The results are in! 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 Paris and across Europe. While some breeds are perennially popular, others are just starting to climb the ranks as what we call trending breeds. These are dogs and cats that rose quickly in popularity in 2023, becoming the top trending breeds for their cities. Maybe your pet’s breed is among them!
As you will see, when it comes to dogs, the most common breed is a mix, with crossbreeds topping the table for the most popular dog breed overall. After that, the top 10 of most popular breeds are wonderfully diverse. Most are on the smaller side, as you might expect in this densely-packed capital, but some bigger breeds make the ranking too. Rover’s user survey found that for pet owners in France, dog breed is rather an important factor.
More than a third of users described dog breed as “very important” when choosing their dog, while almost 30 percent said the breed was “rather important”. Less than 20 percent of respondents described the breed as not important. The fun doesn’t stop with dogs. We’ve also crunched the numbers for cats to see which kinds are the most common, and which breeds are up and coming.
When it comes to cats, breed is much less important than it is when choosing a dog. Only 6 percent of respondents described the breed of their cat as a “very important” factor when they chose their animal companion. More than 65 percent of our users in France described their cat’s breed as rather unimportant or very unimportant. We hope you find this 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 there is, but there is always something in these results that surprises us too. Let’s dig in!
Paris’s Most Popular Dog Breeds
How popular is your dog’s breed?
Mixed
French Bulldog
Dachshund
Jack Russell Terrier
Golden Retriever
Australian Shepherd
Labrador Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
Beagle
American Staffordshire Terrier
In Paris, where people tend to live in apartments, the popular breeds skew smaller than they do nationally. Mixed breeds top the ranking both nationally and in the capital, but the Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever take second and third place in France overall. Both those breeds are in the top five in Paris, but are outstripped by smaller-size favorites – French Bulldogs (“Frenchies”), Dachshunds and Jack Russel Terriers. Our long and low friend the Dachshund is particularly Parisian, ranking third most popular in the capital, versus 18th place nationally. One thing is for sure: Parisians prize their pets very highly. When asked to select which statement about their pet resonated most for them, 44 percent of Parisian dog owners affirmed that their dog was their best friend and 37 percent of cat owners said the same about their pet. Some 17 percent of respondents went as far as to agree that – ‘My dog is an extension of myself’; 15 percent of cat owners agreed to the same about their cat.
Paris Dog Breed Trends for 2023
Top 10 Trending Dog Breeds
Basenji
Maltese
Continental Bulldog
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
St. Bernard
Toy Poodle
Italian Greyhound
Royal Bourbon
Papillon
Miniature Poodle
Paris’s array of trending breeds is varied and sometimes unexpected! We crunched the data of Rover’s users in Paris to work out which breeds were most strongly on the rise. Several small breeds are on the up, as you might expect, though they vary hugely from the snow-white and super-smart Maltese, to the late Queen Elizabeth’s favorite, the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. The number-one trending breed this year, however, is the Basenji, the compact African hound known for being ‘barkless’ and for its intelligent, dignified demeanour. Though Basenjis don’t bark in the ordinary way, they do make a distinctive and very endearing ‘yodeling’ sound.
Standing some 70cm tall, the St. Bernard is the largest dog on the trending list. The gentle giants like to be close to their owners and are known for being very good with children. Also hailing from Switzerland, we have the relatively new Continental Bulldog breed or “Conti”, which was just recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 2022. A delightful wildcard addition: the regally named Royal Bourbon, which is not a breed in the traditional sense, but rather a name given to the island dogs originating from Reunion, the French Overseas Department near Mauritius. Many are born stray and come to the mainland as rescues. Usually of medium size and with long noses and intelligent, soft expressions, these dogs are noted for their good nature and loyalty.
Paris’s Rarest Dog Breeds
Is your dog one of the rarest breeds?
Manchester Terrier
King Charles Spaniel
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Griffon Nivernais
Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever
Brazilian Terrier
French Spaniel
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Griffon Bruxellois
Bearded Collie
These breeds were least common among our database of pet owners in Paris. The most rare is the elegant, smooth-haired Manchester Terrier. This globally rare dog was originally bred from Whippets and Black and Tan Terriers to catch rats in crowded cities with infestations, such as Manchester in England (hence the name). Today only a few hundred Manchester Terriers are born a year, but those that own them cherish their intelligence, loyalty and trainability. You may be surprised to see the King Charles Spaniel on this list. This breed is not to be confused with the Cavalier King Charles, one of the most popular in Paris (they just missed the top 10). Though the two English dog breeds share common history, the King Charles is smaller than the Cavalier variety, has a more dome-shaped head, and tends to have a shorter muzzle. Overall, our users seem to be pretty happy with the dog they have — 80 percent of respondents in France would choose the same breed next time they adopt a dog Now, on to the cats.
Paris’s Most Popular Cat Breeds
Does your cat’s breed feature?
European Shorthair
British Shorthair
Birman
Bengal
Maine Coon
No surprises at the top of the leaderboard with the much-loved European Shorthair. The Maine Coon is an interesting addition, known for their very large size and friendly disposition.
Paris Cat Breed Trends for 2023
Classicat
Bengal
Thai / Wichien Maat
Chartreux
Asian Tabby
There’s some fascinating and diverse cat-breed trends this year.
At the top of the list is the Classicat breed, which originates from New Zealand. In overall characteristics it is like the Ocicat breed, which was developed to resemble a wild cat in appearance, but with only domestic cat DNA. In contrast to the Ocicat, however, the Classicat has the ‘classic’ swirled tabby pattern, rather than spotted.
We also see a trend for Thai / Wichien Maat cats, the natural form of the Siamese Cat, which has a less pronounced head shape than its bred counterpart.
The French rare breed Chartreux, known for its striking blue coat also continues to trend. President de Gaulle had a loyal Chartreux named, fittingly, Gris-Gris (Gray-Gray).
Paris’s Rarest Cat Breeds
The Least Common Breeds in the Capital Toyger Exotic Shorthair European Shorthair|Persian Devon Rex Asian The rarest cat in Paris is the Toyger, which was first bred in the 1980s to look like a mini (“toy”) tiger. The striking-looking cats are very rare globally and therefore difficult and expensive to acquire. Among cat owners in Paris, the split was almost 50-50 between those who knew the breed of their cat and those who didn’t, with slightly more pet owners not knowing the breed. Breed was significantly less important for Rover users when it comes to cats.
More Fun for Paris’s Cats and Dogs
Need Care for Your Cat or Dog?
Thanks to Rover, it’s never been easier to find a trusted dog walker or pet sitter in your neighborhood. Search and book the perfect sitter or walker for your Dachshund, Basenji or even your Manchester Terrier, or ideal person to look after your European Shorthair, or perhaps even your Toyger!
Interested in learning more about the services provided by pet sitters on Rover?
Dog Boarding | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking | Doggy Day Care | House Sitting | Cat Sitting