Which Dog Breed Is Right for Me? Find Your Best Matches
Not sure what dog to get? Answer 12 quick questions, plus an optional budget question, about your home, schedule and family. It takes about 2 minutes, and there’s no sign-up. We compare your answers with 171 breeds and show why each one fits, what to watch for, and what the first year may cost.
How the matching works
Every breed has ratings from 1 to 5 for 15 traits, such as energy, shedding, barking, time alone, and how it gets along with kids, dogs and cats. The ratings come from the facts in our 171 breed guides. Weight and daily exercise come from the same guides, and first-year costs come from our cost calculator.
Your answers work in two ways:
- Must-haves remove breeds. Allergies, kids under 6, cats or small pets, and your size choices filter the list first. If your sizes leave fewer than 5 breeds, we add the neighboring sizes on both sides, one step at a time, until at least 5 breeds fit, and tell you which sizes we added. Those breeds lose 12 points for each size step away from your pick. We never drop the allergy filter.
- Everything else adjusts the score. Each gap between a breed and your answers costs points, and a big gap costs more than a small one. Energy gaps weigh the most: a breed one step more energetic than you planned loses about 12 points, and one that needs far more exercise can drop out of the top results.
- Breeds that span two sizes count for both. A 40–70 lb dog shows up for both medium and large. If part of its weight range falls outside your pick, it takes a small deduction that grows with how much of the range is outside.
- Two deductions apply whatever your answers. Flat-faced breeds carry a 5-point deduction for breathing-related health risks (picking “Healthy & long-lived” adds 10 more). Breeds outside the AKC top 100 lose 3 points because breeders are fewer and waits longer; designer crosses are exempt.
- Ties go to the more common breed. When two breeds have exactly the same score, the one in the AKC top 50 is listed first. Apart from this and the 3-point cut above, popularity doesn’t affect your results.
Breed ratings last updated October 8, 2026.
What your match % means, and what it doesn’t
The % starts at 100 and drops with each gap between a breed’s typical traits and your answers, plus the two fixed deductions above. 85% and up is an excellent fit, 70–84% is great, and 55–69% is good. Below that, expect real trade-offs.
Breed traits are generalizations, and individual dogs vary a lot, even within one litter. In a study of over 18,000 dogs, breed explained only about 9% of the differences in individual behavior. Treat your results as a shortlist, not a verdict, and meet the dog before you decide.
Before you answer: four things people underestimate
- Your real routine. Answer for a typical busy weekday, not a relaxed Saturday.
- Time alone. Long days alone are hard on most dogs. A midday walker or doggy daycare a few days a week opens up many more breeds.
- Kids now and later. A puppy you bring home today may still be with you in 12 years. If kids are likely, plan for them now.
- Climate. Flat-faced breeds can overheat quickly, and thick-coated northern breeds can struggle through long, hot summers.
Allergies: no breed is truly hypoallergenic
All dogs make allergens, mostly in saliva and skin flakes, not just hair. A 2011 study of 173 homes with dogs found no difference in household allergen levels between so-called hypoallergenic breeds and other dogs. A 2012 study found that “hypoallergenic” breeds carried more of the main dog allergen in their coats, and the air in their homes held no less of it. Some people with allergies report fewer symptoms around certain individual dogs, so if someone in your home has allergies, spend time with the specific dog before you commit. Our guide to lower-shedding breeds goes deeper.
Plan the first-year budget
Size drives a lot of the first-year cost. Food, medication doses, crates and grooming all scale with the dog. Here is the typical first-year range for each size:
| Size | Typical first year | Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Toy (under 12 lb) | $2,720–$5,812 | 17 |
| Small (12–25 lb) | $2,862–$5,915 | 32 |
| Medium (25–50 lb) | $3,166–$6,100 | 37 |
| Large (50–90 lb) | $3,500–$6,704 | 55 |
| Giant (90+ lb) | $4,660–$8,980 | 23 |
Estimates use our cost calculator’s default settings: a breeder puppy, suburban prices, pet insurance and professional grooming. Each breed’s cost guide covers breed-specific extras. Most results in the quiz link to that breed’s estimate in the cost calculator, where you can change the settings and see the breakdown.
Mixed breeds and adoption
The quiz scores purebreds and popular crosses, but your answers really describe a dog, not just a breed. Use your matches as a guide to the size, energy and coat that suit you, then look at shelter and rescue dogs with the same traits. Adult rescue dogs often come with a known temperament, which takes some guesswork out. Read our guides to mixed-breed dogs and whether to adopt or buy.
Next steps
- Read the full guide for your top 2 or 3 matches, especially the health and training sections.
- Meet adult dogs of those breeds at a breeder, rescue, dog show or meetup.
- If you buy, learn how to find a responsible breeder and which health tests to ask about.
- Once you’ve decided, use the breed’s puppy checklist to get ready for the first 90 days.
Dog breed quiz FAQ
How accurate is this dog breed quiz?
It is a starting point, not a final answer. Breed ratings describe typical tendencies, and individual dogs vary a lot. In one large study, breed explained only about 9% of the differences in individual dog behavior. Use your matches as a shortlist, read each breed guide, and meet the dogs before you decide.
Why isn’t my favorite breed in my results?
It may have missed one of your must-haves, such as allergies, kids under 6, cats or size. It may also have scored lower on exercise, time alone or barking. Use “Check a specific breed” under your results to see its score and what held it back.
Does the quiz recommend hypoallergenic dogs?
No dog is truly hypoallergenic. If you tell us someone at home has dog allergies, we only show lower-shedding breeds. Studies haven’t found lower allergen levels in homes with these breeds, but some people with allergies report fewer symptoms around certain individual dogs. Spend time with the specific dog before you commit.
What if I live in an apartment or this is my first dog?
Answer honestly and the quiz does the rest. Apartment answers favor breeds that settle well indoors. First-time owner answers favor breeds that are forgiving and easy to train, and push high-drive working breeds down the list.
Can I use the results to find a mixed-breed or rescue dog?
Yes. Your results describe the size, energy and coat that fit your life. Look for shelter and rescue dogs with those traits, and ask staff how each dog does with kids, other pets and time alone.
Can I save or share my results?
Yes. Your answers are saved in the page link, not on our servers, and we never ask for your name or email to show results. Use “Copy link to results” to save them or send them to someone you live with.