When trying to decide if a particular dog breed is right for you, it helps to know a bit about the care they will require. This information gives a general idea of how a dog will behave as an adult. Not all dogs will conform to these guidelines (there’s an exception to every rule), but usually a dog follows some basic breed characteristics.

Below is a chart for adult dog size, exercise requirements and temperament characteristics to help you decide if a particular breed is right for you. View all of our adoptable dogs now.

Click the linked breed names below to view our adoptable dogs. Note that some links may have no results as our available dogs change rapidly, but check back often to find your perfect match, or view all of our adoptable dogs now.


Dog Breed Chart (scroll to bottom for key)
Download this chart as a PDF                                             View all adoptable dogs now
 

Breed	Size	Exercise	Behavioral	Adopt
Affenpinscher	S	Mod	Soc, M, T, B
Afghan Hound	L	Max	Sol, M, DT
Airedale Terrier	L	Max	Soc, P, T
Akita	L	Max	Tol, M, T
Alaskan Malamute	L	Max	Soc, P, DT, B, D
Am/Eng Foxhound	M	Max	F, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, DT, B
Am/Eng Staffordshire Bull Terrier	M	Mod	Tol, P, DT
Am Water Spaniel	M	Max	Tol, M Dogs, G Cats, T, B
Australian Kelpie	M	Max	Tol, G Dogs, P Cats, VT, B	View Adoptable Australian Kelpies
Australian Shepherd	M	Ext	Soc, M, VT	View Adoptable Australian Shepherds
Australian Terrier	S	Mod	Tol, M, T, D
Basenji	M	Mod	Tol, P, DT
Basset Hound	M	Min	Tol, M, DT, B
Beagle	M	Min	F, VG, G, DT, B	View Adoptable Beagles
Bearded Collie	M	Mod	Soc, M, T
Bedlington Terrier	M	Mod	Tol, M Dogs, P Cats, DT
Belgian Malinois	L	Ext	Sol, M, VT
Belgian Tervuren	L	Ext	Tol, M, VT
Bernese Mtn. Dog	XL	Mod	Tol, VG, M Dogs, G Cats, VT
Bichon Frise	S	Max	F, VG, G, VT, B
Black/Tan Coonhound	L	Max	Tol, VG, M, DT, B	View Adoptable Black/Tan Coonhounds
Bloodhound	XL	Mod	Soc, M Dogs, G Cats, DT	View Adoptable Bloodhounds
Border Collie	M	Ext	Sol, M Dogs, P Cats, VT	View Adoptable Border Collies
Border Terrier	S	Mod	Soc, VG, M Dogs, P Cats, VT, B, D
Borzoi	XL	Mod	Tol, M, T
Boston Terrier	S	Mod	F, Soc, G, T, BD
Bouvier de Flandres	XL	Max	Tol, VG, M, T
Boxer	M	Mod	F, M, T	View Adoptable Boxers
Briard	XL	Ext	Tol, VG, P Dogs, M Cats, DT
Brittany Spaniel	M	Ext	M, VT
Brussels Griffon	S	Mod	Soc, M, T, B
Bullmastiff	XL	Mod	Tol, P Dogs, G Cats, DT
Bull Terrier	M	Mod	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, DT
Cairn Terrier	S	Mod	Tol, M Dogs, P Cats, DT, B, D
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	S	Mod	P Dogs, M Cats, T
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	L	Max	Soc, M, T
Chihuahua	S	Min	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, DT, B	View Adoptable Chihuahuas
Chinese Crested	S	Min	Soc, G, T
Chow Chow	M	Min	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, DT	View Adoptable Chow Chows
Clumber Spaniel	M	Mod	Tol, M, T
Cocker Spaniel	M	Mod	Tol, G, VT, B
Corgi, Welsh	M	Mod	M, T, B
Collie, Smooth Coat	L	Mod	Soc, M, T, B
Collie, Rough Coat	L	Mod	Soc, M, T, B
Curly-coated Retriever	L	Mod	VG, M Dogs, G, Cats, T
Dachshund	S	Min	Soc, M, T, BD
Dalmatian	L	Ext	Soc, M, T
Dandie Dinmont Terrier	S	Mod	M, DT, D
Doberman Pinscher	L	Max	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, VT	View Adoptable Doberman Pinschers
Dogue de Bordeaux	XL	Mod	Sol, M, T
English Bulldog	S	Min	F, VG, P Dogs, M Cats, DT
English Setter	L	Max	F, VG, M, T
Eng. Springer Spaniel	M	Max	F, M Dogs, G Cats, VT
English Toy Spaniel	S	Mid	Tol, G, T
Field Spaniel	M	Max	Soc, M Dogs, G Cats, VT
Flat-coated Retriever	L	Max	F, M Dogs, G Cats, VT
