The American Kennel Club puts retrievers, spaniels, setters and pointers in the Sporting Group, and dogs bred for guarding, pulling and rescue in the Working Group. What they have in common is energy.
Breeds in these groups
Weights are from each breed's AKC page. Sporting breeds are shown first.
Mixes of these breeds often carry the same drive.
| Breed | Group | AKC weight |
|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | Sporting | 55 to 80 pounds |
| Golden Retriever | Sporting | 55 to 75 pounds |
| Brittany | Sporting | 30 to 40 pounds |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | Sporting | 45 to 70 pounds |
| Vizsla | Sporting | 44 to 60 pounds |
| Boxer | Working | 65 to 80 pounds (male) |
| Siberian Husky | Working | 35 to 60 pounds |
| Doberman Pinscher | Working | 60 to 100 pounds |
More sporting breeds
The AKC Sporting Group also includes these breeds, each with its own page giving the usual kennel class and bath column:
- American Water Spaniel
- Barbet
- Bracco Italiano
- Clumber Spaniel
- Curly-Coated Retriever
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Field Spaniel
- Gordon Setter
- Irish Red and White Setter
- Irish Setter
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
- Spinone Italiano
- Sussex Spaniel
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Wirehaired Vizsla
More working breeds
The AKC Working Group also includes these breeds, each with its own page:
- Black Russian Terrier
- Boerboel
- Danish-Swedish Farmdog
- Dogo Argentino
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- German Pinscher
- Giant Schnauzer
- Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
- Komondor
- Kuvasz
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Standard Schnauzer
- Tibetan Mastiff
Business Class is the usual fit
Most dogs in these groups weigh 45 to 90 pounds, which is Business Class: 5x6 feet inside and 60 square feet outside, $59 a night on the 2026 rates. A smaller dog like a Brittany can use Economy at $52. A Rottweiler or a Great Dane may need First Class at $72. Two dogs from one home pay $59 plus $50 in Business Class.
What a high-energy dog needs
Walks are included, and the large fenced play areas and the grass field give a high-energy dog somewhere to run. The page on high-energy dogs explains more. Picture play sessions are an add-on at $14.99 per kennel. Bring one toy that is not the favorite.
Dogs bred to work all day can be restless after a day of sitting. Tell the staff what your dog is used to doing.
Bath cells
Sporting and working coats range from a Boxer's extra short to a Husky's double. Ask which column fits your dog, and please ask to confirm today's price. A 51 to 75 pound dog is $40 to $65 on the 2024 chart, depending on coat.
Heat and food
nearby Vacaville, the closest weather station, averages about 100 days a year at 90 degrees or higher, so the air-conditioned run matters for thick-coated dogs. Many dogs in these groups also love food, so write amounts in cups if you bring your own, or use the house food at no charge.
Prices for a typical week
A Labrador in Business Class for seven nights is 7 x $59 = $413 on the 2026 rates. The second dog from the same home is $50 a night. Stays of 14 nights or more get the reduced rate of $53 a night in Business Class.