What Dog Should I Get? Take the Quiz
Which dog fits your home? - 8 questions
Nothing is stored or sent anywhere; the score is worked out in your browser. Answer as your normal week looks, not as your ideal week looks.
1. What space does the dog have?
2. How long would the dog be alone on a normal day?
3. How much walking will you really do each day?
4. How much grooming are you up for?
5. Who else lives at home?
6. How much dog experience do you have?
7. How much noise can your neighbours take?
8. What monthly budget is comfortable?
If the quiz will not run on your device, use the table below - it covers the same three types.
Which Dog Type Suits Which Home
| Dog type | Space and exercise | Grooming | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companion (toy and small breeds: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Pug, Chihuahua) | Flat-friendly. 20 to 40 minutes of walking, plus company during the day | Mixed: some need clipping every 6 to 8 weeks, others are wipe-down only | Small homes, older owners, households that are in most of the day |
| Gundog (Labrador, Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel) | Needs a garden or good parks. An hour of walking, plus training and games | A brush once or twice a week, heavy moulting twice a year | Families with children, first-time owners who will do training classes |
| Working and herding (Border Collie, German Shepherd, Collie, Husky, Schnauzer) | Two hours or more a day, plus a job: scent work, agility, long training sessions | Most need daily brushing and regular grooming | Experienced owners with time, space and a plan for the dog's brain |
Pure breeds are one option; a rescue of the same type is usually the better first dog, because the rescue can tell you how that individual behaves with children, cats and being left.
Rescue or Breeder?
Rescues match an adult dog to your household and you skip the puppy stage, but you may wait weeks for the right one. A breeder gives you a puppy with known parents and health tests, and you should expect to visit the mother and see the puppy with its litter in the home. In the UK, a breeder must be licensed by the local council if they breed commercially, and a puppy must not be sold before it is eight weeks old. Walk away from any seller who offers to meet you in a car park.
What a Dog Really Costs in the UK
The purchase or adoption fee is the smallest part. As a rough guide, a rescue adoption fee is usually a few hundred pounds, and a pedigree puppy from a licensed breeder costs well over a thousand. After that, plan on food, insurance, a yearly health check, flea and worm treatment, and a training class in the first year. Boarding or a dog walker is the cost people forget, and it is what makes holidays expensive.
FAQ
What is the easiest dog for a first-time owner?
A gundog type - Labrador, Golden Retriever or Cocker Spaniel - from a rescue or a licensed breeder. They are usually forgiving of beginner mistakes and happy with normal family life, provided they get their walk and training.
Which dog is best for a small flat?
A companion breed with a short coat, and a household that is not empty for more than six hours a day. Whichever breed you choose, a flat dog still needs a proper walk twice a day.
Are rescue dogs harder than puppies?
Often easier in one way and harder in another: you skip the chewing and toilet-training stage, but the dog may already have habits, so ask the rescue what it knows about the dog with children, other dogs and being left alone.
How do I check a breed's health problems?
Ask about the breed's known health tests and see the certificates for the parents. For pedigree dogs in the UK these are recorded by the breed club and the kennel club scheme - and a vet can tell you what the breed is prone to before you commit.
Should I get a litter mate pair?
Usually no. Two puppies from the same litter often bond with each other rather than with you, which makes training harder. One at a time is the safer plan.
