Which dog breed fits your family?
There are more than two hundred dog breeds, and the difference between the smallest and the largest is bigger than the difference between most of the other pets on this site. Answer nine questions and we will show you the ones that actually fit your home — then you can read about each one properly.
The nine questions, and what each one changes
Here is the whole dog breed quiz before you start it. The first two are quick facts that demote breeds rather than rule them out — an allergy makes a heavy-shedding breed a worse fit, it does not pretend the breed stopped existing.
Is anyone in your family allergic to dogs?
- No, we're fine
- Yes, someone is
Would this be your family's first dog?
- Yes, our very first
- We've had dogs before
Who is the dog mostly for?
- Little kids, under 6
- Kids about 6 to 11
- Teenagers
- Mostly the grown-ups
What size dog fits your home?
- A tiny lap dog
- Small
- Medium
- Big
How much exercise can you give — every single day?
- Short strolls round the block
- A proper walk and some play
- Hikes, running, a dog with a job
Coats come with a trade-off. Which would you rather have?
- Barely any grooming — I don't mind the vacuuming
- Barely any shedding — I don't mind brushing and haircuts
- Somewhere in the middle is fine
On a normal weekday, how long is the house empty?
- Someone's nearly always home
- A few hours at a time
- Most of the working day
Where do you live?
- A flat or condo with neighbours close by
- A house with a yard
- Lots of outdoor space
A question for a grown-up: what's the ongoing budget like?
- We need to keep costs down
- Middle of the road
- We can budget for grooming and bigger vet bills
Before you scroll: breed tells you a lot about a dog's size, coat and likely health, and surprisingly little about its personality. The largest study of the question found breed explains only about 9% of the behaviour differences between individual dogs. Use this page to narrow down the practical stuff, then judge the dog in front of you.
Start at the shelter
All 46 purebred dog breeds
Labrador Retriever
Friendly, patient and playful — the classic family dog, and happiest when it has a job and a swim.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Labs have topped the American Kennel Club popularity list for most of the last thirty years.
Golden Retriever
Gentle, eager to please and wonderful with children — but that beautiful coat sheds all year.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed🪥 Some grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Goldens were first bred in Scotland to fetch ducks out of cold water.
German Shorthaired Pointer
An athlete in a short coat. Brilliant with an active family, miserable without a real run every day.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Their liver-and-white ticking means no two pointers have quite the same pattern.
English Springer Spaniel
A merry, bouncy spaniel that wants to be wherever you are — ears need checking, energy needs burning.
🐩 Medium⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🪥 Some grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: The name comes from their old job: "springing" birds out of the undergrowth.
Cocker Spaniel
Sweet-natured with a glorious coat that needs real upkeep — and ears that need checking every week.
🐩 Medium🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Those long ears trap moisture, which is why weekly ear checks are part of the deal.
Vizsla
The "velcro dog" — affectionate to a fault, and genuinely unhappy left on its own all day.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Their nose, eye rims and paw pads all match their rust-coloured coat.
Standard Poodle allergy-friendlier
Clever, athletic and low-shedding — but that coat is a standing appointment, not a weekend brush.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Poodles were water retrievers first; the fancy show clip started as practical insulation for swimming.
Miniature & Toy Poodle allergy-friendlier
All the Poodle brain in a lap-sized package — sharp, chatty, and just as much grooming.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Toy, Miniature and Standard Poodles are one breed in three sizes, not three breeds.
Border Collie
Widely called the smartest dog alive — which is exactly why a bored one redecorates your house.
🐩 Medium⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed🪥 Some grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: A Border Collie can work a whole flock of sheep using nothing but a stare.
Australian Shepherd
A tireless, whip-smart herder that needs a job. Stunning coat, serious exercise bill.
🐩 Medium⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Despite the name, Aussies were developed in the American West, not Australia.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
A big herding dog on short legs — bold, funny, opinionated, and a champion shedder.
🐩 Medium🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed🪥 Some grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Corgis were bred to herd cattle by nipping at their heels and ducking the kick.
Shetland Sheepdog
A sensitive, quick-learning little shepherd with a magnificent mane — and a lot to say about everything.
🐩 Medium🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Shelties come from the same windswept Scottish islands as Shetland ponies.
Collie (Rough)
Calm, patient and famously good with children — the storybook family dog, with a storybook coat to brush.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: The Collie's long narrow muzzle gives it one of the widest fields of vision of any dog.
Australian Cattle Dog
Tough, clever and relentless. A brilliant partner for an outdoorsy family, a disaster on a sofa.
