The 30 Most Popular Dog Breeds in America For 2023

All dogs are pretty great. Whether purebreds or mixed breeds, they make great companions. From sitting on laps to guarding property, guiding the blind, and rescuing the endangered, they serve us well.

Samanda Dorger March 29, 2023 7:01 AM EDT

You may have heard the news about the French bulldog toppling the Labrador retriever off its podium as the American Kennel Club’s most popular purebred dog.

The cute but solid little “Frenchies,” with their celebrity Instagram accounts, have outnumbered the Labrador retriever based on AKC registration statistics for 2022. We’ve seen the little dogs in “Modern Family,” and they’re popular with celebrities including Martha Stewart, Reese Witherspoon and Lady Gaga.

Sure, French bulldogs are cute, they’re small, and they’re playful, smart and adaptable, according to the AKC. Everyone is their best friend, they’re good with kids, they’re not yappers and they’re only medium droolers.

But face it: A French bulldog will never fetch you a dead duck from an icy cold lake at the break of dawn.

French bulldogs don’t serve as ‘bat dogs’ for a minor league baseball team.

They don’t have webbed paws that act as snowshoes in winter.

There are good reasons the Labrador has reigned for over 30 years as the AKC’s most popular breed. Thanks to its mild temperament, the Labrador will likely most graciously concede its position to the Frenchie without complaint.

Their loyalty, calm demeanor, memory and intelligence make Labradors one of the top breeds to serve as guides for the blind, and they will willingly put themselves between their handler and a speeding car.

Labradors were the family pets on "Downton Abbey." Ernest Hemingway and Queen Elizabeth had Labs, so did a number of presidents, prime ministers, musicians and other celebrities, according to Country Life.

Clifford the Big Red Dog was a Labrador, Old Yeller was played by a Lab mix, and H.Brian Griffin of “Family Guy” is a Labrador. And don’t forget “Marley and Me.”

A black Labrador named Jake became a national hero after burrowing through the debris in search of survivors of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. He also later helped search for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.

One of the most famous of this breed was Endal, a Labrador in England, who was known as "the most decorated dog in the world" for his work as a service dog and as an ambassador for service dog charity.

A Labrador once threw up in the British House of Commons during a Parliamentary speech.

A Labrador can hold an egg in its mouth without breaking it.

They can open refrigerators.

They come in chocolate.

We're not knocking the French bulldog. Just a nod to the long reign of the Labrador, and to all of these other great dogs: Here are the 30 most popular dog breeds, according to the AKC.

The Most Popular Dog Breeds

1. French Bulldogs

Non-sporting group

Weight: under 28 pounds

Playful, smart, adaptable

2. Labrador Retrievers

Sporting group

Weight: 65-80 pounds (male) 55-70 pounds (female)

Active, friendly, outgoing

3. Golden Retrievers

Sporting group

Weight: 55-75 pounds

Intelligent, friendly, devoted

4. German Shepherd Dogs

Herding group

Weight: 50-90 pounds

Courageous, confident, smart

5. Poodles (Toy, Miniature, Standard)

Toy group and Non-sporting group

Weight: 4-6 pounds for toys, 10-15 pounds for miniatures, and 40-70 pounds for Standard poodles

Intelligent, agile, self-confident, active, proud, and very smart

6. Bulldogs

Non-sporting group

Weight: 40-50 pounds

Friendly, courageous, calm

7. Rottweilers

Working group

Weight: 80-135

Loyal, loving, confident guardian

8. Beagles

Hound group

Weight 20-30 pounds

Curious, friendly, merry

9. Dachshunds

Hound group

Weight: 11-32 pounds 9(there are standards and miniatures)

Curious, friendly, spunky

10. German Shorthaired Pointers

Sporting group

Weight: 45-70 pounds

Friendly, smart, willing to please

11. Pembroke Welsh Corgis

Herding group

Weight: up to 28-30 pounds

Alert, affectionate, smart

12. Australian Shepherds

Herding group

Weight: 40-65 pounds

Smart, work-oriented, exuberant

13. Yorkshire Terriers

Toy group

Weight: 7 pounds

Affectionate, sprightly, tomboyish

14. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Toy group

Weight: 13-18 pounds

Affectionate, gentle, graceful

15. Doberman Pinschers

Working group

Weight: 60-100 pounds

Alert, loyal, fearless

16. Boxers

Working group

Weight: 65-80 pounds (males)

Active, bright, fun-loving

17. Miniature Schnauzers

Terrier group

Weight: 11-20 pounds

Friendly, smart, obedient

18. Cane Corsi

Working group

Weight: 90-110 pounds

Intelligent, affectionate, majestic

19. Great Danes

Working group

Weight: 140-175 pounds (males) 110-140 (females)

Friendly, patient, dependable

20. Shih Tzu

Toy group

Weight: 9-16 pounds

Playful, affectionate, outgoing

21. Siberian Huskies

Working group

Weight: 35-60 pounds

Loyal, outgoing, mischievous

22. Bernese Mountain Dogs

Working group

Weight: 70-95 pounds (female) 80-115 (male)

Good-natured, calm, strong

23. Pomeranians

Toy group

Weight: 3-7 pounds

Inquisitive, lively, bold

24. Boston Terriers

Non-sporting group

Weight: 12-25 pounds

Friendly, bright, amusing

25. Havanese

Toy group

Weight: 7-13 pounds

Intelligent, outgoing, funny

26. English Springer Spaniels

Sporting group

Weight: 40-50 pounds

Friendly, playful, obedient

27. Shetland Sheepdogs

Herding group

Weight: 15-25 pounds

Playful, energetic, bright

28. Brittanys

Sporting group

Weight: 30-40 pounds

Bright, fun-loving, upbeat

29. Cocker Spaniels

Sporting group

Weight: 20-30 pounds

Smart, happy, gentle

30. Border Collies

Herding group

Weight: 30-55 pounds

Energetic, affectionate, smart

Weights and descriptions are from the AKC.