Medium-sized dogs: every breed from 40 to 60 cm
Between 40 and 60 cm at the withers, medium-sized dogs are the most common compromise: sturdy enough for long walks, compact enough for the car and the home. Shepherds, spaniels, pointers, spitz: temperaments range from very calm to very sporty.
Ranked using our 1 to 5 ratings on 20 criteria, up to date as of October 13, 2026.
Refine with your own criteria-

Australian Shepherd
Western United States · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Brittany
Brittany, France · Pointing dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Border Collie
Anglo-Scottish border region · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Siberian Husky
United States · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

White Swiss Shepherd Dog
Switzerland · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Eurasier
Germany · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · moderate energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

American Staffordshire Terrier
United States · Terriers
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Category 2Struggles when left alone -

Small Münsterländer
Germany · Pointing dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Boxer
Germany · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Whippet
England · Sighthounds
Medium · moderate energy · minimal coat care
Avoid with cats -

English Springer Spaniel
England · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Samoyed
Siberia · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Finnish Lapphund
Lapland, Finland · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Sheds a lot -

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Continental Bulldog
Switzerland · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Medium · moderate energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Dutch Shepherd
Netherlands · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Dalmatian
Dalmatia, Croatia · Scent hounds
Medium · boundless energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Braque Français (Pyrenean Type)
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Lagotto Romagnolo
Romagna region, Italy · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · high energy · high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Griffon Nivernais
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Chow Chow
China · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · calm · high coat care
Sheds a lot -

Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Bull Terrier
England · Terriers
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Yakutian Laika
Russia · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

German Spaniel
Germany · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Beagle-Harrier
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Nova Scotia, Canada · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Shar Pei
China · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Medium · calm · low coat care
Demanding to train -

Porcelaine
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Flat-Coated Retriever
Great Britain · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Swiss Hound
Switzerland · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Keeshond
Germany · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · moderate energy · high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Pyrenean Sheepdog (Long-haired)
France · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Bearded Collie
Scotland · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · high energy · very high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Australian Cattle Dog
Australia · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

French Spaniel
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Petit Bleu de Gascogne
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Ariégeois
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Vizsla
Hungary · Pointing dogs
Medium · boundless energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Basenji
Central Africa · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Briquet Griffon Vendéen
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Airedale Terrier
Yorkshire, England · Terriers
Medium · high energy · high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Picardy Spaniel
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Bruno Saint-Hubert Français
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Cursinu
France (Corsica) · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Australian Kelpie
Australia · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Standard Schnauzer
Germany · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Medium · high energy · high coat care
High-maintenance coat -

Blue Picardy Spaniel
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth-faced)
France · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Braque du Bourbonnais
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Spanish Water Dog
Spain · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Artois Hound
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Barbet
France · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · high energy · very high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
France · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

German Pinscher
Germany · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Medium · boundless energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Welsh Springer Spaniel
Wales · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Clumber Spaniel
England · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · calm · average coat care
Sheds a lot -

Appenzeller Sennenhund
Appenzell region, Switzerland · Pinschers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Irish Terrier
Ireland · Terriers
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Avoid with cats -

Medium Poodle
France · Companion and toy dogs
Medium · high energy · very high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Xoloitzcuintli
Mexico · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · moderate energy · low coat care
-

Finnish Spitz
Finland · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Sheds a lot -

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Ireland · Terriers
Medium · high energy · very high coat care
High-maintenance coat -

Pumi
Hungary · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · boundless energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Thai Ridgeback
Thailand · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Not suited to apartment living -

Wirehaired Vizsla
Hungary · Pointing dogs
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Bedlington Terrier
England (Northumberland) · Terriers
Medium · moderate energy · high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Pharaoh Hound
Malta · Spitz and primitive types
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Puli
Hungary · Sheepdogs and cattle dogs
Medium · high energy · very high coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Pont-Audemer Spaniel
France · Pointing dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Field Spaniel
England · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · moderate energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Harrier
England · Scent hounds
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

American Water Spaniel
Wisconsin, United States · Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
Alapaha River region, southern Georgia, United States
Medium · moderate energy · minimal coat care
Not suited to apartment living -

American Bully
United States
Medium · moderate energy · minimal coat care
Category 1Struggles when left alone -

American Pit Bull Terrier
United States
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Category 1Struggles when left alone -

Boykin Spaniel
South Carolina, United States
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Catahoula Leopard Dog
Louisiana, United States
Medium · boundless energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Chinook
New Hampshire, United States
Medium · moderate energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

English Shepherd
United States
Medium · high energy · average coat care
Sheds a lot -

American Foxhound
United States · Scent hounds
Medium · boundless energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Alaskan Husky
Alaska, United States
Medium · boundless energy · low coat care
Struggles when left alone -

Plott Hound
North Carolina, United States
Medium · high energy · minimal coat care
Struggles when left alone