Choosing a dog based solely on their appearance is how many people end up with a Husky living in a small studio flat, or a Border Collie that destroys a couch from boredom. The best breed for you is the one whose needs fit the life you actually have (not an idealized version of the future), not the one you hope to be able to run with each morning.
This quiz will ask you ten practical questions regarding your living space, available time, physical energy, family status, allergy issues and previous pet experience. After completing the quiz you will receive the top five breeds that are most suitable for you along with a match score and a brief explanation for each.
Best Dog for Me Quiz
Be honest. The quiz only works if it matches your real routine.
How the Best Dog for Me Quiz Works
More than seventy breeds were ranked using those characteristics that ultimately determine if a dog would be well-suited to live in a particular home (size, energy, shedding, grooming, how they do with kids, apartment living and ease of training). Your responses will serve as filters and weights. For instance, allergies will greatly influence the need to select low shedding breeds, whereas being a new owner may result in selecting breeds known to be easier to train.
The score on the test shows how good of a match you are as compared to the breed. The score is out of 100. Anytime you get an 80+ it is a great match, anything less than this will show that while the breed is great, they have trade offs that need to be considered.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing a Breed
How much time do you really have?
All dogs require companionship, activity (exercise), and training; however, the amount of each varies greatly depending on the individual dog. For example, a Shih Tzu may be happy with two short walks and a lap to sit on, whereas a working-line Border Collie or Belgian Malinois needs hours of physical and mental exercise every day. Plan for your busiest week, rather than your quietest week, when considering your potential new pet.
What’s your space like?
Many types of dogs can thrive in apartments, regardless of size. In fact, Greyhounds are a prime example of a large breed that can live comfortably in an apartment. It is not so much the actual size of the dog, but rather its energy level and barking level that will make it harder to live in an apartment. For example, a high-energy, busy Terrier-type dog could be more difficult to manage in an apartment due to excessive barking and activity levels, whereas a low-maintenance, calm Lounging type dog (e.g., a Bulldog) would likely adapt better to apartment life.
Who lives with you?
When deciding whether a particular dog is suitable for your household, consider young children and elderly relatives within the home. Many small breeds can be injured by young children, and herding breeds sometimes attempt to herd young children by nipping at their heels. On the other hand, patient, sturdy breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and many Doodle varieties generally do exceptionally well in families with young children.
Allergies
The fact that there is no 100% hypoallergenic dog is due to the fact that all three components which cause an allergy (dander, saliva & urine) are produced by a dog regardless of whether or not they shed. While it is true that low-shedding breeds (Poodles, Bichon Frise, etc.) will generally leave less allergen around the house than their high shedding counterparts, there are still plenty of people who are mildly allergic to these breeds and can live well with them. It may be helpful for you to spend some time with your desired breed prior to making a decision; if possible, meet the parents of the puppy you would like to take home.
Budget
As a general rule, bigger dogs eat more food, cost more to insure and require larger doses of medication. Professional grooming is required for curly coated breeds (i.e. Doodle/Poodles) on a regular basis (every 6-8 weeks). Due to facial structure issues, flat faced breeds often have increased veterinary bills. Factor all of this in.
Best Dog Breeds for Common Lifestyles
| Lifestyle | Breeds that often fit well |
| First-time owners | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Labrador, Cavapoo, Bichon Frise, Mini Goldendoodle |
| Apartment living | French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Maltipoo, Greyhound, Boston Terrier |
| Families with young kids | Golden Retriever, Labrador, Goldendoodle, Bernedoodle, Beagle |
| Allergy-prone homes | Poodle, Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer, Maltipoo, Portuguese Water Dog |
| Runners and hikers | Vizsla, German Shorthaired Pointer, Australian Shepherd, Labradoodle |
| Busy workers | Greyhound, Basset Hound, French Bulldog (with a midday walker) |
| Seniors | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Shih Tzu, Havanese, Maltese |
Why Doodles Show Up So Often
If you live in a family home, care about shedding and want a trainable dog, Doodles will pop up a lot in your results. That’s because they were bred for exactly that combination. Just be aware of two things. First, coat type varies a lot, especially in F1 crosses, so not every Doodle is low-shedding. Second, that curly coat needs real upkeep. Our Goldendoodle breed guide covers this in detail.
Next Steps After Your Results
- Read up on your top three breeds, especially their common health problems.
- Meet adult dogs of those breeds. Puppies are all cute; adults show you what you’re signing up for.
- Talk to breed rescues as well as breeders. Many have wonderful adult dogs whose personality is already known.
- If you choose a breeder, ask about health testing of both parents.
- Budget for the first year: vaccinations, worming, training classes, a crate and insurance. Our puppy vaccination chart shows what’s coming.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your space, activity level, time at home, family and allergies. Take the 10-question quiz above for your top five breed matches.
Friendly, easy-to-train breeds like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Cavapoo and Mini Goldendoodle are often great first dogs.
Calm or small breeds like the French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Maltipoo, Boston Terrier and, surprisingly, the Greyhound often do well in apartments.
Low-shedding breeds like Poodles, Bichon Frises, Miniature Schnauzers and many Doodles tend to cause fewer allergy problems, but no dog is completely allergen-free.
Patient, sturdy breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Goldendoodles and Bernedoodles are popular family choices.
No dog should be alone all day, but calmer breeds like Greyhounds and Basset Hounds cope better. Plan for a dog walker if you’re out for more than 5-6 hours.
Doodles suit active families who want a friendly, trainable, lower-shedding dog and are happy to keep up with regular grooming.
It’s a guide based on typical breed traits. Individual dogs vary, so meet the breed before deciding.
Puppies need a lot of time for training and toilet breaks. An adult dog from a rescue can be a great choice if your schedule is tight.
Vet note: Built and reviewed by Dr. Muhammad Usman, DVM. Breed traits are generalisations. Health, temperament and upbringing vary from dog to dog.
More tools: What Dog Am I Quiz · Random Dog Breed Generator · Dog Name Generator
