Be Wise › Pet Wise guides
Pet care guides for the UK
Plain-English guides to nine kinds of pet, plus profiles of 22 popular dog breeds and 12 popular cat breeds.
This is general information for the UK. It is not veterinary or legal advice, and every animal is different. Speak to a vet about your pet's health, and check current rules on GOV.UK, or with your local authority. The Be Pet Wise app can also show rules for other countries.
Choose your pet
- 🐕 DogsAbout 10–15 years, shorter for giant breeds
- 🐈 CatsAbout 12–18 years, often longer for indoor cats
- 🐇 RabbitsAbout 8–12 years
- 🐹 Guinea pigsAbout 5–7 years
- 🐹 HamstersAbout 2–3 years
- 🦜 BirdsBudgerigars 5–10 years; larger parrots can live for decades
- 🐠 FishFrom 2–3 years (guppies) to 20+ years (goldfish and koi)
- 🦎 ReptilesFrom about 8–12 years (bearded dragons) to 50+ years (some tortoises)
- 🐴 HorsesAbout 25–30 years, sometimes longer for ponies
Dog breeds
- Labrador Retriever
- French Bulldog
- Border Collie
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Poodle
- Beagle
- Rottweiler
- Dachshund
- Chihuahua
- Boxer
- Siberian Husky
- Corgi (Pembroke Welsh)
- Bulldog (English)
- Shih Tzu
- Cocker Spaniel (English)
- Great Dane
- Doberman
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Pug
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Springer Spaniel (English)
Cat breeds
- Maine Coon
- British Shorthair
- Siamese
- Persian
- Ragdoll
- Bengal
- Sphynx
- Abyssinian
- Scottish Fold
- Russian Blue
- Birman
- Burmese
Frequently asked questions
What does Be Pet Wise cover?
It covers care and food, character, health and longevity, allergies, pet law, cost of ownership, first aid and emergencies, adopting versus buying, life-stage care and compatibility for the most popular pets, with an app that shows rules for your country.
Are these guides a substitute for a vet?
No. They are general information. Speak to a vet about your pet's health and to a qualified professional about legal matters.
Which country do these guides cover?
The written guides focus on the UK. The Be Pet Wise app lets you choose your country so the pet-law information fits where you live.
Want answers for your situation?
The Be Pet Wise app lets you choose your country and ask its assistant follow-up questions.
Open Be Pet WiseBrowse all guidesReviewed 2026-09-20. General information for the UK, not veterinary or legal advice. See a vet for any health concern.