Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America

The dog, often known as the domestic dog. It is a tamed descendent of the wolf with an upturned tail. The dog is descended from an extinct ancient wolf. Moreover,  the present grey wolf is the dog’s closest living relative.  

Before the emergence of agriculture, the dog was the first creature to be domesticated by hunter-gatherers about 15,000 years ago.

Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America
Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America

Dogs have evolved to be uniquely adapted to human behavior.  This resulting in a huge number of domesticated individuals and the ability to thrive on a starch-rich diet that would be insufficient for other canids.

Over millennia, the dog has been selectively selected for a variety of behaviors, sensory capacities, and physical characteristics. Dog breeds exist in a variety of sizes, colors, and forms.

Hunting, herding, pulling cargo, protection, supporting police and the military, friendship, therapy, and assisting disabled people are just a few of the functions they play for humans. Because of their impact on human culture, they have earned the nickname “man’s best friend.”

Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America

Dogs are the most diverse mammal on the planet, with over 450 breeds recognized worldwide. During the Victorian era, the human selection was used to create modern dog breeds, resulting in a wide diversity of traits.  Within the last 200 years, most breeds have descended from a limited number of founders.

Dogs have undergone fast phenotypic change and have evolved into today’s modern breeds as a result of artificial selection imposed by humans.

The proportions of the skull, body, and limbs differ greatly between breeds, with dogs exhibiting more phenotypic variability than the entire order of carnivores. Guarding, herding, and hunting are among their behavioral features, as are retrieving and scent detecting.

Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has declared the Labrador Retriever the most popular dog breed in the United States for the past 30 years.

While the top dog breeds from previous years’ lists remained, there were two major changes in the most recent list: the French Bulldog surpassed the German Shepherd for second place, and the fun-loving Dachshund overtook the Pembroke Welsh Corgi to make the top ten.

Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America

The AKC’s most recent list of the top 10 dog breeds in America is available below. Is your favorite among the finalists?

1. Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever is one of the Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America. The Labrador Retriever, commonly shortened as Labrador or Lab. It is a retriever-gun dog breed developed in the United Kingdom from imported Canadian fishing dogs. In a lot of nations around the world, notably in the Western world, the Labrador is one of the most popular dog breeds.

Labrador Retrievers make wonderful pets. They are one of the world’s most rational, even-tempered, friendly, clever, and eager-to-please breeds.

Labrador Retriever

Labradors like playing with people of all ages and appear to recognize the importance of being gentle with children. They are devoted retrievers and swimmers that can spend hours playing fetch. Labrador Retrievers are huge, active canines that enjoy chewing.

  • Great Britain is the country of origin.
  • Males are 21.5-24.5 inches tall.
  • Males weigh 55-80 pounds.
  • Coat: Double coat with a silky, weather-resistant undercoat and a short, straight, dense outer coat.
  • Black, yellow, or chocolate are the available colors.

2. French Bulldog

French Bulldog is one of the Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America. The French Bulldog is a domestic dog breed that was designed for companionship. In the 1800s, a mix between Toy Bulldogs brought from England and local ratters in Paris, France, resulted in the creation of the breed.   They have a pleasant, mild-mannered nature and are stocky, compact dogs.

In 2020, they were the second-most popular registered dog in the United Kingdom. Moreover, the second-most popular AKC-registered dog breed in the United States. In 2017, they were ranked as Australia’s third most popular dog.  

French Bulldog

In 2019, the French Bulldog had 375 export pedigrees and 33,661 registered dogs in the United Kingdom.   The Labrador Retriever had nearly 36,700 dogs, while the Cocker Spaniel had less than 22,000 dogs.

  • France is the country of origin.
  • Approximately 12 inches tall
  • Weight range: 24 to 28 lbs.
  • Short, fine, silky, shiny, and soft coat
  • Brindle, fawn, white, brindle, and white; furthermore any color except black, black and white, black and tan, liver, and mouse.


3. German Shepherd

German Shepherd is one of the Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America. The German Shepherd is a working dog breed that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd Dog is the breed’s English language name, according to the FCI. In the United Kingdom, the breed was officially known as the “Alsatian Wolf Dog” from the end of World War I until 1977.

