Top 20 Best Medium Dog Breeds
Updated on January 2nd, 2020
Does your favourite medium dog breed make the list of the top 20 medium dog breeds?
At the start of 2019, ITV carried out a survey of 10,000 people to find out Britain’s favourite dog breeds.
The results were broadcast live on a television programme called “Britain’s Favourite Dogs” by TV presenters Ben Fogle and Sarah Cox.
They were joined on live TV by a selection of different dogs to showcase the best of their breeds.
I’ve been through the list to discover Britain’s most popular medium dog breeds which you can find below.
Britain’s most popular medium sized dog breeds
According to the list, here are Britain’s 20 most popular medium sized dog breeds.
Can you guess the top 3?
Go on, give it a go, and then scroll down to see if you are correct!
20. Poodle
Poodles come in different sizes: standard, miniature and toy.
The standard poodle is a medium sized dog breed which comes in many different colours, including black, white, apricot, cream, able, blue, grey, silver, brown and red.
Poodles are intelligent dogs that are highly trainable – although they can be stubborn!
19. Schnauzer
Just like with poodles, Schnauzers comes in different sizes as well.
The Miniature Schnauzer is featured in my list of the best small dog breeds, and his larger cousin the Standard Schnauzer makes this list.
Schnauzers originated in Germany in the 14th or 15th Century.
They are intelligent and devoted dogs with good natures.
18. Whippet
Whippets are a type of sighthound descended from greyhounds.
They are smaller than greyhounds and have a delicate, slim line look to them.
Whippets come in different colours and patterns and are known for their beautiful markings, affectionate natures and quiet, gentle temperaments.
17. Lurcher
Lurcher is a generic term for a mixed breed dog where one of the parents is a sighthound, and the other is a non-sighthound breed.
As they are a cross breed, they come in a huge range of colours, sizes and coat type, and their temperaments tend to favour their parent’s breeds and natures rather than having a standard “lurcher” type.
They were often used as poaching dogs, but nowadays they are more likely to be used in racing or as a family pet.
16. Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdogs are also known as Shelties because they originated from the Shetland Islands of Scotland.
They are affectionate, lively dogs who need to be kept stimulated due to their inquisitive natures.
They can be sensitive, so a gentle hand is required when training.
15. Tibetan Terrier
Despite its name, Tibetan terriers aren’t actually a terrier dog.
They are long-haired beauties who will require regular grooming to keep their coat tangle-free.
Tibetan terriers are known to be vocal which makes them good watch dogs but they can also make wonderful family pets.
14. English Bull Terrier
English Bull Terriers are recognisable due to their elongated snouts and unusual head shape.
They have a reputation of being aggressive and ‘status dogs’, however like with other similar breeds, that reputation is not always deserved as they can be extremely gentle and good family pets.
English bull terriers are loyal and protective, so proper training is essential.
13. Beagle
Beagles are a hound breed often used for hunting, especially in fox and hare hunting.
They are often seen in the English countryside, particularly on farms or as part of organised hunts.
Beagles are a curious breed with an excellent sense of smell. They require lots of attention and exercise, as well as good training to stop them playing up when they get bored.
12. Welsh Pembroke Corgi
The Welsh Pembroke corgi originates from Pembrokeshire in Wales, UK.
They were originally bred to herd cattle, sheep and horses, making them a fearless and active breed.
Although they may be small in stature, they make up for it in character – and their rather loud barks!
11. Springador
A Springador is a cross between a Springer Spaniel and a Labrador.
They can vary in size due to the nature of mixed breed dogs, so some of them may be more of a large breed than a medium if they take more after their Labrador parent than the Spaniel.
Springadors can be highly strung and incredibly active so they need a home where they will be trained well, exercised at length and given brain-training exercises to tire them out both physically and mentally.
10. Dalmatian
Dalmatians are unusual dogs thanks to their distinctive spotted coats.
When they are born they do not have spots; they develop as the puppy ages.
They are intelligent and outgoing dogs with a playful nature.
They are most famous for the book (and Disney films!) 101 Dalmatians.
9. Sprollie
A sprollie is a cross between a springer spaniel and a collie.
As both of the parent breeds are intelligent and active dogs, thus the sprollie is too.
They are quick to learn and will respond well to positive training methods.
8. Cavapoo
Cavapoos are another mixed breed that made my list of top small breeds as well as medium because they can come in different sizes depending on the parent breeds.
A cavapoo is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle.
