20 Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2024 (With Info & Pictures)

If you’re curious to know what the most popular breed of dog is, you’re in the right place! The statistics for registrations of purebred puppies with the American Kennel Club for last year have been released.¹ These give us a good indication of what the most popular breeds will be this year. Let’s find out which breeds take the top spots and which have started to fall out of favor.

The 20 Most Popular Dog Breeds

1. French Bulldog

The French Bulldog has gained popularity in recent years and took the number one spot from the Labrador Retriever after 31 years. French Bulldogs have an adorable personality combined with low to moderate exercise requirements. They’re a great choice for urban living. French Bulldogs are expensive, though, and have a few health issues that owners should read up on before taking the plunge.

2. Labrador Retriever

The ever-popular Labrador Retriever fell into the number two spot after 31 years at number one. That’s still an amazing achievement, though not a surprising one for a lovable and enthusiastic breed like the Labrador. This breed has plenty of energy, loves to spend time with their families, and has an incredibly kind nature. Labrador Retrievers are extremely intelligent and love the challenge of training sessions. They need an active home where they have plenty of opportunities to play and run off steam.

3. Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever consistently ranks as one of the top five most popular dog breeds and for good reason! These adorable dogs are affectionate and loyal but can also be focused and serious when working. They have a cheerful disposition and are always happy and eager to please their owners. That happy-go-lucky exterior masks a fierce intelligence and a strong work ethic, which makes them the go-to choice as guide dogs and the perfect family companion.

4. German Shepherd Dog

The German Shepherd Dog has slipped down the rankings a bit, but they have a strong following of loyal fans nevertheless. This breed has an exceptional work ethic and is prized as a working breed. They also make exceptional family pets, although they can be quite disinterested in strangers and visitors whom they don’t know well. This active breed needs plenty of exercise and opportunities for mental stimulation.

5. Poodle

The Poodle can be found in three different sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Toy. The listed size and weights are for the Standard variety. All Poodles are incredibly smart, athletic, and trainable. They once had a reputation as a delicate city dog, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you’re looking for an active companion for outdoor adventures, they’re a great choice. Also, the breed has resulted in many popular mixed breeds, like the Labradoodle, Cockapoo, and Goldendoodle.

6. Dachshund

The instantly recognizable Dachshund comes in two sizes and three coat types. Whatever size or coat they have, you’ll never mistake them for another breed! This breed might be small, but they love to keep an active eye on whatever is happening in their neighborhood. Sometimes they can be a bit too enthusiastic. Given their history as a breed designed to take on fierce prey like badgers, this isn’t too surprising. These little dogs are independent, intelligent, and incredibly endearing.

7. Bulldog

The chunky Bulldog has a look all of their own, with their muscular, low-slung bodies and cheerful, broad smile. Despite their tough-looking exterior, this breed loves nothing more than to try to snuggle into their owner’s lap! They can easily put on weight, so they need a moderate amount of exercise. Care needs to be taken during the warmer months because their short muzzle means they can easily overheat. Bulldogs are not strong swimmers and should never be left unsupervised around water.

8. Beagle

The Beagle is incredibly loyal, but they also have an independent streak that you’ll see whenever they catch the scent of something interesting. This is a cheerful and happy breed that never fails to make their owners smile. They adore company, which given their history as a pack dog, is not surprising. Beagles are an active breed, but they shouldn’t be let off-leash or they may run off. Their love of following scents is so strong, they will frequently try to jump fences or burrow underneath them to follow that trail.

9. Rottweiler

The muscular and strong Rottweilers are incredibly gentle and loyal around their families, but they don’t share this same part of their character with strangers. They can be a little aloof around people they don’t know, but they won’t hold back from letting their loved ones know how much they adore them. Rottweilers have plenty of energy, which combined with their intelligence, means they need a home where they get plenty of mental and physical exercise on a regular basis.

10. German Shorthaired Pointer

The noble and enthusiastic German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) loves any activity that allows them to spend time in the great outdoors. They’re an enthusiastic and noble breed and are equally at home at gundog trials as they are on an all-day hike. The intelligence of the GSP makes them a rewarding training partner, and whatever you want to teach them, they’ll be enthusiastic and committed to giving it their all.

That’s a brief rundown of the breeds in the top 10. If you’re wondering about what breeds come next, here they are!

Conclusion

These are the top 20 dog breeds for the past year, but the AKC releases a new list for the previous year around March every year. So, next year’s list may look completely different. However, we can expect at least the top five breeds to look pretty similar. There’s a reason they’ve been popular for so many years after all!

You may also find this interesting:

• 20 Most Popular Pets in the US
• Top 20 Most Popular Dog Breeds in the UK (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Rob Wee, Pixabay