Most Popular Dog Breeds Statistics

Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) — the largest purebred dog registry in the United States — publishes official breed popularity rankings based on how many puppies and dogs were registered with the AKC over the previous calendar year. It's the closest thing to a national census of purebred dog registration trends in America.

Below are the official 2025 AKC rankings (the most recent full year available), alongside a year-over-year comparison to 2024 showing how the top 10 has shifted.

French Bulldogs Hold the Top Spot for a Fourth Straight Year

The French Bulldog is America's most popular dog breed for 2025, according to the AKC's official registration rankings — its fourth consecutive year at #1. The AKC attributes the breed's popularity in part to its small size, which suits apartment and city living.

The End of the Labrador Retriever's Historic Reign

Before the French Bulldog's rise, the Labrador Retriever held the #1 spot for 31 consecutive years, one of the longest single-breed reigns in AKC ranking history. The Labrador has held steady at #2 since losing the top spot in 2022.

Movers and Shakers: Dachshunds Break Into the Top Five

The biggest shakeup in the 2025 rankings was the Dachshund's jump from #6 to #5, pushing the Poodle out of the top five for the first time in recent years. The rest of the top 10 — Golden Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Beagle, and Rottweiler — held their 2024 positions, while the German Shorthaired Pointer and Bulldog swapped places at #9 and #10.

How the AKC Rankings Work

These rankings are based strictly on the number of dogs and litters registered with the AKC in a given calendar year — they are not a survey of pet ownership. That means the rankings only capture AKC-registered purebred dogs and don't reflect mixed-breed dogs, dogs registered with other organizations, or unregistered pets, which together make up a large share of the overall U.S. dog population.

For a city-by-city breakdown of breed popularity, see our most popular dog breeds by city page.

For broader dog ownership data, see our pet ownership statistics page.

What the Rankings Tell Us

The AKC's annual rankings are a useful, consistently measured trendline for purebred dog popularity in the U.S., but they reflect registration activity rather than total pet ownership. Small, adaptable breeds like the French Bulldog and Dachshund have gained ground in recent years, likely reflecting the continued shift toward urban and apartment living among dog owners.