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Top 25 Most Popular Dog Breeds Around the World (04/05/2021)
As we all know, a dog is a man’s best friend. But, man’s best friend comes in all different shapes and sizes. Across the world, each county has its own preference when it comes to dog breeds, but collectively, some breeds are majorly preferred over others.
Can you guess the most popular breed in the world? What about the most popular type of pooch in your country? Or could you guess the most popular four-legged friend in Bulgaria or the Philippines?
In this article, we’ll be using search results from Google search trends to round up 25 of the world’s most popular dogs. How do we use this data? We’ll look at the most searched dog breeds from April 2020 to April 2021 to determine what the most popular dog breeds are in the world.
Check out the top 25 most popular breeds of dogs around the world!
25. Jack Russel Terrier
At number 25, we have the Jack Russel. Jack Russell Terriers are very popular in Poland, Norway and Ireland.
The Jack Russell terrier is an intelligent and energetic breed of dog. They were specifically bred for working and hunting in England.
Due to their history with hunting, this breed has a naturally strong desire for work and are happiest when assigned a task to complete.
24. Akita
At number 24, we have the Akita. The Akita is a very popular breed in Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia.
Originally, Akitas were bred as guard dogs due to their loyal and fearless nature. Despite their heritage and large physicality, they make brilliant family pets and are known for being extremely loyal and affectionate towards their family.
In Japan, The Akita is a symbol of longevity, health and happiness.
23. Great Dane
At number 23, we have the Great Dane. The Great Dane is a very popular breed in the United States, Australia and South America.
The Great Dane, also known as German Mastiff or Deutsche Dogge, originates from Germany, where they were bred for hunting in the middle- ages.
Despite their formidable size in height and history with hunting, Great Danes are playful and affectionate gentle giants. Due to their gentle nature, they are brilliant with children, making them a great family pet.
22. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
At number 24, we have the adorable Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is most popular in the United States, Singapore and Estonia.
As their name would suggest, Pembroke Welsh Corgis originated from Pembrokeshire, in Wales. In fact, the word “corgi” is Welsh for “dwarf dog”, cute, right? They were originally bred to herd cattle, sheep and horses and are still used as working dogs.
The Welsh Pembroke Corgi is known for being joyful, loyal and very intelligent - No wonder the Queen loves them! They also make fantastic family dogs.
21. Border Collie
At number 24, we have the conscientious Border Collie. Border Collies are most popular in Belgium, Australia & Spain.
The Border Collie is a working dog developed in Scotland for herding livestock, such as sheep. Even today they’re still used widely as working dogs on farms.
Border Collies are considered highly intelligent, extremely agile and acrobatic. This breed of dog is made for the countryside as they’re extremely active and love running around and having chores to do.
20. Maltese
At number 20, we have the Maltese. The Maltese breed is most popular in Malta, UK and Australia.
Despite having no certain country of origin, this breed of pooch is considered to be one of the oldest breeds in Europe. Malteses were originally bred to hunt down rats. However, nowadays they make friendly and active pets.
It’s believed that the ancient Greeks loved the Maltese breed so much that they even built tombs for them!
19. Australian Shepherd
At number 19, we have the gracious Australian Sheperd. The Australian Sheperd is extremely popular in France, the United States & Canada.
A common misconception about this breed is that they originate from Australia. Despite their extremely misleading name, they’re not actually from Australia, rather they originated from the US.
The Australian Sheperd was bred as a working dog on farms in the US during the 1800s. They are brilliant at herding sheep and cows.
This breed has bags of energy and is considered to be extremely intelligent. They’re also brilliant with kids, so make a perfect family pet (if you’re an active household!).
18. Shiba Inu
At number 18, we have the adorable Shiba Inu. The Shiba Inu is a popular breed in Japan, Taiwan & Hong Kong.
The Shiba Inu dog breed is native to Japan and was originally bred to flush out birds and small game. With this in mind, it’s advised that cats and other small animals are kept away from this as this breed is a natural-born hunter.
However, despite their hunter-instincts, Shiba Inu’s make wonderful family pets. They’re great with children and are a fiercely loyal companion.
17. Rottweiler
At number 17, we have the Rottweiler! The Rottweiler breed is very popular in Sri Lanka, Honduras & Panama.
