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Rover reveals the most popular dog breeds in the US
Almost everybody has a favorite dog breed. Whether you’re an experienced dog parent or you simply like spending time with friends’ pups, there’s probably a breed or two that you can’t get enough of.
But while all canines deserve plenty of the best dog treats, Rover’s Most Popular Dog and Cat Breeds Report reveals the most popular breeds across the US – and non-designer mixed breeds have come out on top this year.
They’re followed by the Labrador Retriever, and completing the top three is the golden retriever, overtaking the goldendoodle, which was top last year but has slipped to fourth place.
Completing the top 10 are German Shepherds, Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, dachshunds, shih tzus, and Yorkshire Terriers.
The American Kennel Club also releases a list of the most popular dog breeds each year. In the most recent list, French Bulldogs were top for the third year in a row. They were followed by the Labrador Retriever, which previously held the top spot for over three decades, as well as the golden retriever, German Shepherd, and poodle. Unlike the Rover report, however, the AKC doesn’t recognize mixed breeds.
Rover also looked at the rarest dog breeds, which are the Japanese Spitz, Spinone Italiano, and Gordon Setter. Dog parents taking part in the report voted the pit bull as the most photogenic and most likely to be trending on social media, while the golden retriever and German Shepherd came in at second and third most photogenic.
Sixty-seven percent of respondents described loyalty as the most desirable trait or characteristic when choosing a new dog, while 58% said size.
And what about cats? The most popular cats in the US are the American Shorthair, domestic shorthair (last year’s winner), and the domestic longhair. The rarest breeds are the Ural Rex, Suffolk, and Sokoke, while the Maine Coon is the most photogenic cat breed.
Almost a third (32%) of cat parents described temperament and appearance as the most important factors when getting a cat, while 71% said that cuddliness was the most desired personality trait.
Read next: Most unusual dog breeds
