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Home > Dogs > 12 Best Medium Sized Dog Breeds (with Pictures)

12 Best Medium Sized Dog Breeds (with Pictures)

border collie dog getting trained

Weight and size are vital factors when choosing an adoptable pet. Dogs are categorized into three groups when it comes to their size, and they include big, medium-sized, and small dogs. This article will focus on medium-sized dogs.

These pups are just as cuddly but up for more activity than small dogs and more portable than large dog breeds. They are neither too small nor too big and can fit into any lifestyle. Medium-sized hounds are versatile and include dogs from almost all breed groups (sporting, working, non-sporting), except toy breeds, of course.

Check out some of the popular medium-sized dogs below, and discover their estimated sizes, characteristics, and more.

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The 12 Best Medium Sized Dogs

1. Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd_shutterstock_Jan Havlicek
Image Credit: Jan Havlicek, Shutterstock
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Temperament: Loyal, dominating, energetic, clever, active, vocal
  • Color: Tri-color (tan, black, and white), black, red, blue, merle, red merle
  • Height: 18–23 inches
  • Weight: 40–65 pounds

If you are looking for an uncannily intelligent, high-energy, medium-sized farm dog, choose an Aussie, which typically weighs between 40–65 pounds.

Despite the name, Australian Shepherd dogs originally came from America and were favorite herding breeds for cowboys. Like their herding ancestors, modern Aussies are intelligent, loyal, devoted, independent, minimal shedders, and greatly rely on their herding instincts. However, they are full of energy and require very active households.


2. American Staffordshire Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier_Shutterstock_Vladimirkarp
Image Credit: Vladimirkarp, Shutterstock
  • Lifespan: 10–15 years
  • Temperament: Active, athletic, social, intelligent, friendly, eager to please
  • Color: Blue, fawn, white, red, black, white & brindle
  • Height: 16–19 inches
  • Weight: 40–60 pounds

“Am Staffies”, or the American Staffordshire Terriers, are muscular, confident, and intelligent pups that can be confused with the American Pitbull Terriers. These medium-sized dogs are affectionate and loyal to their human family members and would enjoy nothing more than cuddling, playing, or jogging with the human they love.

Am Staffies are actually on the larger side of the medium range, as they weigh 40–60 pounds on average. These glossy-coated pups are brilliant, cuddly, confident, and require training and lots of activities as well.


3. Basset Hound

Basset Hound
Image Credit: Maria Symchych, Shutterstock
  • Lifespan: 10–12 years
  • Temperament: Affectionate, calm, devoted, affectionate, sweet-tempered
  • Color: Tri-color (black, tan, and white), lemon & white, white & chocolate, red & white, black & white, black & brown
  • Height: Up to 14 inches
  • Weight: 40–65 pounds

Who wouldn’t love an easy-going dog with a great sense of humor and unique appearance? Weighing 40-65 pounds on average, many would joke that most of this weight comes from their skins and ears.

These purebreds have short, crooked legs that give them a short-statured composition. Basset breeds, which means “low” in French, are slow-paced but energetic, enduring, with powerful noses that make them excellent hunting animals.

They may require regular overall grooming because they have dense coats that shed heavily, and their heavy ears are prone to infections and skin problems. Otherwise, they are charming lap pups that can thrive in not-so-active households.


4. Bulldog

English Bulldog_shutterstock_Ann Tyurina
Image Credit: Ann Tyurina, Shutterstock
  • Lifespan: 8–12 years
  • Temperament: Docile, friendly, willful
  • Color: Red, white, fawn, red & white, red brindle, brindle & white, piebald, fawn & white
  • Height: 12–15 inches
  • Weight: 40–50 pounds

Beneath the English Bulldog‘s wrinkled mug-face lies a loving golden heart that celebrities like Willow Smith and Brad Pitt can’t resist.

Bulldogs are medium-sized dog breeds initially used to help drive cattle to marketplaces and participate in the bull-baiting sport. Weighing 40–50 pounds, the short, stocky, muscular Bulldogs tend to be relatively smaller than their weights.

