The Top 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds in North America

Across the world, there are so many breeds of dogs, some breeds lived on to become a world recognizable classic. But trend changes affect what dog breeds are popular. Also, certain factors like how easy it is to train and maintain vastly affect how popular the dog is as well.

When you are looking to own a dog, it is important to make sure that you not only look at how popular that particular dog breed is and assess if your lifestyle fits that dog’s health, temperament, size, energy levels, and care needs. To help you pick the right dog breed, we made a list of the top 10 dog breeds of 2020.

1. Poodle Dog

The Poodle became popular because it has always been seen as the favored dog of the rich. They also are natural show dogs because of their long hair which can be cut in a number of unique ways, but perhaps because of this, people don’t realize that they are very intelligent dogs. If you wish to own a Poodle, remember that it essentially comes in three different sizes which are the standard size, miniature, and the toy size. Poodle enthusiasts all over the world love smaller poodles because they tend to live longer.

2. Yorkshire Terrier Dog

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular dog breeds, and they are a particular favorite among small dog breed enthusiasts. It’s commonly referred to as the Yorkie and considered to be a “purse dog” because it’s rarely seen walking when it’s being taken to places. But we shouldn’t forget that this dog is very lively, although it’s small in size, it more than makes up for it with a big personality. The Yorkshire Terrier is the perfect watchdog, it would actively alert you vocally if there are unusual activities going around the house which makes the Yorkie not only a caring companion but provides you and your family security as well.

3. Boxer Dog

The Boxer dog breed is ideal for families looking for a very loyal and affectionate dog. As you probably have already guessed by its name, the Boxer has a background for being a fighter dog, but don’t let that put you off as this dog breed has long been domesticated to develop to a playful and gentle pet that isn’t at all aggressive. When trained properly, these dogs are great for families with children. The only thing you have to look after is that the Boxer loves to jump and sometimes forget about how big they are, so training really is necessary. The Boxer really is the best of both worlds, it can be very sweet to play with, but it can be furious when it comes to protecting you.

4. Rottweiler Dog

Like the other two dogs, the Rottweiler is a very loyal and caring dog, despite the fact that it sometimes gets a bad reputation because of the striking size of this dog. The two most important things you have to do to have a mild-mannered and cheerful Rottweiler are socialization and proper training. Just remember to set the proper expectations when owning this dog because they can be a handful to manage without planning, but despite all the hard work, it would all be worth it in the end.

5. French Bulldog Dog

These days, the French Bulldog is very popular, but believe it or not, that’s not the case just a few years back. Immediately, you can see why this breed soared to popularity, aside from the looks, they are also very playful, caring, and adorable, and oh, as they age, they don’t seem to lose their cute puppy looks. What people love most of all about the French Bulldog are its irresistible wrinkles and their large ears. These dogs are relatively small and very sturdy, which makes them the perfect dog for those who are looking for small breeds that are not too sensitive and delicate.

6. Beagle Dog

The Beagle has long been a family favorite because they are very energetic and they are very keen towards children. Beagles are very intelligent dogs, they can seem to understand and carry conversations with humans. Beagles are commonly small to medium in size, but unlike other small dogs, they are robust and sturdy and they can play along with most dogs that are bigger than it. Although dogs are generally great sniffers, the Beagle is at an entirely different level, which makes them perfect for averting a lot of kinds of trouble like detecting drugs or bombs on checkpoints and airports alike.

7. Bulldog Dog

The Bulldog shares its origins with the Boxer breed, and like it, they are both becoming increasingly popular. Just like the Boxer the Bulldog also came from a fighting background that has been tamed and turned into a mild-mannered and gentle pet. People like the Bulldog for its sturdy, large frame, and an overall tough-guy look. And across many sports teams, the Bulldog is commonly used as their mascot to represent might and toughness. If you are frightened to own one because it can be a little scary and intimidating, try to get near one and you’ll realize that they are very gentle and caring dogs.

8. Golden Retriever Dog

The Golden Retriever is considered to be the quintessential family dog, it is extremely loyal, very affectionate, and has a great personality. Golden Retrievers possess an eager to please attitude, that’s why you will often see them working in the service industry assisting humans. They are also fantastic therapy dogs because of their unending happy disposition. For quite a long time now, the Golden Retriever is known to be the favored dog breed among children, which makes most of them find their way into homes of families that have children, and you can even argue that the Golden Retriever is the most popular and most recognizable dog in the world.

9. German Shepherd Dog

Like the Golden Retriever, the German Shepherd is known to be one of the most popular dog breeds across the globe. These dogs are extremely loyal and very hard-working, and they are pretty much highly regarded for their skills as police dogs, a protection dog, and a tremendous search and rescue dog. Although they can be serious and highly disciplined, German Shepherds do have a caring and softer side. This is what makes them a popular choice as a pet because as great dogs go, they can be a very loyal and playful friend but it is relentless when it comes to protecting your family and your home. Don’t let their attack dog looks stop you from choosing the German Shepherd as your pet of choice, because they are actually very playful and caring toward its owners.

10. Labrador Retriever Dog

This is not at all a surprising entry anymore, the Labrador Retriever became and still is the number one choice and the most popular dog in the United States for how many decades now, and it’s easy to see why. These dogs are very energetic, and they are always, and we mean always up for fun and playtime. Just like the Golden Retriever (perhaps because they share almost anything in common), it is the go-to place for families that are looking for a faithful companion. Because of the fact that the Labrador Retriever is very affectionate and very approachable, even non-dog lovers will fall in love with this dog.

It has been for more than 200 years now when people started hailing the Labrador Retriever as the epitome of dog intelligence, loyalty, and athleticism. Like the Golden Retriever and the German Shepherd, Labs are also often seen working as a gun dog, a service animal, and as a search and rescue dog. Although it is perfect for those kinds of things, there’s no escaping the fact that Labrador Retrievers really are an excellent choice for someone who’s looking for a pet that can do almost anything. Think of this dog as an all-around companion.

Which Dog Breeds Should I Avoid?

While most dogs can be made into a faithful canine companion, there are dogs that are naturally just hard to pet and that are most times, require a lot more maintenance than the more popular dogs, as a result, they haven’t garnered as much popularity and if you’re looking for a dog that would be an easy companion and wouldn’t take much of your time and resources, there are dogs that you definitely would want to avoid. Some of the least popular dogs these days are mostly dogs that are used for hunting like the English Foxhound, the American Foxhound, the Norwegian Lundehund, and the Harrier. Because they are hunting dogs, and the nature of hunting makes them unbelievably active, when you own them, they would require a ton of stimulation and exercise. Some dogs are unpopular because they are high-maintenance and they are a little too messy, like the Otterhound, the Chinook, Finnish Spitz, and the Cesky Terrier.

What You Should and Shouldn’t Do When Bringing Your Dog To Work