diff --git a/client/src/pages/DogList.jsx b/client/src/pages/DogList.jsx
index 9f0c7bf..d1e6aed 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/DogList.jsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/DogList.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { Link } from 'react-router-dom'
-import { Dog, Plus, Search } from 'lucide-react'
+import { Dog, Plus, Search, Calendar, Hash, ArrowRight } from 'lucide-react'
 import axios from 'axios'
 import DogForm from '../components/DogForm'
 
@@ -52,68 +52,224 @@ function DogList() {
     fetchDogs()
   }
 
+  const calculateAge = (birthDate) => {
+    if (!birthDate) return null
+    const today = new Date()
+    const birth = new Date(birthDate)
+    let years = today.getFullYear() - birth.getFullYear()
+    let months = today.getMonth() - birth.getMonth()
+    
+    if (months < 0) {
+      years--
+      months += 12
+    }
+    
+    if (years === 0) return `${months}mo`
+    if (months === 0) return `${years}y`
+    return `${years}y ${months}mo`
+  }
+
   if (loading) {
     return <div className="container loading">Loading dogs...</div>
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="container">
+    <div className="container" style={{ paddingTop: '2rem', paddingBottom: '3rem' }}>
       <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'space-between', alignItems: 'center', marginBottom: '2rem' }}>
-        <h1>Dogs</h1>
+        <div>
+          <h1 style={{ marginBottom: '0.25rem' }}>Dogs</h1>
+          <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}>
+            {filteredDogs.length} {filteredDogs.length === 1 ? 'dog' : 'dogs'}
+            {search || sexFilter !== 'all' ? ' matching filters' : ' total'}
+          </p>
+        </div>
         <button className="btn btn-primary" onClick={() => setShowAddModal(true)}>
-          <Plus size={20} />
+          <Plus size={18} />
           Add Dog
         </button>
       </div>
 
-      <div className="card" style={{ marginBottom: '2rem' }}>
-        <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr auto', gap: '1rem' }}>
+      {/* Search and Filter Bar */}
+      <div className="card" style={{ marginBottom: '1.5rem', padding: '1rem' }}>
+        <div style={{ display: 'grid', gridTemplateColumns: '1fr auto auto', gap: '1rem', alignItems: 'center' }}>
           <div style={{ position: 'relative' }}>
-            <Search size={20} style={{ position: 'absolute', left: '0.75rem', top: '50%', transform: 'translateY(-50%)', color: 'var(--text-secondary)' }} />
+            <Search size={18} style={{ position: 'absolute', left: '0.875rem', top: '50%', transform: 'translateY(-50%)', color: 'var(--text-muted)' }} />
             <input
               type="text"
               className="input"
-              placeholder="Search by name or registration number..."
+              placeholder="Search by name or registration..."
               value={search}
               onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
-              style={{ paddingLeft: '2.5rem' }}
+              style={{ paddingLeft: '2.75rem' }}
             />
           </div>
-          <select className="input" value={sexFilter} onChange={(e) => setSexFilter(e.target.value)} style={{ width: 'auto' }}>
-            <option value="all">All</option>
-            <option value="male">Males</option>
-            <option value="female">Females</option>
+          <select className="input" value={sexFilter} onChange={(e) => setSexFilter(e.target.value)} style={{ width: '140px' }}>
+            <option value="all">All Dogs</option>
+            <option value="male">Males ♂</option>
+            <option value="female">Females ♀</option>
           </select>
+          {(search || sexFilter !== 'all') && (
+            <button 
+              className="btn btn-ghost" 
+              onClick={() => {
+                setSearch('')
+                setSexFilter('all')
+              }}
+              style={{ padding: '0.625rem 1rem', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}
+            >
+              Clear
+            </button>
+          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <div className="grid grid-3">
-        {filteredDogs.map(dog => (
-          <Link key={dog.id} to={`/dogs/${dog.id}`} className="card" style={{ textDecoration: 'none', color: 'inherit' }}>
-            <div style={{ aspectRatio: '1', background: 'var(--bg-secondary)', borderRadius: '0.375rem', marginBottom: '1rem', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
-              {dog.photo_urls && dog.photo_urls.length > 0 ? (
-                <img src={dog.photo_urls[0]} alt={dog.name} style={{ width: '100%', height: '100%', objectFit: 'cover', borderRadius: '0.375rem' }} />
-              ) : (
-                <Dog size={48} style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)' }} />
-              )}
-            </div>
-            <h3>{dog.name}</h3>
-            <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)', fontSize: '0.875rem' }}>
-              {dog.breed} • {dog.sex === 'male' ? '♂' : '♀'}
-            </p>
-            {dog.registration_number && (
-              <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)', fontSize: '0.75rem', marginTop: '0.25rem' }}>{dog.registration_number}</p>
-            )}
-            {dog.birth_date && (
-              <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)', fontSize: '0.75rem' }}>Born: {new Date(dog.birth_date).toLocaleDateString()}</p>
-            )}
-          </Link>
-        ))}
-      </div>
+      {/* Dogs List */}
+      {filteredDogs.length === 0 ? (
+        <div className="card" style={{ textAlign: 'center', padding: '4rem 2rem' }}>
+          <Dog size={64} style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', margin: '0 auto 1rem', opacity: 0.5 }} />
+          <h3 style={{ marginBottom: '0.5rem' }}>
+            {search || sexFilter !== 'all' ? 'No dogs found' : 'No dogs yet'}
+          </h3>
+          <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)', marginBottom: '2rem' }}>
+            {search || sexFilter !== 'all' 
+              ? 'Try adjusting your search or filters' 
+              : 'Add your first dog to get started'}
+          </p>
+          {!search && sexFilter === 'all' && (
+            <button className="btn btn-primary" onClick={() => setShowAddModal(true)}>
+              <Plus size={18} />
+              Add Your First Dog
+            </button>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      ) : (
+        <div style={{ display: 'grid', gap: '1rem' }}>
+          {filteredDogs.map(dog => (
+            <Link 
+              key={dog.id} 
+              to={`/dogs/${dog.id}`} 
+              className="card" 
+              style={{ 
+                padding: '1rem',
+                textDecoration: 'none', 
+                display: 'flex',
+                gap: '1rem',
+                alignItems: 'center',
+                transition: 'var(--transition)',
+                cursor: 'pointer'
+              }}
+              onMouseEnter={(e) => {
+                e.currentTarget.style.borderColor = 'var(--primary)'
+                e.currentTarget.style.transform = 'translateY(-2px)'
+                e.currentTarget.style.boxShadow = '0 8px 16px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3)'
+              }}
+              onMouseLeave={(e) => {
+                e.currentTarget.style.borderColor = 'var(--border)'
+                e.currentTarget.style.transform = 'translateY(0)'
+                e.currentTarget.style.boxShadow = 'var(--shadow-sm)'
+              }}
+            >
+              {/* Avatar Photo */}
+              <div style={{ 
+                width: '80px',
+                height: '80px',
+                flexShrink: 0,
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius)',
+                background: 'var(--bg-primary)',
+                border: '2px solid var(--border)',
+                display: 'flex',
+                alignItems: 'center',
+                justifyContent: 'center',
+                overflow: 'hidden'
+              }}>
+                {dog.photo_urls && dog.photo_urls.length > 0 ? (
+                  <img 
+                    src={dog.photo_urls[0]} 
+                    alt={dog.name} 
+                    style={{ 
+                      width: '100%', 
+                      height: '100%', 
+                      objectFit: 'cover'
+                    }} 
+                  />
+                ) : (
+                  <Dog size={32} style={{ color: 'var(--text-muted)', opacity: 0.5 }} />
+                )}
+              </div>
 
