Methodology
What the matcher compares, and what meeting the dog still tells you.
The matcher compares eight household preferences with published breed tendencies to suggest dogs worth learning about. The individual dog's age, history, health, and temperament matter more than the shortlist.
1. The breed facts behind the matcher
The matcher uses 206 profiles from the official American Kennel Club breed directory and individual breed pages, checked 2026-07-16. It can compare 205 breeds with complete published traits. A breed with a missing trait remains in the directory but stays out of quiz results so no value has to be guessed.
- Breed facts used
- Breed name, group, origin, recognition year, life expectancy, size, height, weight, coat types, coat lengths, and popularity rank.
- Published traits compared
- Adaptability, affection, barking, grooming, children, drooling, energy, other dogs, mental stimulation, strangers, playfulness, shedding, trainability, and protective tendency.
- Original AKC material
- Official article text, breed-standard prose, and photography stay on AKC pages. Each profile links to its official source.
2. How your answers shape the shortlist
Each answer is compared with the related AKC trait. Size and daily activity matter most. Grooming, shedding, barking, children, other dogs, and first-time ownership refine the order when they apply. The number out of 100 shows closeness among the available breeds, not the chance that a match will succeed.
| Your answer | Priority | How it shapes the shortlist |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred size | 24 points | A specific size keeps the shortlist close to that range. Any size leaves the range open. |
| Activity level | 22 points | Daily activity strongly shapes the order. |
| Grooming frequency | 11 points | Breeds stay closer when their grooming needs fit your preferred routine. |
| Shedding level | 10 points | Breeds stay closer when their shedding tendency fits your household. |
| Barking level | 10 points | Breeds stay closer when their vocal tendency fits your household. |
| Young children | 11 points when relevant | Published comfort with young children matters when you say children live at home. |
| Other dogs | 7 points when relevant | Published comfort with other dogs matters when you say another dog lives at home. |
| First-time owner | 10 points when relevant | Published trainability and adaptability both matter. |
A specific size preference strongly narrows the choices. Very low published ratings for comfort with young children or other dogs also limit a breed's result when those household needs matter. Popularity breaks an exact tie; it is not treated as a sign of quality.
3. Result labels and explanations
- Strong fit
- 82 or higher for the preferences you chose.
- Worth a look
- 70 to 81 for the preferences you chose.
- A wider stretch
- Below 70, shown when a broader fifth suggestion may still be useful.
Each result names up to three reasons it fits and the first important tradeoff, so the number always comes with context.
4. Limits
- Breed scores describe broad tendencies, not an individual dog.
- The matcher does not evaluate health, behavior problems, bite risk, training progress, local restrictions, housing rules, or breeder quality.
- No dog is guaranteed to be quiet, child-safe, dog-friendly, easy to train, low-allergen, or suited to an apartment.
- Young children and dogs always require active adult supervision, regardless of a published breed score.
- Mixed-breed dogs are not ranked because the source dataset is breed-profile based. Shelter and rescue staff may offer more useful individual observations.
5. When the breed facts are updated
The official AKC breed directory and profile pages are checked for current facts and traits. The checked date changes when those published details change and the matcher is updated.
Use the shortlist to decide which dogs to meet and which questions to ask. A responsible shelter, rescue, breed club, or breeder should help you evaluate the individual dog in front of you.
Build a shortlist