The breeds that fit your life

What you told us

Every match below is weighed against these answers.

Where do you live?

A house with a big garden

What is the weather like where you live?

Mild, nothing extreme

How active is a normal week for you?

Long walks, runs or hikes most days

How long would your dog be alone on a normal day?

Up to 4 hours

Are there children at home?

Children over about 8

Do you already have another dog?

Yes, there is another dog

Do you have a cat?

No cats

Have you had a dog before?

I have had one or two

How much training are you planning to do?

Classes, and training as a hobby

How much grooming are you up for?

A brush a few times a week

How do you feel about dog hair around the house?

It does not bother me

How much barking can your household handle?

Some barking is fine

Your top 5, in depth

The score is how well each breed lines up with your answers. It is our own measure of fit, not a probability.

Every breed, ranked

All 65 breeds, best fit first, with the strongest point for and against each one for you. Breeds a point or two apart are effectively level.

1. 1Golden Retriever85%

   For: + Fits your activity level

2. 2Labrador Retriever85%

   For: + Fine with your other dog

3. 3English Springer Spaniel83%

   For: + Usually a good family fit

4. 4Irish Setter80%

   For: + Makes real use of your garden

5. 5Boxer79%

   For: + Fits your activity level

6. 6German Shepherd Dog79%

   For: + Grooming fits what you want

7. 7Brittany78%

   For: + Makes real use of your garden

8. 8Staffordshire Bull Terrier77%

   For: + Fits your activity level

   Against: − May not want to share

9. 9Pembroke Welsh Corgi77%

   For: + Usually a good family fit

10. 10Whippet77%

    For: + Suits your experience

11. 11Boston Terrier76%

    For: + Grooming fits what you want

12. 12Bernese Mountain Dog76%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

13. 13German Shorthaired Pointer75%

    For: + Quiet enough for your household

14. 14American Staffordshire Terrier75%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − May not want to share

15. 15Greyhound75%

    For: + Suits your experience

16. 16Beagle75%

    For: + Fine with your other dog

    Against: − Noisier than your household wants

17. 17Doberman Pinscher75%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − May not want to share

18. 18Newfoundland75%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

19. 19Great Dane75%

    For: + Suits your experience

20. 20Poodle (Standard)74%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

21. 21Portuguese Water Dog74%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

22. 22Pug74%

    For: + Fine with your other dog

23. 23Parson Russell Terrier74%

    For: + Fits your activity level

24. 24Australian Shepherd73%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

25. 25Dalmatian73%

    For: + Grooming fits what you want

26. 26Rhodesian Ridgeback72%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

27. 27Russell Terrier72%

    For: + Copes with the hours you are out

28. 28Cocker Spaniel71%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

29. 29Collie71%

    For: + Suits your experience

30. 30Vizsla71%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

31. 31Airedale Terrier71%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − May not want to share

32. 32Basset Hound71%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

33. 33Samoyed71%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

34. 34Papillon70%

    For: + Suits your experience

35. 35Miniature Schnauzer70%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

36. 36Saint Bernard70%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

37. 37Bulldog70%

    For: + Suits your experience

38. 38Bloodhound69%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

39. 39Shetland Sheepdog69%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

    Against: − Noisier than your household wants

40. 40Poodle (Miniature)69%

    For: + Suits your experience

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

41. 41Siberian Husky69%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

42. 42Cavalier King Charles Spaniel69%

    For: + Fine with your other dog

43. 43Mastiff68%

    For: + Grooming fits what you want

44. 44Rottweiler67%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

45. 45Weimaraner67%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

46. 46Border Collie67%

    For: + Grooming fits what you want

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

47. 47West Highland White Terrier66%

    For: + Suits your experience

48. 48Great Pyrenees66%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

    Against: − Noisier than your household wants

49. 49French Bulldog65%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

50. 50Cane Corso65%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

51. 51Havanese65%

    For: + Fine with your other dog

52. 52Australian Cattle Dog65%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

53. 53Belgian Malinois65%

    For: + Grooming fits what you want

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

54. 54Alaskan Malamute65%

    For: + Fits your activity level

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

55. 55Bichon Frise64%

    For: + Usually a good family fit

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

56. 56Dachshund64%

    For: + Suits your experience

57. 57Shih Tzu63%

    For: + Quiet enough for your household

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

58. 58Shiba Inu61%

    For: + Grooming fits what you want

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

59. 59Chihuahua60%

    For: + Suits your experience

    Against: − Not an easy fit with children

60. 60Akita60%

    For: + Makes real use of your garden

    Against: − May not want to share

61. 61Yorkshire Terrier57%

    For: + Copes with the hours you are out

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

62. 62Pomeranian55%

    For: + Suits your experience

    Against: − Noisier than your household wants

63. 63Lhasa Apso54%

    For: + Suits your experience

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

64. 64Chow Chow53%

    For: + Quiet enough for your household

    Against: − A demanding breed to start with

65. 65Maltese53%

    For: + Suits your experience

    Against: − More grooming than you asked for

Before you commit