Dog & Cat Breeds — NZ Pet Insurance Considerations
Hereditary risks, breed-specific cover considerations, and which NZ insurers cover each breed. 43 dog breeds + 12 cat breeds, sourced from authoritative veterinary research.
Every breed has its own hereditary risk profile, and every NZ pet insurer handles those risks differently. These guides summarise the cited hereditary conditions per breed plus the cover-specific considerations a pet insurance buyer needs to think about — sourced from UK Kennel Club Breed Health & Conservation Plans, Royal Veterinary College VetCompass, International Cat Care, UFAW Genetic Welfare, OFA and peer-reviewed veterinary literature. Pop-vet sources excluded.
Dog Breeds (43)
Small dogs (≤10 kg)
13 breeds
Bichon Frise
Bichon
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier, King Charles
Lifespan 9–14 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Cavoodle
Cavalier Poodle, Cavapoo
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Chihuahua
Chi
Lifespan 12–18 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Dachshund
Dachshund, Wiener dog
Lifespan 12–16 yrs · 2 cited conditions
French Bulldog
Frenchie
Lifespan 10–12 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhound, Iggy
Lifespan 12–18 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Jack Russell Terrier
JRT, Jack Russell
Lifespan 13–16 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Corgi, Pembroke
Lifespan 12–13 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Pomeranian
Pom
Lifespan 12–16 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Pug
Pug
Lifespan 10–14 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Shih Tzu
Shih-Tzu
Lifespan 10–18 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkie, Yorkies
Lifespan 13–16 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Medium dogs (10–25 kg)
12 breeds
Australian Cattle Dog
Blue Heeler, Red Heeler
Lifespan 13–16 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Beagle
Hound
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Border Collie
Collie
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Brittany
Brittany Spaniel
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Bull Terrier
Bullier, Bully
Lifespan 11–14 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Cockapoo
Cocker Poodle
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Cocker Spaniel
Cocker
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
English Bulldog
Bulldog
Lifespan 8–10 yrs · 3 cited conditions
English Springer Spaniel
Springer Spaniel
Lifespan 12–14 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Poodle
Standard Poodle, Miniature Poodle
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Staffy, Staffordshire
Lifespan 12–16 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Whippet
Whippet
Lifespan 12–15 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Large dogs (25–45 kg)
15 breeds
Akita
Japanese Akita
Lifespan 10–14 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Australian Shepherd
Aussie
Lifespan 13–15 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Basset Hound
Basset
Lifespan 10–12 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Bernese Mountain Dog
Berner
Lifespan 7–10 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Boxer
Boxer
Lifespan 8–10 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Dalmatian
Dalmatian, Spotty
Lifespan 11–13 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Doberman Pinscher
Doberman, Dobie
Lifespan 10–13 yrs · 3 cited conditions
German Shepherd
GSD, Alsatian
Lifespan 9–13 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Golden Retriever
Golden
Lifespan 10–12 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Goldendoodle
Goldendoodle
Lifespan 10–13 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Greyhound
Grey
Lifespan 12–14 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Labradoodle
Labradoodle
Lifespan 12–14 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Labrador Retriever
Labrador, Lab
Lifespan 10–12 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Rottweiler
Rott
Lifespan 8–11 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Siberian Husky
Husky
Lifespan 12–14 yrs · 3 cited conditions
Cat Breeds (12)
Medium cats (3–5 kg)
5 breeds
Birman
Sacred Cat of Burma, Birman Colourpoint
Lifespan 12–16 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Domestic Cat (Moggy / Mixed Breed)
Moggy, Mixed Breed Cat
Lifespan 12–17 yrs · 4 cited conditions
Manx
Tailless Cat, Rumpy
Lifespan 8–14 yrs · 1 cited condition
Russian Blue
Archangel Blue, Russian
Lifespan 15–20 yrs · 1 cited condition
Siamese
Colorpoint, Applehead Siamese
Lifespan 15–20 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Large cats (5–7 kg)
4 breeds
Bengal
Leopard Cat hybrid, Asian Leopard Cat cross
Lifespan 12–17 yrs · 3 cited conditions
British Shorthair
British Blue, BSH
Lifespan 12–20 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Persian
Longhair, Flatface
Lifespan 12–16 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Ragdoll
Colorpoint Longhair, Raggie
Lifespan 12–17 yrs · 2 cited conditions
Giant cats (7 kg+)
1 breeds
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Find my policy →Not personalised advice. Hereditary-condition data sourced from UK Kennel Club, RVC VetCompass, International Cat Care, UFAW, OFA and peer-reviewed veterinary research. 55 breeds indexed as of 2026-07-05.