They look dignified, willing to please, calm, and are loyal to their human kin. Bulldogs also have short muzzles that can cause breathing difficulties in humid conditions. They also love walks, require extra health care, and snore when sleeping.


5. Beagle

beagle on rock_José Somovilla_Pixabay
Image Credit: José Somovilla, Pixabay
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Temperament: Intelligent, even-tempered, friendly, resilient, excitable, gentle, amiable
  • Color: Tricolor, lemon & white, red & white, white & tan, chocolate tri
  • Height: 13–15 inches
  • Weight: 18–30 pounds

It’s difficult to resist the charm of a Beagle‘s soft, pleading face and dark brown eyes. These renowned happy-go-lucky dogs love kids, are healthy, easy to train, and shed very little!

They are happy, outgoing, curious, and can fit into a single person’s lifestyle. It is also vital to know that Beagles are scent hounds, and you may always see them with their faces down trying to set up a scent trail.

Beagles are not so yappy, but they do vocalize by producing three distinct sounds-bark/growl, a half-baying howl, and a baying howl. They weigh 20–30 pounds, making them compact and durable. Ah, Beagles also have an amazing appetite!


6. Bearded Collie

Bearded collie
Image Credit: Peter Meier from Pixabay
  • Lifespan: 14–15 years
  • Temperament: Intelligent, active, confident, hardy,
  • Color: Black, blue, brown, tri-color, fawn, black & brown
  • Height: 20–22 inches
  • Weight: 45–55 pounds

Bearded Collie, or “Beardie”, is a Scottish herding breed that looks like a smaller English Sheepdog. Today, they are excellent family dogs renowned for their energy, obedience, agility, and athletic prowess.

These dogs have a shaggy beard that makes them appear gigantic, but they are smaller than they look, with a typical weight of 45–55 pounds. Beardies are bouncy and have a lean frame beneath their fluffy coats. As a herding breed, you may have to secure your fence because their strength and activity levels are unmatched.


7. Border Collie

border collie_xkunclova_Shutterstock
Image Credit: xkunclova, Shutterstock
  • Lifespan: 10–17 years
  • Temperament: Intelligent, energetic, keen, responsive, alert
  • Color: Black, blue, white, brindle, lilac, blue merle, liver, red, chocolate, red merle, sable merle
  • Height: 18–22 inches
  • Weight: 30–45 pounds

Border Collies are known for their intense working drive, stamina, and the fact that they are among the world’s most intelligent dog breeds.  These pups are a great blend of energetic and cuddly and make great family dogs, as long as they get lots of physical and mental engagements.

Besides outsmarting you, you should be ready for a loyal and affectionate companion that packs a lot of power in a 30–45-pound body.


8. Bull Terrier

Bull Terrier
Image Credit: Melanie Thomas, Pixabay
  • Lifespan: 10–14 years
  • Temperament: Sweet-tempered, active, protective, stubborn
  • Color: White, tri-color, red & white, fawn & white, brindle & white, white & black brindle
  • Height: 21–22 inches
  • Weight: 35–75 pounds

Bull Terrier was originally a fighting pup before it became a trendy breed for gentlemen. They are family companions and exhibition dogs these days. You can’t miss noticing a Bull Terrier’s show-worthy features, including short and stout stature, large-boned and chiseled body, funny face, and long-egg-shaped head.

This dog is a keeper and a lover, even though it can sometimes be stubborn, sneaky, and mischievous. It’s also affectionate to everyone, especially kids, and is one of the dog world’s clowns.

Bull Terriers have energy outbursts and require vigorous and consistent exercise and playtime to shed some energy.


9. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgi_Pixabay
Image Credit: ElfinFox, Pixabay
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Temperament: Playful, bold, outgoing, protective, friendly
  • Color: Red, fawn, sable, black & white, tri-color, black & tan
  • Height: 10–12 inches
  • Weight: 25–30 pounds

Among the most renowned medium-sized house dogs, a Pembroke is an excellent pet for just about any home, whether an apartment or a large house with a yard. These dogs pack intelligence, friendliness, playfulness, and occasional stubbornness in a small dog’s body.

