Dog Breed Selector Tools: Find Your Perfect Dog

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dog breed selectors

Are thinking about picking out a pooch of your very own, but aren’t sure which breed is right for you?

There are several sites and resources that can help you choose a dog breed that will fit in with your personality and lifestyle.

Finding the right dog can be tough. In order to find your perfect dog breed, you should consider factors like:

  • How often your dog will be left at home alone
  • The size of your house and yard (or nearby green space)
  • Your energy level

The dog breed selector quizzes below will ask you questions like these and more to determine the best dog breed for your unique needs.

Find the right dog for you – check out these great sites below that make choosing a dog breed easy.

Dog Breed Selector Quizzes

Many sites offers different dog breed selector quizzes and doggy matchmaking tools to set you up with your perfect dog breed.

Try one of the recommended selector tools below (or use them all!)

1. Dog Breed Selector from AKC

The American Kennel Club’s dog breed selector tool asks a series of easy questions, resulting in a top recommended breed, as well as several runner-ups who might also be suitable breeds for you.

They cover the basics like grooming requirements and energy levels, along with broader lifestyle questions such as how much time you’ll be able to spend each day with the dog, what your yard size is, etc.

2. Breed Selector Tool from Iams

The breed selector tool from Iams asks a variety of questions with varying levels of detail help introduce you to the best dog breed for your lifestyle and needs.

dog breed selector tool

Iams will suggest a top match breed, as well, as several other recommended breeds which you can compare and read extensive information about.

The Iams dog breed selector tool will ask questions about:

  • Size
  • Grooming/coat
  • Appearance and look of dog
  • Friendliness
  • Independence (can it be left alone)
  • Other owners/caregivers in the home
  • Training experience and time to devote to training
  • Housing
  • Climate
  • Other pets
  • Children
  • Your personal hobbies and activities
  • Any specialty requirements (will this dog be used as a watchdog, service dog, or search and rescue dog?)

3. Dog Breed Selector Quiz from Purina

Purina’s dog breed selector quiz provides 9 straight-forward questions that filter breeds as you answer the questions.

choosing a dog breed

The quiz concludes with a variety of recommended matches, and allows you to learn more about the chosen breeds. Expect questions on:

  • Vocalization (how much the dog barks)
  • Purpose of dog (to be a companion, to protect the home, to hunt, etc.)
  • Dog’s attitude towards strangers
  • Shedding/grooming
  • Exercise requirements
  • How often dog will be left alone
  • Access to outdoor spaces
  • Training requirements

4. Dog Compatibility Test from Orvis

Orivis’s dog breed selector quiz asks 13 questions, covering everything from your favorite activities and lifestyle, what kind of exercise you’d prefer to do with your new dog, and other queries to making it a very thorough test.

breed selector tool

You’ll be given your top matches with an opportunity to learn more.

You can even select multiple options, allowing for you to get a broad selection of different types of dogs that would meet your needs.

5. Breed Match Tool from Pedigree

The Breed Match Tool from Pedigree is another great quiz-style tool to help you find the best canine for your family.

pedigree breed selector

The breed match tool from Pedigree asks 14 questions, dealing with topics such as:

  • Dog ownership experience
  • Members of your household
  • Size and style of home
  • Time to devote to training
  • How often your dog will be alone
  • Other pets in your home

6. Dog Matchmaker Tool from Rover

Rover (The Dog People)’s Dog Matchmaker Tool is simple – it asks a series of questions similar to those you’ll find in other quizzes (such as ideal size, personality, energy level, coat type, etc) and will show a breed it recommends, along with a percent showing how much that breed seems to match your ideal dog.

rover breed selector

7. Dog Breed Selector from Dog Time

Dog Time offers a dog breed selector composed of 21 different questions.

dogtime breed selector

You’ll be shown several possible dog breeds based on your criteria. Questions involve:

  • Size
  • Dog intelligence
  • How you want to spend time with your dog
  • Exercise (ex. Need a jogging companion? Not all dogs can handle it)
  • General personality questions about YOU
  • Size of home
  • Possibility of future human babies?
  • Age of children in your current home (if any)
  • Allergies
  • Your health
  • How often dog will be alone
  • Grooming
  • Training (how involved do you want to get?)
  • Dog parenting style (are you strict or lenient?)
  • Drooling

8. Choosing a Dog Breed Tool from The Spruce

spruce dog breed selector

The Spruce has a dog breed selector tool for choosing the perfect breed for your home! The profile quiz is composed of 15 questions.

They are fairy simple, easy multiple choice questions discussing topics including:

  • Size
  • Grooming
  • Energy
  • General temperament
  • Whether you have children in your house
  • Whether you have other pets
  • How easy to train your dog needs to be
  • What time you can devote time to exercising your dog
  • Allergies
  • Size and space of your home

What to Think About When Choosing a Breed

The quizzes above have likely narrowed down what breeds you’ll be considering. But, if you need a little more guidance, here are the full range of factors we’d suggest taking into account when selecting a breed.

Most of these topics have already been highlighted within the dog breed selector quizzes above, but it never hurts to repeat again these essential criteria for choosing a forever friend.

  • How much time can you devote to training?
  • How much time can you dedicate to your dog’s exercise needs? Even the laziest low-energy dogs deserve at least one short walk a day. Most average-energy dogs needs a 30-60 minute walk, minimum.
  • Who else is in the home? Young children will have a big impact on what kind of breed you’ll want to comfortably have in your home — easygoing, relaxed dogs will be best.
  • Do you have a yard? What size is it? Most dogs really need daily walks, but a backyard can be beneficial for helping a dog burn off excess additional energy. A yard can also be helpful for smaller dogs with smaller bladders who need more frequent potty breaks.
  • Do you have allergies? While no breeds are truly hypoallergenic, dog breeds have less dander than others.
  • What time can you devote to grooming? Some dogs need weekly or even daily fur combing abd de-tangling, with regular trips to the groomer factored in as well. Other, shorter-haired dog breeds just need basic brushing and bathing as needed.
  • Do you have other pets in the home? Some dogs are fine with other animals, while other breeds will struggle. Having a high prey drive dog in a home with small mammals and cats could be especially challenging.
  • How often dog will your dog be alone? Some dog breeds are more prone to anxiety and stress than others. A nervous dog will have a much harder time being left alone, and may experience separation anxiety that causes them to become terrified and destructive when left alone. If you’re on the go a lot, opt for a more confident breed!
  • What do you do for fun? If you prefer Netflix lounging sessions to hiking every weekend, you’ll want to avoid high-energy dogs or working breeds (for both of your sakes).
  • What kind of dogs have you owned in the past? Growing up as a kid with a relaxed, family-friendly Golden Retriever is very different than bringing home a high-drive Border Collie. If you’ve never owned a dog before, you’re probably want a smaller, easier breed.
  • How smart do you want your dog to be? Many people think they want a smart dog, but smart dogs usually have higher enrichment needs and need to be worked and given jobs to not become destructive. Consider if you really want a genius pup or if a not-so-bright happy fur-ball will do just fine.
  • What’s the climate like where you live? If you live in hotter climates, you’ll want to avoid breeds that prefer the cold, like Huskies.
  • How friendly should your dog be? If you live alone and are looking for a bit of extra security, a dog who is more on the alert size isn’t such a bad idea. On the other hand, if you constantly have friends and family members coming over for parties, you’ll probably want a more easy-going dog that isn’t critical of strangers.

 Have you used any of these dog breed selectors? Which is your favorite? Any good dog breed quizzes we missed that you think we should include on this list? Let us know in the comments!