Most Popular Dog Breeds in America

For three consecutive years, the three most popular dog breeds in America have remained the same. The second ranked German Shepherd is flanked by Retrievers, with Golden in third place and Labrador in the number one spot. Bulldogs come in fourth, with Beagles rounding out the top five. The rankings from the American Kennel Club are based on registration of dogs with the organization.

The most popular breeds tend to be large, friendly dogs with notable characteristics like intelligence or courage. Beagles, the smallest breed in the top five, are not the most intelligent, but they are friendly and happy dogs who love people of all ages. Golden Retrievers are smart dogs; in fact, they consistently come in near the top in rankings of smartest dog breeds, and they are also friendly and loyal.

Some breeds are on the rise in popularity, including Vizslas, Welsh Corgis and French Bulldogs. The latter two breeds are smaller dogs that have gained popularity in social media, while the larger Vizsla, also called the Hungarian Pointer, is a friendly large breed with a golden red coat.

People choose certain dog breeds for a variety of reasons. Families with children often place importance on the reputation a breed has for getting along with kids, and some of the larger breeds are known for being good family dogs, which could explain their continuing popularity. Smart dogs are very trainable, while single people or apartment dwellers may place importance on a dog being content to be by itself for periods of time during the day, and may even prefer a dog that’s lazy and doesn’t require a great deal of exercise.

Because dogs are bred for certain personalities and characteristics in addition to physical appearance, understanding the traits of different breeds can help you choose a dog breed that is unlikely to give you any unpleasant surprises once you bring him or her home. But sometimes word of mouth is the biggest influence behind people’s choice of breed. Talking to friends who have a dog or dogs of a certain breed, or better yet, being able to spend time with your friends’ dogs, often makes many people decide with confidence that that is the breed for their family, too. This goes a long way in explaining why the most popular dog breeds don’t change dramatically from year to year.