Although they are long-bodied, they have short legs that put them at 10–12 inches in height and not more than 30 pounds in weight. Pembroke Welsh Corgis also have pointed ears, are pretty athletic, and powerful for their sizes. They were initially used as herding dogs.


10. Vizsla

vizsla with bird
Image Credit: Ivan Kacarov, Shutterstock
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Temperament: Loyal, gentle, vocal, energetic, affectionate, destructive when bored
  • Color: Golden, golden rust, red golden
  • Height: 21–24 inches
  • Weight: 45–65 pounds

The Vizsla is a Hungarian dog breed with an aristocratic bearing. It’s a multipurpose hound and worked as a pointer and waterfowl retriever.

Vizslas are the redheads of the dog world and super-family companions, especially for active households. All a Vizsla would want is to be loved and a large yard to release its excess energy levels.

Since these pups were originally hunting breeds, they’ve learned to stick by humans and may not do well if left alone for long. They are loyal and loving, but also talkers!


11. Wheaten Terrier

Wheaten Terrier
Image Credit: furry_portraits, Pixabay
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Temperament: Intelligent, affectionate, playful, spirited, loyal, energetic
  • Color: Pale beige, gold
  • Height: 17–19 inches
  • Weight: 30–40 pounds

Wheaten Terriers are soft-coated dogs of Scottish origins. They are medium-sized and hypoallergenic, the best fit for any household. Originally bred as working dogs, these pets are pretty energetic and may require daily exercise.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers are affectionate pups, have a joyful demeanor, are trainable, and suitable for novice parents. But, their soft, silky coats require a lot of grooming despite shedding very little. Wheatens are generally intelligent, friendly, lively, and happy dogs.


12. Boxer

Boxer
Image Credit: cortez13, Pixabay
  • Lifespan: 10–12 years
  • Temperament: Intelligent, fearless, energetic, alert, protective, distrustful to strangers yet friendly
  • Color: Fawn, brindle, red
  • Height: 21–25 inches
  • Weight: 50–70 pounds

Initially bred to be medium-sized pups, boxers are robust family-friendly pooches that are equally easy to groom. These dogs are medium to large breeds, meaning they extend towards the larger dog breeds the most, weighing 50–70 pounds.

The American Kennel Club recognizes Boxers as working dogs, thanks to their legendary patience, gentleness with kids, and the fact that they are companionable. They are a favorite in the military, police force, and search and rescue missions because they are excellent watchdogs, obedient, good trackers, and intolerant to intruders.

Boxers have German roots and only came to the U.S. after the Great World War. They are muscular, square-headed, and may look mean, that is until you notice how exuberant, happy, and naughty they can get when happy.

Most Boxers have cropped or hanging ears docked tails and a short glowing coat. However, all-white Boxers are not desirable because, genetically, white Boxers are prone to being deaf.

You should see these dogs run, jump, and do the little “kidney bean” dance that involves twisting their bodies into semi-circular shapes when they are excited!

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What Dog Size Is Considered Medium?

Your dog is of medium size if its average weight ranges between 25–55 pounds. Small or toy dogs usually go up to 20 pounds, while large dog breeds start from 60 and beyond.

Because of their weight ranges, medium-sized dogs are small enough to fit in tighter spaces and still large enough for big-dog activities. They are also not fragile like small breeds and tend to have longer lifespans and fewer orthopedic complications than large dog breeds.

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Final Thoughts

Though you may settle for medium-sized breeds to escape the stereotypes surrounding the small and large species, it’s vital to treat your pup the same way you would other dogs.

Medium-sized dog breeds require the same attention, regular workouts, routine medical care, and mental stimulation as the other breeds. So, which dog breed will fit best into your lifestyle?


Featured Image: Dora Zett, Shutterstock

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