Popular Dog Breeds

The Yorkshire terrier is a small toy dog breed from England, recognizable by its long, silky coat, often black and tan. Known as Yorkies, these dogs have tenacious yet affectionate personalities.

Golden retrievers are a medium-sized breed with a distinctive golden coat that originated in Scotland. Known for their kind eyes and loyalty, they are among the most popular dog breeds in the United States. While they were initially bred as hunting dogs in the Scottish Highlands, goldens also make excellent family dogs.

The Siberian husky is a graceful, athletic dog with high endurance and an eagerness to work. This friendly breed, originating in Northeast Asia as a sled dog, has a lively and playful personality. Though they are high-energy and sometimes intense, Siberian Huskies can be affectionate and gentle with proper care. They were brought to America through Alaska.

Love Pomeranians? You're in good company, as the toy breed remains a popular choice for people looking to add a pet to their family. Prepare to be in awe of some of the most famous and cutest Poms on Instagram. Here are nine of the best pups out there on social media for you to follow.

The Maltese is a small and affectionate toy dog breed that hails from the Mediterranean region and is known for its trademark silky, white fur that accentuates big, dark eyes. This can make for a charming lapdog, though they still need daily exercise.

Toy poodles, along with standard poodles and miniature poodles, are famously known for their proven excellence in dog shows. Their curly and voluminous coat in combination with a confident strut always seem to steal the show. The poodle originated in Germany but is the national dog of France.

Known as the "little lion," the shih tzu is a small yet sturdy dog with a lush, long, double coat. Their luxurious coat matches their history as an ancient, noble breed, as does their confident, courageous demeanor. Shih tzus are beloved by toy dog enthusiasts. When well-trained and cared for, they make excellent house dogs.

French bulldogs, renowned for their short stature, charming grins, and bat-like ears, have rapidly gained popularity in the United States, soaring from the 76th to the fourth most popular breed over just 20 years.

The poodle is an extremely smart, energetic, and friendly dog known for their signature curly coat and three size varieties: toy, miniature, and standard. Under the poodle's frilly, low-shedding coat is a powerful athlete and an overall wonderful companion. These dogs typically get along with people very well and can be trained in a variety of tasks, including work as service and therapy dogs.

Miniature dachshunds are a small hound dog breed from Germany. They have a long, low body and can have short, wirehaired, or longhaired coats. These dogs are a smaller version of the dachshund dog breed, with mini dachshunds usually weighing 11 pounds or less, while standard dachshunds weigh between 16 and 32 pounds. Known for being spunky and playful, they are excellent little watchdogs.

The beagle is a recognizable medium-sized dog breed, famous for its large, expressive eyes, floppy ears, and upright, white-tipped tail. It has a short, tricolored coat typically dominated by white and shades of brown.

The Australian shepherd dog, or Aussie, is a medium-sized herding dog with medium-length fur and an agile, athletic build. The breed's ancestors came to the U.S. from Europe by way of Australia, hence the name.

The golden retriever is one of the most beloved dog breeds in the United States, inevitably leading to various hybrid breeds and countless combinations of possible characteristics. However, it’s important to note that each dog is unique, and mixed breeds may have even more variability in their appearance and temperament.

Maltese mixes are hybrid dogs that result from crossing a Maltese with another dog breed—like a Yorkshire terrier (morkie) or a dachshund (mauxie). Since designer dogs can inherit a mix of traits from both parents, they can be a bit of a wild card, both in terms of appearance and temperament. But, one thing is for certain: All Maltese mix dogs are adorable, good boys and girls who are guaranteed to enrich your life.

These intelligent dogs are renowned as police assistants, search and rescue dogs, contraband sniffers, and for their role as service dogs. They genuinely love to work!

A popular service breed, the German shepherd is a large and athletic dog that's known to be highly intelligent, loyal, and agile, but some people don’t realize that there are many dogs that look like German shepherds, and this can cause confusion.

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a medium-sized herding dog breed from Wales with signature short legs, a water-resistant double coat, pointed ears, and a long tail. Lesser-known than its cousin, the tailless Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the Cardigan breed is full of fun antics. These dogs are adaptable, utterly devoted to their family, and ready to do anything you'd like—just as long as you’re together.