When it was renamed, German Shepherd.  The German Shepherd, despite its wolf-like look, is a relatively new canine breed, going back to 1899.

German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is an intelligent and diligent dog that is a wonderful dog lover’s pet. This breed enjoys participating in dog-friendly outdoor activities and requires a lot of mental and physical stimulation to operate at its best.

It’s no surprise that German Shepherds are frequently taught to aid the police, military, and other service groups, given their poised and fearless temperament.

  • Germany is the country of origin.
  • 21.5–26 inches tall
  • Weight range: 48.5–88 lbs.
  • Coat: Double coat with a thick undercoat and a medium-length, straight, dense, harsh, close-lying outer coat; neck ruff may be present.
  • Colors: All colors are permitted, except white.

4. Golden Retriever

The popular dog breed in America is Golden Retriever. The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized gun dog. It is trained to retrieve shot waterfowl including ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties.  

The moniker “retriever” comes from the breed’s ability to retrieve shot game without causing damage because of its soft mouth. Golden retrievers have a natural solubility in water and are simple to train to basic or high obedience levels.

Golden Retriever

They are a long-coated breed with a dense inner coat that keeps them warm in the outdoors and a flat outside coat that repels water. Golden retrievers are well-suited to life in the suburbs or the country.

  • Great Britain is the country of origin.
  • Males are 22–24 inches tall, while females are 20–22.5 inches tall.
  • Males weigh 65–75 pounds, while females weigh 55–70 pounds.
  • Coat: Double coat with a good undercoat and a straight or wavy, robust, dense, water-repellent outer coat; neck ruff
  • Colors: a variety of golden colors


5. Bulldog

The popular dog breed in America is Bulldog. The Bulldog, often known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog, is a medium-sized dog breed. It’s a big, muscular dog with a wrinkled face and a pronounced pushed-in nose.

Breeding records are overseen by the Kennel Club (UK), the American Kennel Club (US), and the United Kennel Club (US). Bulldogs are popular pets; according to the American Kennel Club, they were the seventh most popular pure breed in the United States in 2017.

Bulldog

The Bulldog has a wrinkled face and a very friendly attitude. They are excellent companions and, in comparison to the other most popular dog breeds on this list, are extremely peaceful.

Bulldogs, being adaptable and gentle, do not require a lot of exercises; in fact, these laid-back dogs prefer to spend most of their time at home with their pet parents.

  • Great Britain is the country of origin.
  • 12–16 inches in height
  • 40–55 pound weight range
  • Short, straight, flat, close, fine, smooth, and glossy coat
  • Brindle (all variations), piebald, red, fawn, fallow, and white are the most common colors.

6. Poodle

One of the most popular dog breeds in America is Poodle. The Poodle is a water dog breed that is also known as the Pudel in German and the Caniche in French. The Standard Poodle, Medium Poodle, Miniature Poodle, and Toy Poodle are the four sizes of the breed, although the Medium Poodle variant is not commonly recognized.

The Standard Poodle was initially used by wildfowl hunters to recover wildlife from the water. It is most often said to have been invented in Germany, while it is also supposed to originate from France.

Poodle

The smaller variants of the breed were developed from the original in France. Where they were previously popular as circus performers but have since become popular companion dogs.

  • France is the country of origin.
  • There are two types of coats.
  • Colors: White, cream, brown, apricot, black, grey, café-au-lait, blue, silver | also red, silver beige, multicolored 
  • Caniche is another name.

7. Beagle

The beagle is a little scent hound that looks similar to the much larger foxhound. The beagle was created especially for hare hunting (beagling). The beagle is the most common breed used as a detection dog for forbidden agricultural imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the world.

Due to its keen sense of smell and exceptional tracking abilities. The beagle is a smart dog. It’s a popular pet because of its size, pleasant temperament, and lack of inherited health issues.

Beagle

Several breeds, notably the Talbot Hound, the North Country Beagle, the Southern Hound, and maybe the Harrier, were combined to create the modern breed in the 1830s in Great Britain.

  • Great Britain is the country of origin.
  • 13-inch and 15-inch heights are available.
  • Approximate weight: 22-35 lbs.
  • Close, dense, durable, waterproof coat with a medium length
  • Any hound color is OK.
  • English Beagle is the other name.