Rottweilers originate from a town called Rottweil, in Germany, where they were bred to herd livestock. Nowadays, Rottweilers are trained to work as guard dogs, as well as search and rescue and police dogs.
Despite their strength and size, a well trained Rottweiller make great family dogs.
16. Beagle
At number 16, we have the lovely Beagle! The Beagle is a popular breed of dog in Sri Lanka, Honduras & Panama.
Beagles have an incredibly strong sense of smell and so were originally bred as scent hounds for hunting and tracking. Nowadays, they are used as working dogs for sniffing out illegal contraband at airports.
This breed of dog is active and friendly, but can also have stubborn tendencies if not trained properly.
15. Dobermann
At number 15, we have the mighty Dobermann breed is most popular in Georgia, Costa Rica and Ukraine.
Dobermanns were first bred in Germany, in the 1880s by Karl Friedrich Dobermann, who ran the Apolda dog pound.
They are strong, large and intelligent and make brilliant guard dogs. With training, Dobermanns can also fit nicely into family life, given they are allowed to burn off excess energy during walks and play.
14. Yorkshire Terrier
Coming in at number 14, we have the adorable Yorkshire Terrier. The Yorkshire Terrier is a very popular breed of dog in Cyprus, the United Kingdom and Romania.
Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies for short) were bred to catch rats in mills during the 1800s in Yorkshire, England. This breed of dog has an impressive lifespan and should be considered as a pet for a lifetime.
Though small in size, they sure do make up for it in their size. This breed of pooch is known for its feisty and quick-tempered nature - this makes them excellent watchdogs, alerting their owners if an intruder enters their own.
13. Boxer
At number 13, we have the beautiful Boxer. The Boxer breed is very popular in Guatemala, Paraguay and Honduras.
The boxer was bred in Germany during the 19th century from a mastiff-type dog and was originally used to hunt large game or for fighting. Their name originates from their characteristic “boxing” style they adopt with their front paws whilst defending on their hind legs.
They are an intelligent, strong and athletic breed of dog. They make fantastic family pets too, they’re friendly, affectionate and love to play games.
12. Dachshund
The Daschund is a popular breed of dog in Hungary, the United Kingdom and Australia.
The Daschund originates from Germany, with a history dating back some 600 years. They were bred as scent hounds and used to hunt badgers and other small animals. In fact, the word “Dachshund” actually translates to “badger dog” in German.
In terms of their personality, the Daschund are independent, with a playful nature and can sometimes be quite mischievous. However, if trained properly, they can brilliant with kids.
11. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a popular breed of pooch in the Philippines, Brazil and Israel.
Shih Tzus were originally bred solely to be companions in Tibet. With this in mind, they make greatly affectionate house dogs who enjoy the company of their owners.
Due to their small size and low energy levels, they’re the perfect dog for city apartments. However, it should be noted that this pooch can quickly become feisty if teased
10. Pug
This breed of pooch originated from China, almost 2,000 years ago and has a heritage of royalty with it, as Chinese emperors kept these dogs as their pets.
This friendly and obedient breed make for great family dogs. However, because of their affectionate nature, they do not make brilliant watchdogs.
9. American Pittbull
At number 9, we have the amazing American Pittbull Terrier. American Pittbull Terriers are a popular breed in Cuba, Panama and Honduras.
The modern-day American Pittbull Terrier is a descendant of the original English Bulldog. They originally bred as farm dogs and later were bred to bite and hold bears and other large animals.
This breed of dog is one of the most misunderstood dogs in the world and has yet to recover from centuries of bad press and a reputation of being aggressive. If trained properly and owned by a patient owner, they can become a loving, loyal and affectionate pet.
8. Chihuahua
Coming in at number 8 is the Chihuahua! Chihuahuas are very popular in Mexico, Guatemala and Puerto Rico.
The Chihuahua is believed to have originated from the Techichi, a small, mute dog kept by the Toltec people of Mexico, dating back to as long ago as the 9th-century.
The Chihuahua is the smallest recognized dog breed in the world. Despite their small size, they certainly have a big personality. Chihuahuas are known for their aggressive, jealous and feisty nature, and thus, may not be a suitable pet in a family with young children.
