10 Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2024 According to Animal Lovers
Updated November 16, 2023.
You're not alone if you're considering adding a furry friend to your family. According to a 2019 survey mentioned in Veterinary Practice News, 98 percent of dog owners consider their dogs to be family members. Dogs can enhance our lives in countless ways, providing us with love, companionship, and security. They can also offer a range of health benefits, act as exercise partners, and even help prepare some people for parenthood. It's essential to take the time to choose the right dog for you and your family, as this decision can have a significant impact on your life and theirs.
10 Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2024
Here are animal lovers' favorite dog breeds of 2024:
- Most Popular Toy Dog Breed - Pomeranian
- Most Popular Small Dog Breed - French Bulldog
- Most Popular Medium Dog Breed - Pug
- Most Popular Large Dog Breed - Doberman Pinscher
- Most Popular Service Dog Breed - German Shepherd
- Most Popular Mixed Dog Breed - Cavachon
- Most Popular American Dog Breed - American Pitbull
- Most Popular Family Dog Breed - Golden Retriever
- Most Popular Hunting Dog Breed - Boxer
- Most Popular Therapy Dog Breed - Shih Tzu
Most Popular Toy Dog Breed - Pomeranian
Pomeranians are a popular choice for those looking for a toy breed dog. Their intelligence and alertness make them an ideal companion for city or suburban living, and their medium energy level allows for an hour-long daily walk or indoor exercise. While their double coat requires grooming about three times a week and more during shedding season. Their manageable size of a maximum of 7 pounds makes them excellent travel companions as they fit easily in travel bags that comply with plain and train regulations. Their adaptability and versatility make them perfect for those seeking a tiny, but mighty furry friend.
Best for:
Pomeranians are known for their intelligence, making them a breeze to train. Additionally, they make excellent watchdogs, alerting their owners to any potential dangers. Their playful and affectionate personalities ensure they're great for families with children.
» Find out about common health issues that can affect your Pomeranian
Most Popular Small Dog Breed - French Bulldog
Looking for an affectionate, adaptable furry friend that doesn't require too much exercise? Consider the French Bulldog. Despite their small size, Frenchies are thick-set, well-muscled dogs with flat faces and distinctive bat ears that add to their character. They're also known for their alertness, making them excellent watchdogs. With low to moderate activity levels, French Bulldogs can easily adapt to most environments, making them suitable for both cities and suburbs.
Best for:
Since French Bulldogs are great with children and other animals, this breed makes an ideal family dog. They have a gentle and affectionate nature that makes them excellent companions, and they're known for getting on well with other animals.
Most Popular Medium Dog Breed - Pug
At around 15 pounds, Pugs are a perfect size for apartment living. They are affectionate dogs that love being around people and crave physical contact. With their low to moderate energy levels, Pugs are perfect for those with limited exercise time, as 20 minutes of daily activity is usually enough to keep them in healthy shape. However, they do require regular bathing and grooming to keep their coats clean and healthy.
Best for:
This laid-back breed is best for apartment living or people who have roommates. They are quiet companions who sleep often and don't engage in much barking, digging, or chewing. Pugs get along well with other dogs and children, allowing them to fit into large families with pets easily.
Most Popular Large Dog Breed - Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinschers are a versatile breed, with a range of qualities that make them a popular choice for many different owners. They're intelligent, quick learners that don't require much grooming, but do need plenty of physical activity. With their affectionate nature and playful personalities, Dobermans make great companions for families and individuals alike.
Best for:
Because they're a high-energy breed that requires a lot of exercise, Dobermans need owners that can match them. They make great companions for hiking or running and excel in various dog sports such as agility, dock diving, and rally. Their intelligence and athleticism also make them well-suited for multiple service areas, including search and rescue and therapy work.
Protect Your Furry Friend and Your Wallet With Embrace
The unexpected costs of veterinary care are covered by the Embrace pet insurance policy. The fact that you are rewarded for maintaining the wellness of your pets is what gives it its one-of-a-kind quality.
