WHAT’S THE BEST DOG BREED? SURVEY SHOWS EACH STATE’S FAVORITE TYPE OF PUP
Source: USA Today (Extract)
Posted: December 14, 2023
Approximately two-thirds of U.S. households own a dog, with 85% of dog owners considering their pets a part of their family. But which breeds are more favored between the 50 states?
Forbes surveyed 10,000 dog owners across the country to find out which breeds rank supreme in the U.S. Results encompassed the top 25 most popular breeds nationwide, according to the American Kennel Club.
What is the top dog breed in the nation? Turns out, “no breed in particular” is America’s favorite at 13%.
But if we as a nation had to decide, Australian shepherds ranked as the top favorite dog breed.
Commonly referred to as “Aussies,” Australian shepherds are known to be highly intelligent herding dogs with high energy levels. Their coats comes in an array of colors, including shades of blue and red.
The Australian shepherd ranked as the top dog breed in 10 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, New York and Virginia. They were also the second favorite dog breed in nine states.
But while Aussies won the popular vote, the German Shepherd is the favorite in more states (16) than any other breed.
What is your state’s favorite dog breed?
Each state’s favorite dog breed:
Survey encompassed the top 25 most popular dog breeds in U.S., according to the American Kennel Club.
State Favorite Breed
Alabama | Australian Shepherd |
Alaska | Australian Shepherd |
Arizona | Australian Shepherd |
Arkansas | Australian Shepherd |
California | Bernese Mountain Dog |
Colorado | German Shepherd |
Connecticut | Bulldog |
Delaware | Boston Terriers |
Florida | Bernese Mountain Dog |
Georgia | Australian Shepherd and Bernese Mountain Dog |
Hawaii | Bernese Mountain Dog |
Idaho | Labrador Retriever |
Illinois | Bulldog |
Indiana | Australian Shepherd |
Iowa | Bernese Mountain Dog |
Kansas | German Shepherd |
Kentucky | German Shepherd |
What are the top 10 favorite dog breeds in the United States?
Australia Shepherds (7.2%)
German Shepherds (7.1%)
Bulldogs (6.5%)
Labrador Retriever (6%)
Bernese Mountain Dog (5.6%)
Beagle (5.2%)
Golden Retriever (5.1%)
Boston Terrier (4.7%)
Boxer (4.5%)
Shih Tzu (3.1%)
Dachshund (3.1%)
Siberian Husky (3%)
Is there a least favorite dog breed in America?
If you can believe it, there is actually dog breed considered the “least favorite.” And that title goes to the Havanese, which was the bottom-ranking breed in 33 states in the Forbes survey.
“The Havanese, native to Cuba, is a small breed with long hair,” Forbes writes. “A great option for an urban dweller, the Havanese is easy to train and a great watchdog that takes its jobs very seriously.”