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Best breeds for

Best dog breeds for runners and active owners

The breeds with the highest published energy score. They need an owner who is out every day, and a job for the brain as well as the legs.

69 breeds. The rule: Energy very high, the top score. Puppies should not run with you until their growth plates close, which your vet can time.

Toy (1)

Miniature Pinscher 3.6 to 4.5 kg · 12 to 16 years

Small (5)

Brazilian Terrier 10 kg · 12 to 14 years Jack Russell Terrier 4.1 to 6.8 kg · 12 to 14 years Mudi 8.2 to 13.2 kg · 12 to 14 years Parson Russell Terrier 5.9 to 7.7 kg · 13 to 15 years Patterdale Terrier 5 to 6 kg · 10 to 12 years

Medium (34)

AussiedoodleCross 18 to 31.8 kg · 10 to 13 years Australian Cattle Dog 15.9 to 22.7 kg · 12 to 16 years Australian Kelpie 15.9 to 22.7 kg · 10 to 13 years Australian Shepherd 18.1 to 29.5 kg · 12 to 15 years Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog 14.5 to 20.4 kg · 12 to 15 years Barbado da Terceira 20.9 to 27.2 kg · 12 to 14 years Blue Lacy 13.6 to 22.7 kg · Up to 16 years BoradorCross 18 to 29.5 kg · 10 to 15 years Border AussieCross 13.6 to 29.5 kg · 12 to 15 years Border Collie 13.6 to 24.9 kg · 12 to 15 years BordoodleCross 13.6 to 31.8 kg · 12 to 15 years Braque Francais Pyrenean 18.1 to 24.9 kg · 12 to 15 years Brittany 13.6 to 18.1 kg · 12 to 14 years Entlebucher Mountain Dog 18.1 to 29.5 kg · 11 to 13 years Finnish Spitz 9.1 to 15 kg · 13 to 15 years Gerberian ShepskyCross 18.1 to 27.2 kg · 10 to 14 years German Pinscher 11.3 to 20.4 kg · 12 to 14 years Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen 18.1 to 20.4 kg · 13 to 15 years Miniature American Shepherd 9.1 to 18.1 kg · 12 to 13 years Mountain Cur 13.6 to 27.2 kg · 10 to 13 years Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 15.9 to 22.7 kg · 12 to 14 years Portuguese Pointer 15.9 to 26.8 kg · 14 years Portuguese Water Dog 15.9 to 27.2 kg · 11 to 13 years Pumi 10 to 13.2 kg · 12 to 13 years Pyrenean Sheepdog (Smooth Faced) Not published · Not published Pyrenean Shepherd 6.8 to 13.6 kg · 17 to 19 years Siberian Husky 15.9 to 27.2 kg · 12 to 14 years Staffordshire Bull Terrier 10.9 to 17.2 kg · 12 to 15 years Taiwan Dog 11.8 to 18.1 kg · 9 to 13 years Texas HeelerCross 15.9 to 29.5 kg · 12 to 16 years Vizsla 20 to 27.2 kg · 12 to 14 years Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 15.9 to 31.8 kg · 12 to 15 years Working Kelpie 12.7 to 27.2 kg · 12 to 15 years Yakutian Laika 18.1 to 24.9 kg · 10 to 12 years

Large (29)

Appenzeller Sennenhund 21.8 to 31.8 kg · 13 to 15 years Beauceron 31.8 to 49.9 kg · 10 to 12 years Bouvier des Ardennes 22 to 35.2 kg · 12 to 16 years Canadian Eskimo Dog 18.1 to 39.9 kg · 10 to 15 years Catahoula Leopard Dog 22.7 to 43.1 kg · 10 to 14 years Cesky Fousek 22 to 34 kg · Not published Czechoslovakian Vlciak 20 to 25.9 kg · 12 to 16 years Doberman Pinscher 27.2 to 45.4 kg · 10 to 12 years Dogo Argentino 36.3 to 45.4 kg · 9 to 15 years Dutch Shepherd 19.1 to 34 kg · 11 to 14 years Flat-Coated Retriever 27.2 to 31.8 kg · 8 to 10 years German Shepherd Dog 22.7 to 40.8 kg · 12 to 14 years German Shorthaired Pointer 20.4 to 31.8 kg · 10 to 12 years German Wirehaired Pointer 22.7 to 31.8 kg · 14 to 16 years Giant Schnauzer 24.9 to 43.1 kg · 10 to 13 years Gordon Setter 20.4 to 36.3 kg · 12 to 13 years Greenland Dog 27 to 47.5 kg · 10 to 12 years Ibizan Hound 20.4 to 22.7 kg · 11 to 14 years Irish DoodleCross 22.7 to 31.8 kg · Not published Irish Red and White Setter 15.9 to 27.2 kg · 11 to 15 years Irish Setter 27.2 to 31.8 kg · 12 to 15 years Labrador Retriever 24.9 to 36.3 kg · 11 to 13 years New Zealand Huntaway 25 to 40 kg · Not published ShepadoodleCross 18.1 to 40.8 kg · 10 to 18 years ShepradorCross 22.7 to 40.8 kg · 7 to 13 years Transylvanian Hound 24.9 kg or more · 10 to 14 years Treeing Walker Coonhound 22.7 to 31.8 kg · 12 to 13 years Weimaraner 24.9 to 40.8 kg · 10 to 13 years Wirehaired Vizsla 20.4 to 29.5 kg · 12 to 14 years

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How we worked this out

This list is worked out from the breed data, not picked by hand: Energy very high, the top score. Puppies should not run with you until their growth plates close, which your vet can time. Energy, grooming and the good with children and good with other dogs scores are the kennel club's own published ratings for the breed (for most breeds the American Kennel Club's one to five scores), and each breed's guide links to where its figures came from. A breed with no published score for a rule is left out rather than guessed.

A rating describes a tendency across a breed, not a promise about one puppy. Every dog needs socialisation and training, and every dog needs supervising around young children. Meet the parents, ask the breeder about temperament and health tests, and consider an adult dog from a rescue whose temperament is already known.