The American Kennel Club (AKC) provides standardized data on dog breeds, including detailed breed characteristics and behavioral traits. For each recognized breed, the AKC includes information on size, coat type, life expectancy, and group classification (e.g., Herding, Working, Toy). In addition, each breed is scored on temperament traits such as friendliness, trainability, energy level, and compatibility with children, other dogs, and strangers.
In this class, we use a curated version of the AKC dataset that summarizes key characteristics for a wide range of breeds. This allows students to explore patterns in breed behavior, physical traits, and suitability for different household types using structured categorical and numerical data.
| AKC Dog Breed Feature Descriptions | |
|---|---|
| Feature | Description |
Affectionate.With.Family |
Measures how loving and attached the breed typically is with family members (1–5 scale). |
Good.With.Young.Children |
Indicates how well the breed generally interacts with young children (1–5 scale). |
Good.With.Other.Dogs |
Rates compatibility with other dogs (1–5 scale). |
Shedding.Level |
Describes how much hair the breed typically sheds (1–5 scale). |
Coat.Grooming.Frequency |
How often grooming is needed to maintain the coat (1–5 scale). |
Drooling.Level |
Indicates how much the breed tends to drool (1–5 scale). |
Coat.Length |
Average length of the breed’s coat, from short (1) to long (5). |
Openness.To.Strangers |
Describes how friendly or reserved a breed is with unfamiliar people (1–5 scale). |
Playfulness.Level |
Measures the breed’s tendency to be active and enjoy play (1–5 scale). |
Watchdog.Protective.Nature |
Indicates the breed’s alertness and protectiveness (1–5 scale). |
Adaptability.Level |
Rates how well the breed adjusts to changes in environment or routine (1–5 scale). |
Trainability.Level |
How easily the breed learns commands and behaviors (1–5 scale). |
Energy.Level |
Indicates how active and energetic the breed typically is (1–5 scale). |
Barking.Level |
Describes how vocal the breed is under normal circumstances (1–5 scale). |
Mental.Stimulation.Needs |
Measures the breed’s need for mental challenges and enrichment (1–5 scale). |
popularity |
Ranking based on AKC registration numbers (lower = more popular). |
min_ht (cm) |
Minimum adult height of the breed in centimeters. |
max_ht (cm) |
Maximum adult height of the breed in centimeters. |
min_wt (kg) |
Minimum adult weight of the breed in kilograms. |
max_wt (kg) |
Maximum adult weight of the breed in kilograms. |
min_life (yrs) |
Minimum expected lifespan of the breed in years. |
max_life (yrs) |
Maximum expected lifespan of the breed in years. |
https://www.kaggle.com/datasets/sujaykapadnis/dog-breeds/data