The most popular dog breeds in the US (2024)
The top 3 according to 2,024 votes from people: French Bulldog · Labrador Retriever · Golden Retriever. (Updated Sep 6, 2025.)
The American Kennel Club's ranking of the most popular breeds of 2024, based on AKC registrations and announced in March 2025. Vote for your favourite.
Top 25
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1
French Bulldog
Number one for the third year running; it took the crown from the Labrador in 2022.
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2
Labrador Retriever
America's favourite for 31 straight years until 2022; friendly, eager and great with families.
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3
Golden Retriever
Gentle, loyal and easy to train; a classic family and service dog.
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4
German Shepherd Dog
Intelligent and versatile, used by police and the military around the world.
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5
Poodle
Comes in standard, miniature and toy sizes; very smart and low-shedding.
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6
Dachshund
The 'sausage dog', originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers.
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7
Rottweiler
A powerful guardian descended from the drover dogs of the Roman legions.
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8
Bulldog
The English bulldog: calm, sturdy and the symbol of Britain.
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9
German Shorthaired Pointer
An all-round hunting dog with lots of energy.
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10
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The short-legged Welsh herder made famous by Queen Elizabeth II.
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11
Yorkshire Terrier
A tiny terrier from northern England with a big personality.
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12
Australian Shepherd
Despite the name, developed as a herding dog in the western United States.
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13
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
An affectionate toy spaniel named after King Charles II of England.
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14
Cane Corso
An Italian mastiff that has climbed the rankings fast in recent years.
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15
Beagle
A merry scent hound with one of the best noses in the dog world.
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16
Miniature Schnauzer
A bearded German terrier, alert and easy-going.
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17
Bernese Mountain Dog
A big tricolour farm dog from the Swiss Alps.
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18
Great Dane
One of the tallest breeds in the world; Scooby-Doo is one.
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19
Boxer
A playful, muscular German breed that loves children.
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20
Doberman Pinscher
Created in Germany in the 1890s by tax collector Louis Dobermann.
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21
Pomeranian
A fluffy toy spitz descended from larger sled dogs.
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22
Miniature American Shepherd
A smaller version of the Australian Shepherd, recognised by the AKC in 2015.
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23
Havanese
Cuba's national dog, small and cheerful.
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24
Boston Terrier
'The American Gentleman', with its tuxedo-like coat.
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25
Shih Tzu
The 'little lion' dog bred for Chinese royalty.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (52)
Poodles at #5, standard poodles are the most underrated athletic dogs out there.
Aussies need a job or they will invent one, usually destroying the couch.
Frenchies at #1 for the third year in a row, the AKC numbers don't lie.
Frenchies at #1 again. Cute, but please research the breathing problems before getting one.
This. Our Frenchie needed airway surgery at 2 years old. We love him but it was hard.
Cane Corso climbing every year is a bit concerning, they need experienced owners.
Yeah, people see them on Instagram and don't realize they're 110 lbs of guard dog.
Frenchies are adorable but vet bills are no joke.
Our Cavalier is the sweetest soul but the heart issues are real, research breeders.
Bulldogs with all the breathing issues, kind of sad they're so popular.
Rottweilers are big softies with their families, terrible reputation they don't deserve.
Where are Bernese mountain dogs? Ah, #22 or something.
Yorkies are fearless, mine barks at Great Danes.
Love that the list says which year the ranking is from.
Pointers are the best family dog nobody talks about.
Cane Corso climbing so fast worries me, it's not a beginner dog.
Exactly, people get them for the look and can't handle them.
Shih Tzu at #20 seems low, they're everywhere in my neighborhood
Labs are the best family dogs ever made. Our old girl is 13 and still wags her whole body 💛
Great Danes are giant couch potatoes, best apartment dog nobody expects
Labs dropped to #2 after decades at the top, end of an era.
Cavalier owners, how do you handle the shedding?
Daily brushing and a good vacuum, honestly 😅
Australian Shepherd here: they need a JOB. Mine herds my kids around the backyard.
Corgis at #14, the Queen would be disappointed.
Corgi butts 🍑 that's the whole comment.
the beagle howl at 6am lol every day
Got a German Shorthaired Pointer last year. Amazing dog, needs 2 hours of exercise a day minimum.
Golden retrievers deserve #1 forever, best temperament of any dog.
German Shepherds are so smart it's almost scary. Ours opens the fridge.
Dachshunds are tiny drama queens and I love it.
Adopt don't shop, just saying. Shelters are full of amazing mixes.
Both can be true, good breeders and adoption, it's not one or the other.
German Shepherd is the smartest dog I've owned, learned commands in days.
Beagle owners know: they will follow their nose over a cliff.
Our Golden turned 14 this year, still steals socks.
Where are pit bulls?
The AKC doesn't recognize the 'pit bull' as a breed, the closest are American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Corgis at #15, the loaf deserves better 🍞
Bernese are beautiful but heartbreaking, they don't live long enough 😢
Mini Aussies everywhere in my town now.
Labs and Goldens are basically the same dog with different haircuts 😂
Strongly disagree, goldens are more sensitive, labs are food monsters.
Poodles are so underrated, smart, don't shed, and athletic. Not just fancy show dogs.
Poodle mixes are probably more popular than any of these if AKC counted them.
Golden retrievers are basically sunshine in dog form ☀️
Mutts are the best breed and they're not even on the list 😤
It's AKC registrations, so only purebreds count. Adopt don't shop though, agreed!
Beagles: the nose that walks a dog 😂 Ours has escaped the yard 4 times following smells.
Love seeing all the dog pics in my head while reading this 🐶
Dachshund owners unite! Stubborn little sausages but I wouldn't change a thing.
Cute list, now I want a dog.