The list you’ve all been waiting for! Every year we dig into Rover’s database of over a million pet owners to uncover which dog and cat breeds are trending, including the most popular dog and cat breeds in Chicago and across the US.
While some classic choices are never out of style, others are just starting to find popularity as what we call trending breeds. These are dogs and cats that saw a boom in 2024, becoming the top trending breeds for their cities. Could your pet’s breed be among them?
When it comes to dogs, the Windy City results often reflect wider trends in the US, including at the top of the table where mixed breeds are the most popular dog breed overall. In a city famed for its diverse architecture, it’s no surprise that the rest of the top 10 most popular dog breeds are a true mix featuring everything from larger bungalow-ready breeds to companions fit for a courtyard walk-up.
But there’s more data to dive into than just dogs. We’ve also crunched the numbers to learn what kinds of cats are the most popular, and which breeds are also having their trending moment. We hope you find the deep-dive as fascinating as we do! As the world’s largest network of dog walkers and pet sitters, Rover has heard of just about every pet breed and crossbreed there is, but there is always something in these results that manages to surprise us.
Hollywood (Holly) the mixed breed dog on Rover. IG: Hollywood_A_Rescue_Story
Chicago’s Most Popular Dog Breeds
How common is your dog’s breed?
- Mixed
- Goldendoodle
- Golden Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Shih Tzu
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- German Shepherd
- Chihuahua
- French Bulldog
- Yorkshire Terrier
urbazon via iStock
As the third most populous city in the US, Chicago brings together a real cross-section of the country in its culture, industries and, as it turns out, choice of pet! In fact, of the top 10 breeds in the city all but one also feature on the national rankings. Across both lists, Mixed breeds held the top spot, chased down in Chicago by Goldendoodle, Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever in second, third and fourth. These breeds also feature in the top four nationally. On the smaller end of the spectrum, city-sized favorites also make a strong showing in Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas and Yorkshire Terriers while the French Bulldog (or “Frenchies” to their fans) proves that the breed’s meteoric rise in popularity is captivating Chicagoans.
Chicago Dog Breed Trends for 2024
Top 10 trending dog breeds
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Doberman Pinscher
- Labradoodle
- Greyhound
- Rat Terrier
- Pug
- Maltese
- Toy Poodle
The future is looking equally varied for Chicago with an exciting showing in the city’s top trending breeds. We crunched the data of Rover’s thousands of users in Chicago to work out which breeds were most on the rise. As you’d expect in an urban center, smaller breeds with a sociable attitude are a popular choice including the snuggly Pug, scrappy Rat Terrier, and the fearless, playful Maltese.
Larger breeds are also trending in Chi-town. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is new to the trending list in 2024. These playful and brave pups are super smart. They thrive with experienced pet parents who can offer consistent and confident training from day one.
Humans seeking the companionship of a larger dog with a more mellow disposition might consider adding a Greyhound to their lives. Known for being fast as lightning, it may surprise most people that Greyhounds are happy to be apartment-dwelling couch potatoes, so long as they get short bursts of exercise every day.
Sima_ha via iStock
Chicago’s Rarest Dog Breeds
Is your dog one of these?
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Toy American Eskimo Dog
- Saint Bernard
- Redbone Coonhound
- Polish Lowland Sheepdog
via flickr//Gerald Ferreira
In our survey, these breeds were least common among pet owners in Chicago. In a large city like Chicago, full of apartments and condos, it’s no surprise that you might not see a lot of Saint Bernards playing at your local dog park. Still, these gentle giants are quite happy to live a lowkey life in an apartment, so long as they get daily walks. Pet parents willing to take on the sheer size of a Saint Bernard will be rewarded with a pup that is unfailingly sweet and endlessly patient, excellent with children and perfect for keeping their families warmer during cold Chicago winters.
The Redbone Coonhound also made the list in 2024. Known for their hunting prowess, we imagine Chicagoan pet parents taking their Redbone Coonhounds on great adventures during hunting season. And if you aren’t a hunter, these sleek, russet-colored pups are even-tempered at home and eager to please.
America’s Most Popular Cat Breeds for 2024
- Domestic Shorthair
- American Shorthair
- Domestic Longhair
- Siamese
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- Russian Blue
- Bombay
- Bengal
- Siberian
American Shorthair
Pet parent stats are from a Rover survey of 1,000 U.S. pet parents conducted in July, 2024, via Pollfish. Dog and cat breed data are based on analysis of millions of user-submitted dog breeds provided by pet parents on Rover.com.
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