Embrace Pet Insurance includes the following benefits:
- Range of deductibles and reimbursements available
- Customizable policies
- Wellness rewards program
- Healthy pet deductible
- Diminishing deductible
Most Popular Service Dog Breed - German Shepherd
The German Shepherd is a courageous and loyal member of the herding breed with a strong guarding instinct. With their boundless energy, this breed requires significant exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being. Although their medium-length coat sheds twice a year, regular brushing a few times a week can help remove loose hair and minimize shedding.
Best for:
Due to their guarding instincts, German Shepherds are good in a variety of roles, including guard dogs, guide dogs for the blind, search and rescue dogs, and military and police dogs. Due to their high energy levels and need for physical and mental stimulation, German Shepherds are best suited for active individuals who can provide them with plenty of exercise and training.
» Ready to bring a German Shepherd home? Learn more about them here
Most Popular Mixed Dog Breed - Cavachon
The Cavachon is a small, attentive hybrid breed that consistently ranks among the most popular mixed breeds in the US With their friendly personality and easy trainability, they make great companions for both families and individuals. Despite their small size, they require moderate exercise to stay healthy and happy. Due to their low-shedding coats, Cavachons are a great choice for those who want a furry friend that won't leave a lot of hair around the house. However, their coats do require regular grooming to keep them looking and feeling their best.
Best for:
This dog is ideal for first-time dog owners because they're so friendly and easy to train. If they can handle the exercise requirements, they'll also fit in nicely with families with children and seniors who want a low-maintenance furry companion.
Most Popular American Dog Breed - American Pitbull
American Pitbulls are loving, loyal, goofy, and intelligent dogs. With proper training and respect, they can make lifelong companions. To keep your "pittie" healthy and happy, you should exercise them 1–2 hours every day. Ideally, you should pick activities you can do with the dog. Regular exercise not only helps keep them in shape but also provides a mental outlet for their high energy levels. With their short coat, Pitbulls only require weekly brushing to keep their coat looking shiny and healthy.
Best for:
American Pitbulls are best for families with older children. With their intelligence and trainability, they also make great therapy and service dogs, helping those in need of emotional and physical support.
Most Popular Family Dog Breed - Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is an excellent breed for families and active individuals due to their high energy levels, intelligence, and calm demeanor. With their friendly and affectionate personality, they make great companions for children and other pets. Unlike some other breeds, they're not prone to excessive barking or biting. To keep their long, silky coat looking its best, regular grooming every 4-6 weeks is necessary. As active dogs, they require at least 2 hours of exercise per day to keep them in good shape.
Best for:
The Golden Retriever is an intelligent and easily trainable breed, making them great for first-time dog owners. With their gentle nature, they're also great with kids and other animals, making them an ideal family pet.
Most Popular Hunting Dog Breed - Boxer
The Boxer is a loving and playful breed known for their upbeat and power-packed personality. To ensure they develop into well-rounded dogs, it's important to expose them to many people and animals during their early puppyhood. With their short coat, they require minimal grooming, making them a low-maintenance furry companion. However, they have high energy levels and require at least 2 hours of exercise per day, meaning it's best if the owners are active individuals who enjoy activities such as hiking, running, or playing fetch.
Best for:
The Boxer's patience, protective nature, and high energy make them ideal for families. With their high energy levels, they can keep up with active children, making them a great playmate.
Most Popular Therapy Dog Breed - Shih Tzu
The lively little Shih Tzu gets along with other dogs and animals of many species, making them a great addition to multi-pet households. With their small size, they don't need much exercise and can get on with 2–3 daily walks, making them an ideal companion for those who live in apartments or have limited outdoor space. Their adorable and cuddly appearance embodies cuteness, but their long coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling.
Best for:
The Shih Tzu is a highly affectionate breed known for forming strong emotional bonds with their humans. With their quick learning ability and with reward-based training, first-time owners should have no trouble handling them. Their friendly nature also makes them great therapy dogs, providing comfort and companionship to those in need.
Take Care of Your Furry Friend
Choosing the right dog for you and your family is an important decision. It's essential to do your research on the breed's lifestyle, exercise needs, and common health issues before bringing your new furry friend home.
While we can't predict the future, we can take steps to prepare for unexpected events, such as our pets becoming ill. That's why we encourage all pet owners to consider getting pet insurance to help minimize the costs of veterinary expenses. By being proactive and taking care of our furry companions, we can ensure that they live long, happy, and healthy lives.