Top Breeds Rated by State

American families love their four-legged companions. Approximately two-thirds of U.S. households own a dog, and an incredible 85% of dog owners consider their pets part of their family. There’s no denying that Americans have a deep affection for their furry friends. While certain breeds are more common than others, we were curious to find out which ones are the most popular in America.

Forbes Advisor surveyed 10,000 dog owners across the country to find out which breeds are most popular in the U.S. Our survey options included the 25 most popular breeds across the country according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).

As it turns out, many Americans are open-minded when it comes to dogs. The largest share of respondents said that “no particular breed” is their favorite (13%). However, Australian Shepherds took the top spot on the list of most popular dog breeds, followed by German Shepherds and Bulldogs.

With 65.1 million U.S. households owning at least one dog, International Dog Day (August 26) is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our many furry friends. While a variety of breeds can make wonderful companions, some breeds are more popular than others

The most important results of our study:

• Boston Terriers and Boxers are among the three most popular dog breeds in California.

• Labrador Retrievers, Siberian Huskies, Yorkshire Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Great Danes, Havanese and Pembroke Welsh Corgis are considered the least popular dog breeds in California (no California resident chose these breeds as their favorite).

• Two German Shepherds are considered the nation’s most popular dog breeds: the Australian Shepherd (1st place) and the German Shepherd (2nd place).

The German Shepherd was the most popular dog breed in 16 states (at one point it was tied for first place with another breed), the highest in the entire study. However, the breed was the second most popular nationwide.

In most US states (33 in total), the Havanese is the least popular dog breed, sometimes sharing last place with other breeds.

The second most expensive dog breed in America was the German Shorthaired Pointer, followed by the Welsh Corgi.

The main reason respondents chose a breed as their favorite was because they currently own or have owned that breed in the past (52%). The second most common reason was that they thought the dog could make a good companion (50%).

Breeds most often chosen as a state’s favorite

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Note: Survey options included the top 25 most popular dog breeds in America according to the American Kennel Club, and six states had two or more breeds that were the most popular.

Source: Forbes Advisor 2023 Pet Insurance Survey