DoggMatch

Transparency

Where our information comes from

We'd rather show our homework than sound clever. Everything factual on DoggMatch comes from named organisations you can check yourself, and everything we work out ourselves is plain arithmetic we're happy to explain.

Whole registry last reviewed: 2026-08-16

Two different kinds of information

Knowledge from others

Breed standards, health and nutrition guidance, welfare rules and border requirements come from veterinary organisations, published research, government authorities, recognised kennel clubs and established animal-welfare charities. They are listed below, by subject, with a link to the page we read and the date we last checked it.

Calculations that are ours

Match percentages, portion estimates, weekly rhythms and readiness scores are produced by our own deterministic code. The same answers always give the same result — there is no AI guessing in the middle, and no personal data leaves your device to produce them.

How the matching actually works

  1. 1

    You describe your everyday life

    Home, hours alone, activity, children, other pets, experience, grooming and shedding limits.

  2. 2

    Hard limits are respected first

    If you tell us something is a real constraint, any dog that clashes with it is capped — it can't climb the list by scoring well elsewhere.

  3. 3

    Seven areas are scored and weighted

    Lifestyle, home, activity, temperament, trainability, companionship and upkeep. Each is a number out of 100, then combined with fixed weights.

  4. 4

    You see the reasoning, not just the number

    Every result shows what fits, what doesn't and why, so you can disagree with us in an informed way.

What a match percentage is — and isn't

A DoggMatch percentage is an algorithmic compatibility assessment based on structured breed data and the answers you gave us. It is not a scientific prediction, not a measure of any individual dog, and it carries no claim of certainty. Dogs are individuals; two dogs of the same breed can live very differently. For a dog you already know, we score the dog's own observed characteristics rather than assumptions about its breed.

We are not your vet

DoggMatch offers general education about life with a dog. It does not diagnose, treat or prescribe, and it never replaces advice from a qualified vet, veterinary behaviourist or trainer who has met your dog. If something worries you, please ring your vet — and in an emergency, go straight there.

Travel rules change

Border and import requirements are set by governments and can change with little notice. We link to the authority for each country and tell you plainly when we don't hold a verified rule for a route, rather than guessing.

The source registry

Organised by subject. Every entry links to the original source. New sources and review dates are added here as the site grows.

Breeds and breed standards

Breed descriptions, typical size and coat, and what a breed was originally bred to do.

Used on: Breed pages, compare, matching

Behaviour and training

How dogs learn, what reward-based training looks like, and where a behaviour problem needs a professional.

Used on: Train your dog, lessons, journey

Health, dental and preventive care

Vaccination, parasites, dental care, life stages and the signs that mean a vet visit.

Used on: My Dog, care topics, vet summary

Food, portions and food safety

Energy needs, body condition, and which human foods are risky for dogs.

Used on: Food & portions, Can my dog eat this?, weight

Coat, skin and paws

Coat types and how much work they are, plus paw and nail care.

Used on: Care topics, breed pages, matching

  • PDSA

    Practical grooming, coat and nail care advice from a veterinary charity.

    Checked: 2026-08-16

  • The Kennel Club (UK)

    Coat care expectations by breed type.

    Checked: 2026-08-16

Exercise and everyday activity

How much movement dogs need, growing joints, and heat and cold.

Used on: My week, outdoors, breed pages

Welfare and responsible ownership

The legal and ethical baseline for keeping a dog, and time alone.

Used on: Get a dog, readiness, guides

Travel and border rules

Pet passports, rabies and tapeworm rules, and travelling by car or plane.

Used on: Travel, country-to-country check, travel document

Allergy considerations

What dog allergy actually is, why no breed is hypoallergenic, and when to get medical advice. We use shedding and coat upkeep only as supporting signals.

Used on: Find My Dog, matching results, breed pages

Companion life and wellbeing

How breed temperament relates to calm, sociable companionship — and the firm line between company and clinical care. We never present a dog as treatment, and breed alone never makes an assistance or therapy dog.

Used on: Find My Dog, matching results, breed pages

Spotted something wrong?

If you find a claim that isn't supported, or a source that has moved or changed, tell us and we'll fix it. Corrections are welcome, always.

Send us a correction