They are not particularly large giants and do not stand out due to their particularly small but practical size: Medium-sized dog breeds convince with qualities other than their extreme size.
If you cannot convince your family or better half to go for a large dog breed, medium-sized dogs are a good compromise, as friends of both large and small dogs can find common ground with them.
Medium-sized dog breeds include all dogs with a withers height, or alternatively shoulder height, of 40 to 59 centimeters and a weight of eight to 40 kilograms. Dogs reach this size when they are fully grown at 12 to 18 months.
While small dog breeds can seem uncertain, and larger ones can be intimidating due to their body mass, medium-sized dogs strike the perfect balance.
Their size generally makes them the most active but also robust breeds with the longest life expectancy in their category.
3 medium-sized dog breeds for beginners
To make the entry into dog ownership simpler and stress-free, there are certain characteristics that make a suitable first dog. They should be eager to learn and therefore easy to train, as well as friendly and easy to care for.
The following three are often listed as suitable beginner dogs due to their characteristics.
Golden Retriever
The fact that the Golden Retriever is considered a popular beginner dog is evident from its consistent placement in the top ten of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. With its approximately 56 centimeters, it almost belongs to the large dog breeds. What makes it suitable for beginners is its obedience and high intelligence. However, even an intelligent breed like the Retriever needs training.
Training and education strengthen the already strong bond with humans because the dog does everything to please its owner. The Goldie is very active and playful but also balanced, requiring a lot of love and attention from its human family. This makes it affectionate and a dog that enjoys spending a lot of time with its family. It is best kept busy with various activities and plenty of exercise.
Another great feature is that it gets along with other dogs and allows for a second family dog.
English Cocker Spaniel
Another medium-sized dog breed for beginners is the English Cocker Spaniel. These are especially ideal for fans of more manageable medium-sized dogs, with a height of up to 41 centimeters.
Despite their somewhat quirky nature, they are very trainable and easy to educate. Therefore, the English Cocker Spaniel is suitable for beginners, provided they, as recommended for all dog breeds, attend obedience training. What makes this uncomplicated breed so popular is its playful and affectionate nature.
In addition to spending time with the owner during agility sports or retrieving, the dogs also enjoy swimming.
It should be known, however, that they belong to the more vocal types, which is due to their original role as a hunting dog.
Poodle
Often not seriously considered by many due to their distinctive hairstyles, but excellent medium-sized dogs for beginners with a variety of grooming and coat colors are Poodles. The Standard Poodle is approximately 60 centimeters tall, making it a medium to large breed. Poodles are sensitive even as puppies but also curious and eager to learn, making them easy to train. This makes them easy to educate, but consistent training from an early age is still necessary.
If the Poodle is not stimulated and bored, it can resort to undesirable behaviors. Therefore, a Poodle needs to be physically and mentally challenged. This can be achieved through dog sports, obedience training, or tricks and performances, as Poodles have a high level of trainability. They can also be well socialized and get along with other pets.
The Poodle’s coat is dense and feels almost woolly. Since it does not undergo a coat change, the Poodle hardly sheds and is therefore considered a suitable dog for many allergy sufferers. However, this should still be tested before acquisition. Additionally, the dog is considered virtually odorless.
2 medium-sized dog breeds that do not shed
Especially if another party in the household is allergic or not a big fan of annoying dog hair on furniture and clothing, medium-sized dog breeds that do not shed can be convincing. In addition to the Poodle, the following dog breeds hardly shed or not at all.
Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolo is an Italian water dog with an excellent sense of smell. It is used to search for truffles. Due to its dense, curly, somewhat oily coat, it is often mistaken for a Poodle. However, it is also an intelligent and lovable family dog.
While the Lagotto Romagnolo does not shed, it is not unconditionally suitable as an allergy-friendly dog because saliva, skin flakes, or even the dog’s urine can trigger allergic reactions.
Since it does not shed, it needs to be groomed several times a year to prevent matting, and even then, its curly coat resembles a magnet for dirt and tangles.
Brushing or even bathing after a walk is worthwhile, especially after enjoying a dip in a lake, pond, or puddle.
Barbet
The Barbet is also a water dog. Despite some similarity, its tousled, curly coat sets it apart from the Lagotto Romagnolo or Poodle.
The easy-to-maintain coat is a small dirt catcher and should be brushed every week and checked for remnants from nature after walks in general.
