Top 20 America’s Most Popular Dogs for 2024

Discover the most popular pups that will melt your heart (including mixed dogs)

There is something comforting about having a pet dog. Almost nothing compares to it, and more and more people are starting to take that step of getting one. Picking the right breed can be tricky, though, and many have trouble deciding which pup to get.

This is why we have compiled a list of the most popular dog breeds in the USA to help you choose. By going through this list, you will find out which dog breeds were picked as pets more frequently. Not only that, but we will also describe each breed to help you choose!

There are many reasons why people go for a specific dog breed as their pet. Some like the way a particular breed looks, while others choose according to the personality. Whichever group you belong to, we have you covered.

Read on to see our list and find out what the most popular dog breeds are. Hopefully, it helps you decide which one would be the perfect match for you!

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are often affectionately called Aussies, but they were originally bred on the American Frontier to help to herd. Their popularity has a lot to do with their loyal, playful and active temperament.

They are extremely intelligent dogs and love to please their owners. They learn quickly, so you won’t have trouble training these pups. 

Aussies are medium-sized dogs with bodies that are slightly longer than their height. Their coat is long, but their grooming needs are not that high. They come in many coat colors, although the officially recognized ones are black, red, red merle, and blue merle.

Beagle

Beagles will surely win you over with their looks alone with their huge eyes and large floppy ears. These dogs do have plenty of strength. They have short coats that don’t require too much maintenance.

Beagles are kind and gentle, they love having fun and enjoy long walks. Don’t worry about them needing to be too active though, Beagles will also enjoy their time with you on the couch.

The original goal of breeding Beagles was to use them as hunting dogs. They are constantly led by their nose and have a sharp sense of smell. 

Exercise is the only thing you will need to keep an eye on when it comes to having a pet Beagle. Make sure your pup is active at least once a day and it will be happy!

Bernedoodle

The Bernedoodle is a mix between a Bernese Mountain Dog and Poodle (Standard, Miniature, or Toy). These incredibly cute pups were bred with the sole goal of providing companionship. Cuddling is in their second nature, and they will love spending time with you and your family.

Bernedoodles can come in a large variety of colors and sizes. Similar to Poodles, these pups come in tiny, miniature, and standard sizes. This will allow you to choose the size that best fits your needs.

These pups have a fluffy tricolor coat that combines black, white, and brown. However, they can rarely be completely black or even come in a random mix of colors. Their coat will be curlier depending on how many Poodle genes they have in them. 

Boxer

While some people consider Boxers to look scary, these dogs are definitely the complete opposite when it comes to personality! They are enthusiastic and love to play and will be extremely dedicated to their owners and family.

It may surprise you that these dogs adore cuddling. They will climb up to your lap even when they are fully grown, which can look quite funny, seeing how they can weigh up to 80 pounds.

Boxers will demand your attention and will do their best to please you. They are protective and loyal but never aggressive.

They have black faces, commonly known as masks, and floppy ears that can be cropped, allowing them to stand up.

Cavapoo

With round, chocolate-colored eyes, a cute black nose, floppy ears, and a smooth, curly coat, Cavapoos are ready to win people over with their looks! 

These popular pups are the result of a crossbreed between a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Miniature or Toy Poodle. 

Cavapoos make great pets for first-time owners. They love playing around with children and are calm and low-maintenance.

Cavapoos are also considered hypoallergenic dogs. Although no dog is truly hypoallergenic, since people are allergic to specific proteins in a dog’s saliva and dander, these pups are a good pick for people with allergies. They barely shed, so you should be safe with them.

Cockapoo

Cockapoos are incredibly popular dogs that have the loving personality of a Cocker Spaniel combined with a Poodle’s intelligence. This makes sense seeing as how they are a mix of those two breeds!

These pups look incredibly cute and are often compared to teddy bears. They have a smiling face and come in different sizes, depending on the size of the Poodle used for breeding. 

The coat of a Cockapoo is curly and long and can come in various colors, including black, cream, chocolate, white and red. They are a low shedding breed and are also considered hypoallergenic dogs.

