Types of Medium-Sized Dogs

Sporting

• As their name might suggest, dogs in the Sport class are vivacious and energetic, requiring lots of exercise. Many have a knack for hunting and are prized and bred by hunters. Some even take to water as readily as the ducks they hunt, such as the Brittany (originally known as the Brittany Spaniel), a dog of average size weighing from 30-40 pounds. Spaniels make up a large portion of the medium-sized Sporting class. The American Water Spaniel, the English Cocker Spaniel and the Field Spaniel fit into this category.

Hound

• All dogs have a powerful nose about 100 times more sensitive than the human nose. Hounds, however, were specifically bred to take this ability to the next level. Many are still used to this day to aid their human friends in hunting and tracking. Medium hounds include the famous beagle and stylish Saluki. The Whippet, which is really a miniature greyhound, is known for its speed rather than its nose. They are the fastest domesticated animal of their weight (15-30 pounds).

Working

• The dogs of the Working class are strong and sturdy, often employed by their masters to assist with human tasks. The Siberian Husky has a very thick coat that protects them from the biting cold while pulling sleds containing people and supplies through the arctic tundra. They were also used in the Army during World War II as part of the Arctic Search and Rescue Unit. The Portuguese Water Dog, due to their waterproof coat and swimming prowess, were used for jobs in the water, such as diving for fish and carrying messages between boats and the shore. Other medium Working dogs include the German Pinscher and the Olde English Bulldog.

Terrier

• Terriers are energetic and playful dogs, most of which were originally used to hunt vermin, such as the Rat Terrier. This was a common farm dog in the early part of the 20th century because of its ability to eliminate rabbits that destroyed crops. The Terrier group is the largest of the AKC classes, containing 27 breeds. Among these, the intermediately sized breeds include the Irish Terrier at 25 pounds and the Parson Russell Terrier at 15 pounds. ̶0;Pit Bull̶1; can refer to the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, or Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The latter of the three stands about 15 inches tall and weighs approximately 30 pounds.

Herding

• Until 1983, the Herding group was lumped together with the Working group. Because the Working class was too large, Herding dogs were recognized independently for their ability to control other animals, as in herding sheep and cows. The 1950's TV series Lassie made the medium-sized Bearded Collie (also known as a Sheltie) famous. Other medium-sized herding dogs include the Border Collie, the Shetland Sheepdog and the Puli.

Toy

• Dogs in the toy group are bred to be small lap dogs having cat-like personalities and an ability to thrive in small homes without requiring a large yard. For this reason, it's hard to call a Toy medium-sized. Perhaps one of the only exceptions is the Italian Greyhound. The Italian Greyhound is an ancient breed that originated from the selective breeding of a much larger dog, the Gazehound, until it stood a much smaller 12 to 15 inches high.

Non-sporting

• Non-sporting canines are also known as companion dogs. The term ̶0;companion̶1; doesn't mean they are better companions than other types of dogs; this is actually a catch-all category that contains breeds that have been phased out of their original purposes. This is the case with the Dalmatian, who aren't often seen on the back of fire trucks outside of parades. This class includes dogs that vary widely in appearance and temperament. The Chow Chow, Boston Terrier, Shiba Inu and Boston Terriers are all Non-sporting dogs of medium height and weight.

Unofficial breeds

• Breeders create designer dogs (like the labradoodle and cockapoo) as a mix of two or more AKC recognized breeds, bred to have certain desirable traits from each breed. While both parents of a designer dog may be AKC registered, the Club does not recognize them as official breeds. Last, but certainly not least, you can't talk about medium-sized dogs without mentioning mixed breeds (̶0;mutts̶1;). There are countless combinations of medium mutts, often possessing the best traits of each dog in their ancestry by way of natural selection.