The Pembroke Welsh corgi is a small- to medium-sized herding dog of short stature and sturdy build. Known for their low-set body, large erect ears, and stubby tail, the Pembroke also has a reputation for being a wonderful companion. Pembroke Welsh corgis are achondroplastic, a dwarf breed with shortened legs. They are the shortest breed of the herding dog group.

German shepherd dogs are among the most popular breeds globally, valued for their intelligence, loyalty, and athleticism. These large brown-and-black dogs have a streamlined build, making them strong and agile.

The Labrador retriever is a medium to large dog breed with a short coat and sturdy physique that's a member of the sporting group and originated in Newfoundland and the U.K. Labs are known for their intelligence, fine character, and good temperament. Although they were bred to be hunting dogs, they're also excellent companions.

Handsome, athletic, goofy: these are the three adjectives we would use to describe Labrador retrievers. These pups make a great addition to every home, as they are excellent with kids, love to cuddle, and will do anything to make their owners happy. They are medium-to-large sturdy dogs with excellent balance, obedience through the roof, and an adorable face. Keep scrolling to see the cutest photos yet and discover mind-boggling Labrador retriever trivia.

The shih tzu–poodle mix, often referred to as a shih-poo, is a hybrid breed created by crossing the shih tzu with a poodle. The two smaller poodle varieties—toy and miniature poodles—are used to cross with the shih tzu, which is also a small breed. Standard poodles are not crossbred with shih tzu because mixing very large breeds with small breeds is a risky practice that can result in complications with the mother or puppies. With any crossbreed or mixed breed, physical traits and personality are highly variable, and each puppy or dog is an individual. Shih tzu–poodle mixes are generally small, weighing between 7 and 20 pounds on average, but other physical characteristics may vary wildly.

Due to their super sweet personalities, serious smarts, and adorable, toothy grins, golden retrievers are a hugely popular breed in the United States. In fact, golden retrievers have snagged the third spot for most popular dogs in the United States for the last several years!

The dachshund (pronounced dahks-hund) is an energetic and lovable small dog breed from Germany. It is known for its varied coat textures and colors, short legs, floppy ears, and prominent chest.

The French bulldog (Frenchie) is a small, muscular dog with their trademark bat-like ears. Along with their adorable looks, Frenchies are lively, lovable, and playful companions. It's no wonder they became the most popular dog breed in the United States.

The Rottweiler, or Rottie, is a large and rugged dog with a hard-working and confident demeanor. It is known for its muscular body, thick hindquarters, and easy trot. Descended from the mastiffs of the Roman legions, the Rottie can be a gentle playmate and companion, despite its reputation for being dangerous. The breed is a bit aloof but also very intelligent, protective, and loyal to its family. The Rottie can be an excellent working dog, watchdog, or guard dog, too.

The Bernese mountain dog, affectionately called “Berner,” is a large working dog breed from Switzerland who makes a loyal, loving companion for adults, children, and other pets. Beautiful tri-colored Berners are playful and energetic but not exhausting. They’re gentle giants, and aren't as intimidating as some other large dogs, thanks to their happy expressions and generally good natures.

The English Labrador retriever is a medium-large sporting dog breed from the United Kingdom with a short, dense, water-repellent double coat that comes in black, yellow, or chocolate. The English Lab is technically the same breed as the American Lab, but the American version is slightly lankier.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is one of the largest and most popular toy dog breeds, often called the perfect lap dog. This affectionate, active, and family-friendly dog is known for its silky, wavy coat, short legs, floppy ears, and distinctive feathered features. Although only officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995, they have a long, noble, and royal lineage.

The Chihuahua is a tiny but confident dog that loves giving and receiving attention. Despite its petite and fragile appearance, the breed is quite bold—even brave. Chihuahuas boast distinct features, such as wide eyes and ears that are usually erect and very large in relation to their small head and body. The Chihuahua has a unique personality and can be an affectionate and loyal companion as long as it doesn’t feel threatened.

The Pomeranian is a tiny dog—a toy breed weighing just 3 to 7 pounds—with a long coat and distinctive neck ruff that harken back to their spitz heritage. Poms are typically friendly but can be bossy and barky, so they're not the dog for everyone.

Miniature poodles are small, non-sporting dogs with curly hair that originated in Germany. They’re one of three sizes of poodles, along with standard (the largest) and toy (the smallest).