Dog breed quiz: Which dog is right for me?

Good to know

The quiz gives you a well-founded orientation, not a guarantee. Every dog is an individual, and character varies a lot even within a breed. Still, it is worth looking at typical breed traits, because they say a lot about how much exercise, activity and grooming a dog needs on average and whether that fits your everyday life. You can find out how we turn your answers into recommendations in the next section.

How we find your matches

Unlike our calculators, there is no fixed formula here, but a matching principle. For each of the 35 breeds in our database, we recorded key traits based on recognised sources such as the German Kennel Club (VDH), the FCI breed standards and veterinary portals: How much exercise does the breed need every day? How much experience should you have? How much grooming does the coat need? How well does it get along with young children or other pets?

Your answers are compared with these traits. Some criteria are exclusion criteria for us. If, for example, you say that this is your first dog and you live in an apartment without a garden, breeds like the Australian Shepherd or the Rottweiler are automatically removed from your list, because they need experienced owners and plenty of space. This matters to us, because we don't want to recommend a breed that could overwhelm both of you in everyday life.

All remaining breeds are compared with weighted scoring based on your other answers (size, grooming, budget and, in the optional extra questions, things like how long the dog is alone or how watchful it should be). The percentage next to each breed shows how closely it matches your profile: 100 % means it fits exactly on every question you answered. Below each breed you also see why it suits you and what you should keep in mind.

Which dog breed suits which lifestyle?

Want an overview first? Based on our breed data, these breeds from our database are particularly suited to typical life situations.

All 35 dog breeds at a glance

The same data our quiz uses for matching.

Why you won't find certain breeds here

When putting together our breed database, one thing mattered most to us: we don't want to recommend any breed whose extreme breeding traits put a heavy strain on its health. That is why we deliberately left out 7 breeds that are classed as "Qualzucht" (breeding for exaggerated traits that cause suffering) according to the criteria of the German Dog Welfare Ordinance and the Qualzucht database (QUEN):

• Pug: extreme short-headedness, high risk of breathing problems (BOAS)
• French Bulldog: extreme short-headedness, frequent difficult births
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: skull often too small for the brain (risk of syringomyelia)
• Chihuahua: mismatch between skull and brain, open fontanelle
• Basset Hound: extremely short legs and a long back, high risk of slipped discs
• Shar Pei: extreme skin folds, prone to chronic inflammation
• Shih Tzu: extreme short-headedness, chronic breathing and eye problems

This does not mean these breeds are not lovable or that every single dog of these breeds inevitably suffers. But the breed standards structurally favour diseases that we don't want to actively recommend. For a similar breed profile (small, calm, people-oriented), our quiz shows you the Havanese, Bichon Frisé or Miniature Pinscher instead, for example.

For four other breeds in the quiz (Boxer, St. Bernard, Dachshund, German Shepherd), experts also discuss certain breeding traits, but the evidence is less clear or often only affects certain breeding lines. That is why we kept these breeds in the quiz, but point out the specifics directly in your result.

Sources: Qualzucht database (QUEN), § 11b of the German Animal Welfare Act, FCI breed standards.

Background knowledge

Why is all this worth the effort? Because one of the most common reasons dogs end up in shelters is the wrong expectation of a breed. A Border Collie waiting all day in a city apartment, or a Pug running out of breath on every longer walk, are not exceptions, but typical examples of lifestyle and breed not fitting together.

And it is not just about size or coat colour. Typical breed traits such as herding instinct, hunting instinct or a strong guarding instinct are deeply rooted in the breeding history of many dogs. Training can soften them, but not remove them completely. A herding dog will always feel the urge to herd something, even if it is just your sofa cushion.

That is exactly why it pays to take an honest look at your own everyday life before getting a dog, rather than at the prettiest Instagram photo. And by the way: if none of the 35 breeds fits you perfectly in the end, that is no reason to worry. Mixed breeds and shelter dogs are often the most practical and welfare-friendly choice, precisely because their personality is usually known before they move in with you.

Frequently asked questions