Fox Terrier (smooth)	S	Mod	Soc, M Dogs, P Cats, VT, B, D
Fox Terrier (wire)	S	Mod	Soc, M Dogs, P Cats, VT, B, D
French Bulldog	S	Mod	F, M Dogs, G Cats, T
German Shepherd	L	Max	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, VT	View Adoptable German Shepherds
German Shorthaired Pointer	L	Ext	Soc, M Dogs, P Cats, T, B
German Wirehaired Pointer	L	Ext	Tol, M Dogs, P Cats, T, B
Golden Retriever	L	Max	F, VG, G, VT	View Adoptable Golden Retrievers
Gordon Setter	L	Max	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, T
Great Dane	XL	Max	F, VG, M VT
Great Pyrenees Mtn. Dog	XL	Mod	Soc, VG, M, DT
Greyhound	L	Mod	Tol, M Dogs, P Cats, T
Harrier	M	Max	Tol, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, DT, B
Ibizan Hound	M	Max	Tol, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, DT, B
Irish Setter	L	Ext	F, G Dogs, M Cats, T
Irish Terrier	M	Max	Tol, P, DT
Irish Water Spaniel	L	Max	Tol, VG, M, T
Irish Wolfhound	XL	Mod	Soc, VG, M, DT
Italian Greyhound	S	Mod	Soc, VG, G, T
Jack Russell Terrier	S	Ext	Soc, VG, P, T, B, D	View Adoptable Jack Russell Terriers
Japanese Chin	S	Mid	F, VG, G, T
Keeshond	M	Mod	F, VG, M Dogs G Cats, T
Kerry Blue Terrier	M	Mod	Soc, P, DT, B
Komondor	XL	Mod	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, T
Kuvasz	L	Mod	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, DT
Labrador Retriever	L	Mod	F, VG, G, VT	View Adoptable Labrador Retrievers
Lakeland Terrier	S	Mod	Tol, P, DT
Lhasa Apso	S	Min	Tol, M, DT
Maltese	S	Mod	Tol, M, T, B
Manchester Terrier	S	Mod	Soc, M Dogs, P Cats, T, D
Mastiff	XL	Mod	Tol, VG, M Dogs, G Cats, T	View Adoptable Mastiffs
Miniature Pinscher	S	Mod	Tol, P, DT
Newfoundland	XL	Min	F, VG, G, T
Norwegian Elkhound	M	Mod	Soc, P, DT, B
Norwich/Norfolk Terrier	S	Mod	Soc, M, T
Old English Sheepdog	XL	Mod	Soc, M Dogs, G Cats, DT
Otter Hound	XL	Mod	Soc, VG, M, DT
Papillon	S	Mid	F, VG, G, VT	View Adoptable Papillons
Pekingese	S	Mid	Tol, M, DT
Petit Basset Griffon	S	Mod	Soc, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, DT, B, D
Pharaoh Hound	M	Max	Tol, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, T
Pit Bull	L	Mod	Tol, P, T	View Adoptable Pit Bulls
Pomeranian	S	Mid	Soc, P Dogs, M, Cats, DT, B
Poodle, Toy/Mini.	S	Mod	Soc, M, VT, B
Poodle, Standard	M	Mod	F, VG, M, VT
Pug	S	Mod	Soc, M, T	View Adoptable Pugs
Puli	M	Mod	Tol, P, DT, B
Redbone Coonhound	L	Max	Tol, VG, M, DT, B
Rhodesian Ridgeback	L	Max	Soc, VG, P, T
Rottweiler	L	Mod	Tol, P, T	View Adoptable Rottweilers
Saint Bernard	XL	Mod	Soc, M, T	View Adoptable Saint Bernards
Saluki	M	Mod	Sol, M, T
Samoyed	M	Max	Soc, VG, M, DT
Schipperke	S	Mod	Tol, M, DT
Scottish Deerhound	XL	Mod	Soc, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, DT
Scottish Terrier	S	Min	Soc, VG, G Dogs, M Cats, DT, B, D
Schnauzer, Mini	S	Mod	Soc, VG, M, T, B
Schnauzer, Standard	M	Mod	Tol, P Dogs, M Cats, T
Schnauzer, Giant	L	Max	Tol, P, T
Sealyham Terrier	S	Mod	Tol, M, DT, B, D
Shar Pei	M	Mod	Sol, P, DT	View Adoptable Shar Peis
Shetland Sheepdog	M	Mod	Soc, VG, G, VT, B
Shih Tzu	S	Mod	Soc, VG, G, T
Siberian Husky	M	Mod	Tol, M, DT, B, D	View Adoptable Siberian Huskies
Silky Terrier	S	Max	Tol, P, T
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier	M	Max	Soc, VG, M, T, D
Sussex Spaniel	M	Mod	Tol, M, T, B
Tibetan Spaniel	S	Mid	Soc, G, T
Tibetan Terrier	S	Mod	F, M, T
Toy Manchester Terrier	S	Min	Soc, P, DT
Vizsla	M	Ext	Tol, M, T
Weimaraner	L	Ext	Tol, P, DT
Welsh Springer Spaniel	M	Max	Soc, M, T
Welsh Terrier	M	Mod	Soc, M Dogs, P Cats, DT, B, D
Whippet	M	Max	Soc, VG, G, T
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	L	Max	Soc, M, T
Yorkshire Terrier	S	Mid	Sol, P, DT, B