🐩 Medium⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🙂 Careful kids$ to keep
Fun fact: Their speckled blue or red coat comes from an old cross with the wild Australian dingo.
German Shepherd
Loyal, serious and endlessly trainable — a big commitment in exercise, training and grooming.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed🪥 Some grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: German Shepherds are the world's most common police and search-and-rescue breed.
Siberian Husky
Beautiful, hilarious and famously stubborn — a born escape artist that sheds its whole coat twice a year.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed🪥 Some grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Huskies do not really bark; they howl, yodel and argue with you.
Rottweiler
Calm, confident and deeply attached to its family. Needs a grown-up who will do the training properly.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Rottweilers once drove cattle for Roman legions, carrying the butcher's money in a neck pouch.
Doberman Pinscher
Elegant, sensitive and velcro-close to its people — far softer at home than its reputation suggests.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: The breed was created by a German tax collector who wanted company on his rounds.
Boxer
A clown that never quite grows up — playful, patient with kids, and slobbery.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Boxers "box" — they really do stand up and spar with their front paws when they play.
Great Dane
An enormous, gentle housemate that mostly wants to lean on you — and takes up an entire sofa.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: A Great Dane standing on its back legs is taller than most adults.
Mastiff
A calm, enormous, deeply soppy dog. Low energy, very high everything-else.
🐘 Big😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Mastiffs are among the heaviest dogs alive — some weigh more than a grown adult.
Cane Corso
A powerful, serious Italian guardian. Wonderful with the right experienced owner, a lot of dog for anyone else.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming⚠️ Older kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: The name comes from Latin roughly meaning "guardian dog".
Bernese Mountain Dog
Sweet, steady and beautiful — a big mountain dog with a famously short life and a famously heavy coat.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Berners were Swiss farm dogs that pulled carts of milk to market.
Newfoundland
The gentle giant of gentle giants — a natural swimmer and lifeguard, and a mop of a coat.
🐘 Big😌 Low energy🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Newfoundlands have webbed feet and have been credited with real water rescues.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Quiet, independent and athletic, with a stripe of backward-growing hair down its spine.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: The ridge along the back is made of hair growing the opposite way to the rest of the coat.
Beagle
Cheerful, sturdy and endlessly curious — and that nose will walk off with the rest of the dog.
🐩 Medium⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$ to keep
Fun fact: A Beagle's sense of smell is good enough that some work airport customs.
Dachshund
Bold, funny and completely convinced it is a big dog. That long back needs protecting.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding🪥 Some grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Dachshunds were bred to go down badger tunnels — the name literally means "badger dog".
Basset Hound
Slow, sweet and stubborn, with a nose second only to the Bloodhound and ears that drag through dinner.
🐩 Medium😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: A Basset's ears help sweep scent up from the ground toward its nose.
Greyhound
The famous couch potato: a few sprints a day, then eighteen hours of dignified napping.
🐘 Big😌 Low energy✨ Low shed🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Greyhounds hit 40 mph, but sleep more than almost any other breed.
Whippet
A greyhound in miniature — quiet, gentle, clean, and a rocket in short bursts.
🐩 Medium🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$ to keep
Fun fact: Whippets were once called "the poor man's racehorse" in English mining towns.
Yorkshire Terrier allergy-friendlier
A tiny terrier with a huge opinion and a silky coat that needs daily attention.
🐭 Toy🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Yorkies started as ratters in Victorian mills before they ever sat on a cushion.
West Highland White Terrier
A confident, bouncy little Scot with a harsh white coat that needs stripping or clipping.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Westies were bred white so hunters could tell them from the fox in poor light.
Miniature Schnauzer allergy-friendlier
Beard, eyebrows and attitude — a smart, low-shedding little dog that will tell you about every passer-by.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: The beard was practical once: it protected the muzzle from rat bites.
Boston Terrier
The "American Gentleman" — tidy, funny and easy-going, in a permanent tuxedo.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: The Boston Terrier was the first breed developed in the United States.
Pug
A comedian in a small square body — devoted, lazy and, because of that flat face, a real health commitment.
🐕 Small😌 Low energy🌬️ Heavy shed🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: A group of pugs is actually called a "grumble".
French Bulldog
Charming, funny and hugely popular — and the flat face brings real breathing and heat problems.
🐕 Small😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Most French Bulldogs cannot swim; their heavy front end sinks.
Bulldog
Placid, stubborn and famously fond of naps. The wrinkles and the flat face both need daily care.
🐩 Medium😌 Low energy🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Bulldogs need their face wrinkles cleaned out like you would clean between your toes.
