask how many hours the dog is alone before you ask how many square metres it has.

Do I have to register my dog in Dubai?

Yes. Dogs are microchipped and registered with the municipality and the licence renews every year. Rules and fees differ by emirate, so check the one you live in rather than the one you bought the dog in.

Which dogs are best if someone is allergic?

No dog is truly hypoallergenic. Poodles and poodle crosses shed least, which helps, but the protein people react to is in saliva and skin as well as hair. Spend an hour with the breed before you commit to one.