12 Best Medium-Sized Dog Breeds — our top picks
Vizsla
Vizsla: medium-sized, very high energy and very high trainability — the middle ground — substantial without dominating a household. Elegant Hungarian pointer known as the "Velcro dog" for their close bond with owners. Athletic and affectionate. Worth knowing before you commit: the Vizsla needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Brittany
Brittany: medium-sized, very high energy and very high trainability — the middle ground — substantial without dominating a household. Compact, athletic gundog with boundless energy. Eager to please and excellent family companion when properly exercised. Worth knowing before you commit: the Brittany needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
English Springer Spaniel
English Springer Spaniel: medium-sized, very high energy and very high trainability — the middle ground — substantial without dominating a household. Athletic, medium-sized spaniel with excellent flushing ability. Energetic and devoted family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the English Springer Spaniel needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherd: medium-sized, very high energy and very high trainability. Versatile herding dog with striking coat patterns. Intelligent and energetic working companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Australian Shepherd needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
English Cocker Spaniel
English Cocker Spaniel: medium-sized, high energy and high trainability. Merry, active spaniel with beautiful coat. Smaller than American Cocker but with more hunting drive. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the English Cocker Spaniel needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dog: medium-sized, high energy and very high trainability. Curly-coated Portuguese fishermans dog. Intelligent, athletic, and excellent swimmer. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Portuguese Water Dog needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Keeshond
Keeshond: medium-sized, medium energy and high trainability. Dutch barge dog with fox-like face and spectacles markings. Friendly spitz breed with moderate exercise needs. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Keeshond needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Aussiedoodle
Aussiedoodle: medium-sized, very high energy and very high trainability. Australian Shepherd and Poodle cross combining herding instincts with intelligence. Active and trainable. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Aussiedoodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Beagle
Beagle: medium-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. Small to medium scenthound with gentle temperament. Excellent family dog with moderate exercise needs. Worth knowing before you commit: a strong prey drive makes off-leash recall a long project for the Beagle.
Border Collie
Border Collie: medium-sized, very high energy and very high trainability. Supreme herding dog with intense work drive and intelligence. Often considered the most intelligent dog breed. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Border Collie needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Samoyed
Samoyed: medium-sized, high energy and medium trainability. White Arctic spitz with smiling expression. Gentle, friendly, and excellent family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Samoyed needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Pit Bull Terrier: medium-sized, high energy and high trainability. Athletic, medium-sized terrier known for strength, confidence, and zest for life. Loyal and affectionate with proper socialization and training. Worth knowing before you commit: the American Pit Bull Terrier needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for medium-sized-dog homes
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
The Chihuahua (Long Coat) is a popular choice, but very small-sized put it at odds with medium-sized-dog homes. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is a popular choice, but very small-sized put it at odds with medium-sized-dog homes. On top of that, the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is vocal, which matters if you share walls.
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a popular choice, but very small-sized put it at odds with medium-sized-dog homes. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Yorkshire Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- What is the best medium-sized dog breed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Vizsla ranks as the top choice for medium-sized-dog homes, followed by the Brittany and English Springer Spaniel.
- How was this list of dogs for medium-sized-dog homes chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for medium-sized-dog homes — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for medium-sized-dog homes?
- The Chihuahua (Long Coat), The Chihuahua (Smooth Coat), The Yorkshire Terrier all rank near the bottom for medium-sized-dog homes despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.