Expect your Cockapoo puppy to follow you around wherever you go. They are just that attached. Seeing as how cute they are, we’re sure you won’t mind!

Dachshund

With their long bodies and short, stubby legs, Dachshunds are a breed that won’t leave anyone indifferent! Because of their body shape, they are known as sausage dogs, and you will often hear people refer to them as Doxies as well.

They are small hunting dogs originally bred in Germany to burrow into the dens of prey. These dogs can have three different coat types - smooth, longhair, and wirehair. These pups can come in red, cream, black and tan, merle, and sable, among many others.

Dachshunds will require some daily activity, but other than that, they will enjoy spending time around the house with you.

Keep in mind that Doxies can be quite loud. You will need to train them properly to prevent loud barking.

English Bulldog

English Bulldogs are courageous dogs that are easy to recognize. They were first bred to be fighting dogs, but have evolved to be gentle, loving pets. They have become known for their toughness, but nowadays, you can expect a Bulldog to spend time laying around the house.

English Bulldogs are medium-sized pups with short, bulky legs and a strong, compact body. Their wrinkled face and overhanging skin most easily recognize them. These dogs can come in white, fallow, fawn, and red. 

Their personality definitely clashes with their history as fighting dogs. Bulldogs can be incredibly goofy and are generally very friendly. 

French Bulldog

Although the name is quite similar, French Bulldogs are actually completely different dogs than their English counterparts. They are smaller and more lively. These pups are extremely playful and will make a living with them a constant joy!

Their body is bulky and muscular, with some wrinkled skin on the shoulders and face. They have a short coat that can come in colors such as white, fawn, and cream. 

French Bulldogs are true comedians of the canine world. Their personality makes French Bulldogs a great choice for families with children. Easy to groom and always looking for your attention, these dogs are capable of winning anyone over.

German Shepherd

No matter the amount of experience you have with dogs, you are probably familiar with German Shepherds. These brave but gentle pups are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States and all over the world.

They are large dogs that are protective and loyal, and won’t trust strangers that easily. They were originally bred to be working dogs and are still assisting the police and military.

German Shepherds also make for wonderful pets. They do amazingly well with more active people. They will remain calm while joining you in your walks through the park or if you decide to go jogging.

German Shepherds are known for their powerful and graceful look. They are large, with a kind expression and a black and tan double coat. Other colors are rare but not impossible to find and they include sable, black or even White German Shepherd.

Goldendoodle

Goldendoodles are a popular breed that is a mix between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle. They are known as a hypoallergenic breed, so you might want to look into them more if you suffer from allergies.

The size of a Goldendoodle will largely depend on the Poodle side of its parentage. Their coat is most often curly and can come in a variety of colors. The most popular one is the gold hue, red, brown, white, and black colored pups of this breed.

Goldendoodles are gentle and playful and will demand a lot of your attention. They love interacting with humans, so expect to spend quite some time playing with your pup. They learn quickly due to their high intelligence, which makes them a good match for children!

Golden Retriever

Another breed mostly everyone is familiar with, Golden Retrievers will undoubtedly win you over with their sweet demeanor and eagerness to please. These large dogs are known for their golden coat, which can come in various hues, ranging from light to dark.

That gorgeous coat comes with a bit of a price, as these dogs do shed quite a bit. You will need to spend some time grooming your Golden Retriever, at the very least, focus on brushing it regularly. 

These dogs will keep their loving personality throughout their lives and will always adore fun and play with you (and your kids!). They are outgoing and easy to train thanks to their intelligence.

Labradoodle

Labradoodle is another mixed breed, this time the combination of a Labrador and Standard Poodle. This breed is actually quite popular among people who suffer from allergies since they are known as hypoallergenic dogs that don’t shed that much.

Labradoodles make for great family dogs that are a good pick for first-time owners. They are easily trained and will completely adapt to your lifestyle. They are often on the larger side, although miniature versions are available.

These dogs will love playing around with your family, and they are especially fond of children. They love having fun so don’t expect a boring moment with these lovable pups. They do require quite a bit of exercise and a decent amount of grooming, so be ready for that.

