About pets.org.nz

A New Zealand pet breed reference: trait-rated profiles for dogs and cats, side-by-side comparison, and locally relevant context.

Why we built it

NZ pet owners have several breed information sources, but each has gaps. Dogs New Zealand and the NZ Cat Fancy hold the official breed standards but present limited information. Purina NZ and Royal Canin NZ offer well-designed libraries but no numeric trait ratings and no cross-breed comparison. International sources like the AKC have rich data but aren't grounded in NZ context (council registration, climate, NZ-developed breeds like the Huntaway).

This site aggregates the strongest signals from public sources, applies a consistent 1-to-5 trait scale modelled on the AKC, and adds the NZ context that matters when choosing or living with a pet here.

How breed information is sourced

Each breed page lists the public sources used at the foot of the page. Common sources include:

• American Kennel Club for the trait rating framework and individual breed traits
• Dogs New Zealand (NZKC) for breed group classification and recognition status
• Purina NZ for breed library descriptions
• Royal Canin NZ for size and nutrition context
• NZ Cat Fancy and Catz Inc for cat breeds
• DIA National Dog Database for NZ council registration counts
• SPCA NZ for adoption and welfare guidance

Trait ratings are interpretive. Where the AKC publishes a numeric score we use it; otherwise we score on the same 1-5 scale based on the breed's documented characteristics from the sources cited.

How the sponsored placements work

Three sponsor cards appear in the sidebar of every breed page: a pet insurance partner, a pet food sponsor, and a pet store sponsor. These are clearly labelled as sponsored and may earn us a referral fee when you click through. They never affect editorial content: traits, ratings, health information and rankings are independent of the sponsorship arrangements.

What the site is not

This site provides general information. It is not veterinary advice, behavioural advice, or financial advice on insurance products. Consult a registered NZ vet for any health-related decision and an authorised insurance adviser for any policy decision.