They are also known as a cavoodle and they are one of Australia’s most popular dog breeds.
They are affectionate and loyal with low-shedding coats and they are usually great with children especially if they have grown up around them.
7. Welsh Terrier
Welsh Terriers, also known as ‘Welshies’, are a mid-size dog who are usually affectionate, happy, intelligent and good with children.
Their curly fur makes them low-shedding which is good for allergy sufferers.
Welsh Terriers are a vulnerable dog breed – only 380 new puppies were registered with the Kennel Club in 2015.
6. Mixed Breed
Mixed breed, cross breed, mutt, Heinz 57 – there are lots of different names for these dogs.
A mixed breed dog is one that doesn’t belong to any officially recognised breed. For example, my dog Freddie (pictured below!) is part shih tzu and part jack Russell.
Cross breeds a fabulous because they all look completely different and have individual temperaments and characteristics.
Mixed breeds dogs are said to live longer than pedigrees as their mix of genes can make them generally healthier and less likely to develop the usual health problems of their parents’ breeds.
5. Border Collie
Border collies are highly intelligent dogs who love to work.
Loved by farmers across Britain, these multi-coloured dogs are never happier than when putting their brains to work in an active, engaging way.
They are considered the most intelligent breed of dog and can be very high-maintenance, both in terms of personality and upkeep.
4. Cocker Spaniel
Cocker spaniels are a breed of gundog, most easily recognised by their long droopy ears.
They are lively and friendly, and ideal family dogs although they do need lots of exercise.
Cocker spaniels are loyal, friendly dogs that thrive in the company of people and other dogs.
There are two different types – working cockers and show cockers.
The most famous cocker spaniel is Lady from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp.
3. Springer Spaniel
Springer spaniels are similar to cocker spaniels as they are also gundogs with many of the same personalities.
They are often used by hunters to retrieve prey once it has been shot.
Springer spaniels are often larger than cocker spaniels. They are quick to learn and enjoy being both mentally and physically challenged.
They can be over-excitable and require good training for them to be well-behaved and calm in the house.
2. Cockapoo
Cockapoos are a cross breed between a cocker spaniel and a poodle.
They are popular with children due to their teddy-like appearance and friendly, loving temperaments.
Cockapoos are usually small or medium sized and tend to be low-shedding with curly fur due to their poodle heritage.
They are easy to train, eager to learn and highly loving.
1. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Also known as staffies, this breed is a powerful medium sized dog with shot coats and powerful muscles.
They were originally bred to take part in blood sports, and that reputation unfortunately stays with them to this day as they are often used as ‘status symbol’ dogs.
Because of this, they are sadly one of the most commonly found breeds of dogs in rescue centres.
However, staffies are also called ‘nanny dogs’ as they can be incredibly well-behaved around babies and small children when introduced correctly.
People often tend to think of staffies as aggressive dogs; however staffies are actually incredibly loving, friendly when trained and treated correctly.
They have heart-shaped faces and wonderful wide-mouthed smiles.
Other medium sized dog breeds
These gorgeous medium dog breeds didn’t quite make it to the Top 20, but they are all just as important in my eyes!
Is your favourite medium dog breed in this list?
There are probably even some medium sized dog breeds that you have never heard of.
There were some that I had to look up on the web to see what they looked like as I’d not heard of that medium dog breed before.
List of medium dog breeds
- Aidi
- Airedale Terrier
- American Eskimo Dog
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Australian Kelpie
- Australian Shepherd
- Barbet
- Basenji
- Basset Hound
- Bavarian Mountain Hound
- Bearded Collie
- Berger Picard
- Bohemian Shepherd
- Bouvier des Ardennes
- Boykin Spaniel
- Brittany Spaniel
- Bulldog
- Clumber Spaniel
- Dachshund
- Entlebucher Mountain Dog
- Finnish Spitz
- German Pinscher
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Hungarian Puli
- Iris Water Spaniel
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Kooikerhondje
- Lagotto Romagnolo
- Manchester Terrier
- Norwegian Elkhound
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Pharaoh Hound
- Plott Hound
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Pumi
- Samoyed
- Shar-Pei
- Shibi Inu
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Spanish Water Dog
- Wire Fox Terrier
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
I hope that you enjoyed this list of the best medium sized dog breeds.
You might also be interested in discovering the Top 20 small dog breeds, most popular large dogs and even the Top 20 breeds of any size. Can you guess who comes in at Number 1?