Size

Giant (XL): 100 lbs+
Large (L) 50 - 99 lbs
Medium (M) 20 - 49 lbs
Small (S) 19 lbs or less

 
Exercise: Walks, Games, Trips to Dog Park and any activity
 

Extreme (Ext)	1+ hours per day spent running free in a fenced area
Maximum (Max)	1 hour per day, half spent running free in a fenced area
Moderate (Mod)	Half an hour a day, including a fast game of fetch in a fenced area
Minimum (Min)	All dogs need some exercise, fresh air and a change of scenery, but these dogs can manage with just a daily game in a fenced area

Behavior Characteristics
 

Friendly (F)	Greets everyone as a friend; can rapidly bond with anyone friendly and may even bond with people who dislike dogs; good in large crowds and accepts a lot of handling
Social (Soc)	Usually a “one family” dog; bonds well with family members; can accept a family friend after some playful interaction; comfortable in medium-sized crowds, but learns to avoid people who don’t like dogs
Tolerant (Tol)	A small family dog that is usually described as “accepting” of attention; slow to accept family friends, but will form a weak bond after many pleasant experiences; uncomfortable in crowds greater than five and will ignore strangers or sniff them and walk away
Solitary (Sol)	Usually a one-family dog; shy with most strangers and can become a “fear-biter” if not properly socialized when young; will form a permanent bond with its owner, but will avoid most small children
Good with
Children	(VG) Very good with children, more so than adults
Dogs, Cats	(G) Good, (M) Moderately (P) Poor for each
Trainability	(VT) Very Trainable, (T) Trainable, (DT) Difficult to train
Barks/Digs	(B) Tends to Bark, (D) Tends to Dig