8. Rottweiler

Rottweiler is the best dog breed in America. The Rottweiler is a breed of dog. It is a domestic dog breed that ranges in size from medium to large.  Because their main function was to herd livestock and pull carts packed with butchered meat to sell.

The dogs were known in German as Rottweiler Metzgerhund, which means Rottweil butchers’ dogs.

rottweiler dog

This practice persisted until the mid-nineteenth century when railways supplanted droving. Rottweilers are currently utilized as search and rescue dogs, guard dogs, and police dogs in many regions of the world, in addition to herding livestock.

  • Germany is the country of origin.
  • Males are 24–27 inches tall, while females are 22–25 inches tall.
  • Males weigh 110 pounds, while females weigh 92.5 pounds.
  • Coat: A medium-length, straight, coarse, dense, flat-lying outer coat and an undercoat 
  • Black with rusty mahogany marks (Colors)
  • Rottweil Metzgerhund is another name

9. German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer is one of the top dog breeds in America. The German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) is a pointing dog breed that was established in Germany in the 19th century for hunting. A versatile hunting breed, they are sleek yet powerful with strong legs and are good for both land and water.

While they are a hunting breed with a strong desire to discover and chase the game. They are also incredibly energetic and capable of excelling in a range of dog sports. When well-socialized, they have a friendly temperament toward both people and other dogs, with a tendency to be “velcro dogs.”

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is an active breed that enjoys being outside. It requires plenty of activity, making it one of the best active dogs for active families. When it comes to dog sports and competition, they are regarded as jacks of all crafts.

German Shorthaired Pointers are affable people-pleasers with a distinctive appearance that typically includes spots or “ticking.” They are lighthearted and affectionate.

  • Germany is the country of origin.
  • Males are 23 to 26 inches tall, while females are 21 to 25 inches tall.
  • Males weigh 55 to 70 pounds, while females weigh 45 to 60 pounds.
  • Coat: Double coat with a dense, short undercoat and a short, rough, dense, hard outer coat.
  • Solid liver, liver, and white spotted, liver and white spotted and ticked, liver and white ticked, liver roan, likewise solid black or black and white with the same variations as the liver may have tan markings
  • Other names: Deutscher Kurzhaariger Vorstehhund; Deutscher Kurzhaar

10. Dachshund

The dachshund is a hound-type dog breed with short legs and a long body. It is also known as the wiener dog, badger dog, or sausage dog. They come in a variety of textures, including smooth, wire, and long-haired.

The miniature dachshund was designed to hunt rabbits and other small animals, whereas the standard-sized dachshund was intended to sniff, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling creatures.

Dachshund
  • Germany is the country of origin.
  • Standard—14–18 inches /miniature—up to 14 inches [approximately]
  • Standard weight: 16–32 pounds; tiny weight: up to 11 pounds
  • Coat—Double coat with sleek, smooth, glossy, straight or slightly wavy outercoat/smooth—short, dense, shiny, smooth fitting coat/wirehaired—double coat with uniform short, thick, harsh outer coat and finer, shorter-haired undercoat; beard
  • Red, cream/two-colored—black, chocolate, wild boar, grey, fawn, all with tan or cream markings/dappled  Colors.
  • Other names: Dackel; Normalgrösse (Standard); Normalschlag (Standard); Teckel; Zwerg (Miniature); Zwergteckel (Miniature); Zwergteckel (Miniature)

The ideal physical characteristics, movement, and temperament of each breed are detailed in a written document known as a “breed standard.” The breed standard, for example, specifies the characteristics that distinguish a Cocker Spaniel from a Springer Spaniel.

Top 10 Most Popular Dogs breeds in America

Each breed’s AKC standard is developed by a “parent club,” an AKC-recognized national club devoted to that breed. A standard becomes the breeder’s “blueprint” as well as the tool used by dog show judges to evaluate a breeder’s work once it has been authorized by the AKC.

There are around 340 dog breeds recognized worldwide. There are 197 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Whether your favorite dog reached the top 10 dog breeds list in America or is a newcomer, you’ll be relieved to learn that dogs of all kinds occupy millions of homes and hearts in the United States. Furthermore, the most popular dog breeds are updated on an annual basis, so there’s always next year!

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