However, if trained correctly, the Chihuahua can make for a great house pet.
7. Pomeranian
At number 7 is the Pomeranian! The Pomeranian breed is very popular in Bulgaria, Serbia and Israel.
The origins of this breed are thought to have descended from Pomerania, an area of land which is located in northern Poland and Germany along the Baltic Sea.
Pomeranians were popularized by Queen Victoria, who fell in love with this breed during a trip to Italy. Interestingly, Queen Victoria sized down this breed from around 30 pounds to 5 pounds.
Due to their small size and low energy levels, the Pomeranian breed makes a brilliant pet for those living in apartments, often only requiring a small amount of indoor exercise.
6. French Bulldog
At number 6 is the adorable French Bulldog. The French Bulldog is a popular breed of dog in the United Kingdom, Cyprus and the United States.
French Bulldogs were bred in England to be the smaller version of the bulldog. This breed of dog was popular among British lace workers and when these lace workers emigrated to France for work, they brought their beloved bulldogs with them.
Once in France, these dogs were crossed with other breeds and eventually made their way to the French Capital, Paris, where they became synonymous with the cafe culture and city life. Their popularity led them across Europe and to the United States throughout the 20th century.
This breed of dog is quiet and playful and can make a great addition to any family.
Now we’ve reached the top 5 most popular dog breeds in the world. Which breed do you think will come out on top? Do you agree with the current rankings?
Join in on the conversation by letting us know your thoughts on Twitter or our Facebook page.
5. Siberian Husky
In 5th place is the incredible Siberian Husky! This dog is a breed popular in Mexico, Iran and Tunisia.
The Siberian Husky breed originated in Northeast Asia, where they were bred by Siberians for sledge-pulling. Siberian Huskies are a resilient breed that is well adept at working in extremely cold conditions.
They recently experienced a surge in popularity due to their similarity to the fictional direwolves featured in Game of Thrones.
This breed of dog is extremely friendly, active, with bundles of stamina.
4. Poodle
In 4th place is the mighty Poodle! Poodles are a popular breed of dog in Costa Rica, Chile and Australia.
The origins of this breed are in dispute - it is claimed that the poodle was bred in either Germany or France and used by hundred to retrieve game from waters.
Poodles are very intelligent and are considered to be a very sociable breed among other dogs.
However, having a sociable temperament means that they require a lot of mental stimulation and may begin to misbehave if they are ignored or left alone for long periods of time.
3. Golden Retriever
Coming in at 3rd place is the adorable Golden Retriever. Golden Retrievers are extremely popular in the United States, Canada and Lebanon.
Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland, in 1850 and was used to retrieve shot waterfowl, such as ducks and other birds during hunting parties.
This breed of dog is highly intelligent and can be easily trained to commit an array of tasks, including being a trained service dog. Golden Retrievers are very friendly and gentle and make brilliant family dogs.
2. German Shepperd
In 2nd place is the German Shepherd!. German Shepherds are very popular in Sri Lanka, Slovakia and Czechia.
German Shepherds were first developed in Germany for the purpose of herding. Nowadays, however, they are known for their services in the police and military, amongst an array of other jobs.
This breed is extremely intelligent, strong and loyal. They require lots of exercise, and if trained properly, also make excellent family pets. It’s no wonder that they’re the second most popular breed in the world!
1. Bulldog
In 1st place is the brilliant Bulldog! Congratulations to the Bulldog!
And there you have it, the pooch taking the top spot for the most popular breed in the world is the bulldog! According to search Google Trends, the term “Bulldog” had been searched on Google 1.5 million times on average each month across the world.
The humble Bulldog is extremely popular in the United Kingdom, the United States and Hungary.
Early records of the Bulldog date back to the 13th century, where these dogs were used in the vicious sport of bull-baiting. Their unbreakable courage and veracious spirit led to the coining of the term “bulldog spirit”.
Thankfully, this brutish and violent sport was banned in England in 1835. This lead to this breed’s transformation from a tenacious and fierce fighter to a loyal and affectionate household pet.
Do you agree with these rankings? Where did your most beloved breed rank on this list? Let us know your thoughts on this ranking by heading over to our Twitter or Facebook page.