Shih Tzu allergy-friendlier
A calm, friendly little companion bred purely for laps — and for a coat that needs daily brushing.
🐕 Small😌 Low energy✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Shih Tzus lived in Chinese palaces for centuries before anyone outside saw one.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Possibly the softest, most people-loving small dog there is — and a breed with serious heart problems to know about.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding🪥 Some grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Cavaliers were bred to be lap-warmers, and they take the job extremely seriously.
Bichon Frise allergy-friendlier
A cheerful white powder-puff — playful, low-shedding, and a standing grooming appointment.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: That round shape is entirely a haircut; underneath is a normal little dog.
Havanese allergy-friendlier
Cuba's own little companion dog — sociable, trainable and genuinely happy to be carried around.
🐭 Toy🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: The Havanese is the only dog breed native to Cuba.
Maltese allergy-friendlier
A tiny, ancient lap dog under a floor-length white coat that needs daily work or a short clip.
🐭 Toy😌 Low energy✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Maltese have been lap dogs for at least two thousand years.
Pomeranian
A fox-faced puffball with an enormous personality and an enormous amount to say.
🐭 Toy🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming⚠️ Older kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Poms shrank from big sled dogs — their ancestors hauled loads across the Arctic.
Chihuahua
The smallest breed there is, with the biggest attitude — devoted to one person and wary of everyone else.
🐭 Toy🙂 Moderate🧹 Some shedding🧼 Low grooming⚠️ Older kids$ to keep
Fun fact: Chihuahuas are named after the Mexican state where they were first recorded.
Shiba Inu
Cat-like, clean and famously independent. A Shiba loves you; a Shiba will not obey you.
🐩 Medium🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed🧼 Low grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Shibas are known for the "Shiba scream" — a dramatic shriek when displeased.
Dalmatian
Striking, athletic and built to run for miles — a lot more dog than the films suggest.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed🧼 Low grooming🙂 Careful kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: Dalmatian puppies are born pure white; the spots appear over the first few weeks.
📊 Compare all 46 side by side in a table
| Breed | Size | Energy | Shedding | Grooming | With kids | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Golden Retriever | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🪥 Some grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| English Springer Spaniel | 🐩 Medium | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🪥 Some grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Cocker Spaniel | 🐩 Medium | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Vizsla | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Standard Poodle | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Miniature & Toy Poodle | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Border Collie | 🐩 Medium | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🪥 Some grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Australian Shepherd | 🐩 Medium | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 🐩 Medium | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🪥 Some grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Shetland Sheepdog | 🐩 Medium | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Collie (Rough) | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Australian Cattle Dog | 🐩 Medium | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $ |
| German Shepherd | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🪥 Some grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Siberian Husky | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🪥 Some grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Rottweiler | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Doberman Pinscher | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Boxer | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Great Dane | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Mastiff | 🐘 Big | 😌 Low energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Cane Corso | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | ⚠️ Older kids | $$$ |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Newfoundland | 🐘 Big | 😌 Low energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Beagle | 🐩 Medium | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $ |
| Dachshund | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 🪥 Some grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Basset Hound | 🐩 Medium | 😌 Low energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Greyhound | 🐘 Big | 😌 Low energy | ✨ Low shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Whippet | 🐩 Medium | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $ |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 🐭 Toy | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| West Highland White Terrier | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Boston Terrier | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Pug | 🐕 Small | 😌 Low energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| French Bulldog | 🐕 Small | 😌 Low energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Bulldog | 🐩 Medium | 😌 Low energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Shih Tzu | 🐕 Small | 😌 Low energy | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 🪥 Some grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Bichon Frise | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Havanese | 🐭 Toy | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Maltese | 🐭 Toy | 😌 Low energy | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Pomeranian | 🐭 Toy | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | ⚠️ Older kids | $$ |
| Chihuahua | 🐭 Toy | 🙂 Moderate | 🧹 Some shedding | 🧼 Low grooming | ⚠️ Older kids | $ |
| Shiba Inu | 🐩 Medium | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
| Dalmatian | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$ |
10 popular crossbreeds
These are crosses rather than standardised breeds, so two dogs of the same cross can turn out quite differently — coat especially. Everything below is the typical middle of the range, not a guarantee.
Goldendoodle allergy-friendlier
Golden Retriever warmth in a low-shedding coat — as long as you budget for the grooming, which is the part nobody mentions.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: No two Goldendoodles have quite the same coat; it depends which parent they take after.
Labradoodle allergy-friendlier
The original doodle — friendly and clever, with a coat that ranges from nearly straight to tightly curled.