These fluffy, lovable canines come in many colors, such as chocolate, black, white, red, cream, or a combination of some of those colors.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers, also known as Labs, have been reigning as the most popular dog breed in the United States for quite some time now. No matter where you’re from, chances are that you’ve met one of these pups somewhere during your life.

These gorgeous dogs can come in three colors: yellow, chocolate, and black. Labs do shed. They have a thick tail that they will wave around with whenever they feel so and won’t let anything get in the way!

While they do look beautiful, their personality is what truly makes these dogs a beloved breed. Highly devoted to their owners, extremely affectionate, and smart, Labs are simply the perfect pets.

Maltipoo

Maltipoos are adorable puppies that are a mix of Maltese and Miniature or Toy Poodle. These puppies are small with a soft, medium-length coat. They are usually white and cream, although they can be any color.

This is another hypoallergenic breed that is quite popular among people suffering from allergies. 

Maltipoos have a wonderful personality that makes them playful and gentle. Their small size is a great bonus that means they are perfect pets for any home.

They are wonderful pets for any first-time owner. They will adapt to you and can spend the entire day in your lap snuggling or go outside to run and play.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

With their long bodies, short legs, a fox-like face, and upright, perky ears, Pembroke Welsh Corgis are a breed with a look that will surely win anyone over! Their gorgeous, full coat only adds to the charm.

Expect to brush their coat often, as they do shed a lot. Corgis were originally bred to be herding dogs in Wales, and they do still have some of that worker’s heritage leftover in them.

Corgis are intelligent dogs that are small in stature but behave like much bigger dogs. They are known for having a great sense of humor and will absolutely love playing with you while using any toys available.

Corgis can be yappy since they are protective of their families. Expect your pup to bark while young, but with proper training that can be handled. 

Poodle 

Available in four sizes, Standard, Medium, Miniature, and Toy, these dogs will win you over with their unique look and friendly temperament. The Poodle is a breed most are probably familiar with, and it comes as no surprise that these dogs are popular. 

Poodles are best known for their curly coats and the grooming styles used to adorn them. 

Many believe Poodles to be somewhat stuck-up, fancy dogs, thanks to the way they are portrayed in pop culture. This isn’t the case in reality, as these dogs are athletic, active, and friendly.

They are highly agile and love training. Thanks to their high intelligence, training Poodles is an absolute breeze!

Rottweiler

Rottweilers are large, muscular dogs with heavy bones and large heads. While they may seem imposing and threatening to some, don’t worry, they actually have a loving personality.

Having a Rottweiler does require some previous experience with dogs since you will need to dedicate time to various activities with them.

They have a low-maintenance coat that is black with rust markings. It is of medium length and it only sheds a bit more than usual twice a year. This makes them great pets for those that don’t have too much time for grooming.

Personality-wise, Rottweilers are known for their high intelligence, which makes sense since they have often been employed as police dogs or search-and-rescue dogs.

Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies are absolutely gorgeous dogs known for their wolf-like appearance and elegance. They have beautiful, almond-shaped eyes that can come in various colors.

The coat of a Siberian Husky is double-layered and provides excellent protection against the cold. The coats can come in variations of red, gray, and black combined together in patterns.

They love playing and are quite mischievous, which can be adorable. Siberian Huskies are friendly and will love spending time with their owners, but they won’t go out of their way to please them. These are independent dogs.

Interestingly, they are quite talkative. They won’t bark a lot but expect them to moan while trying to get your attention.

Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terriers are commonly referred to as Yorkies and are small pups with a feisty attitude and a strong devotion to their owners. They are the smallest of the terrier group, but they have large personalities.

Yorkies were originally bred as rat hunters in northern England, but are now some of the most popular pets. 

Yorkies make for great companions who can take on the role of a watchdog when necessary. Of course, their looks are also the reason people love them. These tiny pups have long, silky coats, and you can choose to let it grow freely or shorten it with a puppy cut.

They don’t shed much so they are a good pick for people with allergies, which is always a good bonus!