The coat should be shaved at least once a year in the summer to provide the dog with some cooling, which can also be done multiple times a year.
The Barbet is an active dog and a loyal family member suitable for less experienced dog owners.
2 medium-sized calm dog breeds
Are you more interested in calm, easygoing dogs instead of hyperactive bundles of energy? While medium-sized dogs, in general, tend to be more active than the leisurely giants or the small panting ones, there are still medium-sized calm dog breeds.
As mentioned, these breeds are more relaxed than energetic, patient and gentle, often uncomplicated beings suitable for beginners and older dog owners.
It should be noted, however, that the actual temperament, in addition to the breed, depends on individual character, upbringing, and age.
Chow-Chow
The Chow-Chow, with its height of up to 56 centimeters, falls more into the category of relaxed, easygoing, and calm medium-sized dogs. However, due to its stubborn, independent character, it is often attributed more to cats than to loyal, submissive dogs.
This makes it harder to train and not necessarily a dog suitable for beginners, families, or children.
The vigilant furball is less energetic or enthusiastic about dog sports than other breeds and prefers scent games.
By the way, a blue tongue in Chow-Chows, as well as in Shar-Peis and Eurasians, is not alarming or health-threatening like in other dogs but is considered normal.
English Bulldog
With approximately 40 centimeters but weighing around 25 kilograms, the English Bulldog is a rather small to medium-sized dog breed. Hard exterior, soft core: The sturdy body, muscular chest, and flat muzzle with a grumpy expression do not reflect the cheerful character at all.
Although the English Bulldog is a bit headstrong, it is gentle with a great need for love and cuddle sessions, clumsy, humorous, and fond of children, making it suitable as a family dog. Contrary to occasional assumptions, they do not tend towards aggression and are by no means fighting dogs.
Due to their physique, they are more laid-back and comfortable animals, preferring obedience training and intelligence games over sports.
Some weaknesses of their breed and physique include health issues, as they are prone to rapid weight gain, leading to joint and respiratory problems, as well as eye and skin diseases.
3 medium-sized dog breeds for families
Patient, playful, child-friendly, trainable, and affectionate – these are the characteristics of an ideal family dog. However, being a family dog does not mean that it suits every family or vice versa. Therefore, the choice of the dog must be tailored to the family’s lifestyle.
Some popular medium-sized dog breeds for families are introduced below.
Labrador Retriever
Like the Golden Retriever, the Labrador is a popular choice for beginners and seems to be the ultimate family dog. This is partly due to its uncomplicated training. This best friend of humans is obedient, friendly, and eager to please.
To balance it out, the industrious Labrador needs to exert itself daily, not only physically but also mentally. In addition to walks, obedience training, dog dancing, as well as search and intelligence games are part of its activities.
Its special nature makes it not only the ideal family dog but also an excellent guide dog for the blind, as well as a tracking and search dog for customs and police work.
Australian Shepherd
An increasingly popular medium-sized dog breed is the Australian Shepherd. The 46 to 58 centimeters tall, originally American herding dog with distinctive fur coloring, is one of the most intelligent dog breeds and excels in its ability to learn.
These qualities are not always to the advantage of the owners, as not only tricks and commands for obedience but also cheeky, sly habits are quickly learned. As a owner, one must therefore be very vigilant in consistently implementing important training.
Generally, the Australian Shepherd is a cheerful and playful dog with a need for movement and a very high activity level. Therefore, it is best suited for very active families.
As a beginner dog, it is not always the ideal candidate, as it requires a certain level of confidence from the owners, which beginners typically lack.
Boxer
The German Boxers, measuring up to 63 centimeters, belong to the larger medium-sized dogs.
Especially the very playful juveniles may seem a bit boisterous, but despite their potentially intimidating appearance, they are by no means aggressive or dangerous. On the contrary:
Boxers are very friendly, affectionate, and fond of children, making them excellent family dogs. They are also intelligent and trainable.
The active breed, however, needs to be challenged, which is why they thrive in equally active families.
With sufficient exercise, they are otherwise undemanding but very loyal and vigilant companions who remain cute and playful even in old age.
In addition to the mentioned breeds, many others, from Beagles to Shiba Inus, also deserve a place on the list. The breeds listed are just a few of the diverse medium-sized dog breeds.
