What dog breed am I? Take the personality quiz
Answer 8 quick questions about your energy, your social side and your sense of humor. We match you with one of 12 dog breeds in about a minute.
- Free, no sign-up
- Answers stay in your browser
- About one minute
Which dog breed matches your personality?
The breed that matches you is the one whose temperament is closest to yours. A Golden Retriever fits a warm, social person who likes a plan. A Basenji fits someone curious who likes to do things their own way. The quiz above finds your match from four traits, so you do not have to guess.
It is a fun quiz, not a psychology test. Dogs are individuals, and so are people. Treat your result as a conversation starter, not a diagnosis.
How the quiz works
Each question measures one of four traits, and two questions measure each trait. Your answers give you a score from minus 2 to plus 2 on every trait.
- Energy: calm and happy to rest, or always on the move.
- Social: close to a few people, or friends with everyone.
- Independence: a team player, or someone who does it their way.
- Playfulness: serious and focused, or the one who makes everyone laugh.
Every breed has its own score on the same four traits, based on the temperament it was bred for and is known for. Your match is the breed with the smallest distance to your scores. The next closest breed is your runner-up, and the quiz shows both.
The 12 dog personalities
These are the breeds you can get, with the personality each one stands for. Your result also shows a photo of the breed.
| Breed | Personality | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Retriever | The friendly optimist | You like people, and people like you back. You are up for a plan, you are easy to be around, and you would rather help than lead. |
| Border Collie | The focused achiever | You need a job to do. You work hard, learn fast and feel best when you have a clear goal and someone to share it with. |
| Siberian Husky | The free spirit | You love the outdoors, new places and a bit of noise. You are friendly, but nobody tells you which way to run. |
| Basset Hound | The easygoing one | You take life slowly and kindly. You are good company, hard to rush and quietly stubborn once you have made up your mind. |
| Chihuahua | The bold loyalist | Your circle is small and you would do anything for it. You are bigger on the inside than you look, and you say what you think. |
| Pug | The comedian | You make a room lighter. You love company, a good sofa and a good laugh, and you are not in a hurry to be anywhere else. |
| German Shepherd | The protector | You are steady, loyal and serious when it counts. People trust you with things that matter, and you take that trust to heart. |
| Standard Poodle | The clever all-rounder | You are a bit of everything: active when it is time, calm when it is not, sociable and sharp. You adapt to whatever the day brings. |
| Basenji | The independent original | You think for yourself and do not need a crowd. You are curious and quick, and you keep a little mystery about you. |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | The gentle rock | You are calm, warm and dependable. You are happiest with your people close by, and they feel safe when you are around. |
| Wire Fox Terrier | The spark | You are quick, bright and always up to something. You get bored fast, so you keep life interesting for everyone near you. |
| Whippet | The quiet sprinter | You are calm and gentle most of the time, then fast when it matters. You like a few close people and plenty of rest between bursts. |
Why the breed fits the person
Most breeds were made for a job, and the job shaped the personality. Herding dogs like the Border Collie and the German Shepherd were bred to work closely with a person, so they are focused and eager to learn. Sled dogs like the Siberian Husky had to run for hours and make their own choices, so they are energetic and independent. Companion breeds like the Pug had one job: keeping people company.
So when the quiz calls you a Husky, it means you share that mix: lots of energy, friendly, and happiest when nobody tells you which way to run.
Do dogs and owners really match?
A little, according to research. In a 2004 study in Psychological Science, people were shown photos of dogs and owners and matched purebred dogs to their owners more often than chance would predict. It did not work for mixed breed dogs. One explanation is that people pick a dog that feels like them.
Your personality match is not a shopping list
If the quiz says you are a Border Collie, that does not mean you should get one. A good dog for you depends on your home, your time, your budget and allergies, not only on your personality. Read about a breed's exercise, grooming and health needs first, and talk to a shelter or a good breeder. Our dog breed quiz does exactly that: it asks about your home, time and family and shows the 3 breeds that fit best.
What breed is your actual dog?
If you already have a dog and wonder what it is, our dog breed identifier compares a photo with 120 breeds and shows the 3 closest matches. It is free and takes about ten seconds.
Method and limits
The breed profiles are our own summary of how each breed is usually described by breed clubs and breeders: what it was bred for and its typical temperament. Individual dogs vary a lot. The quiz does not store or send your answers. Reference: Roy, M. M. and Christenfeld, N. J. S. (2004). Do dogs resemble their owners? Psychological Science, 15(5), 361 to 363.