🐘 Big⚡ High energy🧹 Some shedding💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: The first Labradoodle was bred in Australia in 1989 as a guide dog for someone whose partner reacted to dog hair.
Bernedoodle allergy-friendlier
A big, calm, tricolour teddy bear — the mellowest of the doodles, and the most coat to look after.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: The black, white and rust pattern comes straight from the Bernese side.
Aussiedoodle allergy-friendlier
Two of the smartest breeds combined — dazzling, and far more dog than most families expect.
🐩 Medium⚡ High energy✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Merle patterning and one blue eye are both common in this cross.
Sheepadoodle allergy-friendlier
A large black-and-white shaggy dog with a soft temperament and the biggest grooming bill on this list.
🐘 Big🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: The panda-like face comes from the Old English Sheepdog parent.
Cavapoo allergy-friendlier
A gentle, cuddly small dog that wants to be with you constantly — and really does not cope alone.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Called a Cavoodle almost everywhere outside the United States.
Cockapoo allergy-friendlier
The oldest of these crosses and still one of the best — sunny, sociable and a manageable size.
🐕 Small🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🧒 Great with kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Cockapoos have been bred since the 1960s, long before "doodle" was a word.
Maltipoo allergy-friendlier
A tiny, soft, affectionate lap dog — fragile around small children, and vocal about being left.
🐭 Toy🙂 Moderate✨ Low shed💇 Pro grooming🙂 Careful kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Maltipoos usually stay under about seven pounds fully grown.
Puggle
A Beagle-Pug mix with a longer muzzle than a Pug — friendly, funny, stubborn, and loud.
🐩 Medium🙂 Moderate🌬️ Heavy shed🧼 Low grooming🧒 Great with kids$$ to keep
Fun fact: The longer nose usually means easier breathing than a Pug, but not always.
Pomsky
Husky looks in a small package — and a Husky brain, which is the part people are not ready for.
🐕 Small⚡ High energy🌬️ Heavy shed💇 Pro grooming⚠️ Older kids$$$ to keep
Fun fact: Adult size is a genuine gamble: littermates can end up at very different weights.
📊 Compare all 10 side by side in a table
| Breed | Size | Energy | Shedding | Grooming | With kids | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldendoodle | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Labradoodle | 🐘 Big | ⚡ High energy | 🧹 Some shedding | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Bernedoodle | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Aussiedoodle | 🐩 Medium | ⚡ High energy | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Sheepadoodle | 🐘 Big | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Cavapoo | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Cockapoo | 🐕 Small | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$$ |
| Maltipoo | 🐭 Toy | 🙂 Moderate | ✨ Low shed | 💇 Pro grooming | 🙂 Careful kids | $$$ |
| Puggle | 🐩 Medium | 🙂 Moderate | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 🧼 Low grooming | 🧒 Great with kids | $$ |
| Pomsky | 🐕 Small | ⚡ High energy | 🌬️ Heavy shed | 💇 Pro grooming | ⚠️ Older kids | $$$ |
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Complete & balanced dry food
Look for a named meat first and an "AAFCO complete" statement.
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❓ Common questions
How do I choose the right dog breed for my family?
Match the dog to the life you actually live, not the one you imagine. The four things that decide whether it works are how much exercise you can give every single day, how long the house is empty, whether you would rather vacuum hair or pay a groomer, and what you can afford to spend on food and vet care. Looks should come last.
What is the best dog breed for a family with young children?
Temperament matters more than breed. Breeds with a strong reputation for tolerance are a reasonable starting point, but an individual adult dog whose personality you can already see is a safer bet than any puppy of any breed. Always supervise young children and dogs together.
Are any dog breeds hypoallergenic?
No. Research measuring dog allergen in real homes found no meaningful difference between breeds sold as hypoallergenic and any other dog. Some people react less to one particular dog, so spend time with that specific dog before deciding.
Should we adopt or buy a dog?
Adopt first. Shelters and breed-specific rescues have puppies and adults of nearly every type, including the popular crosses, and an adult dog shows you its real size, energy and personality on day one. If you do buy, use a breeder who health-tests and lets you meet the mother.
📚 Where this comes from
We check our care advice against vets, animal charities, and government health guidance. Here is what this page is built on.
Vets, charities & official guidance
- Preventing dog bites — AVMA
- Brachycephalic dogs policy — British Veterinary Association
- Puppy socialization position statement — AVSAB
- People foods to avoid feeding your pets — ASPCA
- Spaying and neutering — AVMA
Keeper & species-community guides
Checked August 2026. These are other people’s websites, and none of it replaces your own vet — if a pet seems unwell, call one.