Fun Facts About the Top Medium Dog Breeds
Medium sized dog breeds are great family dogs, and they can be especially good companions to people who live in small apartments or have limited outdoor space to accommodate big dogs like Labradors or Bernese Mountain Dogs. If you’re thinking about adding a medium sized dog to your family, here are the top 8 medium sized dog breeds that are popular with pet owners today.
1) Siberian Husky
Originally bred in Siberia, Russia to pull sleds across long distances and work as a pack animal in harsh winter climates, Siberian Huskies are an intelligent breed with a strong will. They’re also famously friendly, affectionate and playful dogs that love to be around people; they especially like children. Because of their friendly nature and adaptability, Siberian Huskies make good pets for those who live in apartments or other small spaces. The breed does shed heavily once or twice per year, however, so it's important to plan ahead if you have allergies or another reason not to have your dog indoors all day long.
2) Border Collie
This intelligent and obedient breed is known for his strong work ethic. The Border Collie has lots of energy and needs plenty of exercise, making him a great companion for running or hiking. As a medium-sized dog breed, he can adapt well to apartment living as long as he gets enough mental stimulation. He is also playful and affectionate with people, making him a wonderful family pet. As an added bonus, Border Collies have been known to herd cats!
3) Pug
Bred as a companion, Pugs are extremely affectionate dogs who need love and attention. These medium-sized dogs come in one of three colors (black, fawn, or apricot) and have short hair that needs little grooming. Their large ears can be floppy or erect depending on your dog’s mood! They make good guard dogs because they are naturally alert. Though Pug puppies look delicate, they are sturdy little dogs that stay strong well into their old age.
4) Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers are smart, friendly, loyal and outgoing dogs. They love to be around people, especially children. They are very protective of their owners and their property, and they make good watchdogs. Because they do not shed hair, they are a good choice for allergy sufferers as well.
5) Standard Poodle
This intelligent, loyal dog can learn up to 250 commands and is great for sporting activities. They are also very good with children and make excellent family pets. Standard Poodles need to be taken on daily walks or they will become bored, which may lead to destructive behavior in your home. If you have a large yard, they’ll love romping around outside; however, if you live in an apartment, give them plenty of opportunities to play fetch indoors as well.
6) Cocker Spaniel
Originating in Spain, these dogs were used for hunting small birds and have a notable twinkle in their eyes. The Cocker Spaniel also has beautiful hair that can be in variety of colors including black, brown, cream, and white. These medium sized dogs are known to weigh between 10 and 20 pounds with a height of 14 to 16 inches at shoulder.
7) Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a small to medium sized dog breed that comes from Tibet. They were bred as companion dogs. The Shih Tzu, also known as Lion Dogs and are nicknamed Shi Tsu in China and Japan. The exact origin of these little dogs remains a mystery, but they probably descended from Tibetan or Asian breeds (not surprisingly). A similar looking dog was seen in Chinese paintings as early as 500 B.C., which suggests they were established centuries ago.
8) Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small, feisty and tenacious dog with a deeply set determination to do what it was created to do. These dogs are easy to train because they are very intelligent, loyal and affectionate. They enjoy being around people and they like to go on walks with their owners. However, they should not be kept in apartments because these dogs need space to run around. Yorkshire Terriers can live up to 20 years old if proper care is given by their owners.