-      {filteredDogs.length === 0 && (
-        <div className="card" style={{ textAlign: 'center', padding: '3rem' }}>
-          <p style={{ color: 'var(--text-secondary)' }}>No dogs found matching your search criteria.</p>
+              {/* Info Section */}
+              <div style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
+                <h3 style={{ 
+                  fontSize: '1.125rem', 
+                  marginBottom: '0.375rem',
+                  overflow: 'hidden',
+                  textOverflow: 'ellipsis',
+                  whiteSpace: 'nowrap'
+                }}>
+                  {dog.name}
+                  <span style={{ 
+                    marginLeft: '0.5rem', 
+                    fontSize: '1rem',
+                    color: dog.sex === 'male' ? 'var(--primary)' : '#ec4899'
+                  }}>
+                    {dog.sex === 'male' ? '♂' : '♀'}
+                  </span>
+                </h3>
+                
+                <div style={{ 
+                  display: 'flex',
+                  flexWrap: 'wrap',
+                  gap: '0.75rem',
+                  fontSize: '0.8125rem',
+                  color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+                  marginBottom: '0.5rem'
+                }}>
+                  <span>{dog.breed}</span>
+                  {dog.birth_date && (
+                    <>
+                      <span>•</span>
+                      <span style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.25rem' }}>
+                        <Calendar size={12} />
+                        {calculateAge(dog.birth_date)}
+                      </span>
+                    </>
+                  )}
+                  {dog.color && (
+                    <>
+                      <span>•</span>
+                      <span>{dog.color}</span>
+                    </>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+
+                {dog.registration_number && (
+                  <div style={{ 
+                    display: 'inline-flex',
+                    alignItems: 'center',
+                    gap: '0.25rem',
+                    padding: '0.25rem 0.5rem',
+                    background: 'var(--bg-primary)',
+                    border: '1px solid var(--border)',
+                    borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)',
+                    fontSize: '0.75rem',
+                    fontFamily: 'monospace',
+                    color: 'var(--text-muted)'
+                  }}>
+                    <Hash size={10} />
+                    {dog.registration_number}
+                  </div>
+                )}
+              </div>
+
+              {/* Arrow Indicator */}
+              <div style={{ 
+                opacity: 0.5,
+                transition: 'var(--transition)'
+              }}>
+                <ArrowRight size={20} color="var(--text-muted)" />
+              </div>
+            </Link>
+          ))}
         </div>
       )}