And 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 Raleigh and across the country.
While some breeds are unerringly popular, others are just starting to find fans as what we call trending breeds. These are dogs and cats that saw a boom in 2023, becoming the top trending breeds for their cities. Will your pet’s breed be among them?
When it comes to dogs, crossbreeds are having a real moment, not just in Raleigh but across the US where ‘Mixed’ ranked as the most popular dog breed overall. In a growing city that’s known as family-friendly, it’s no surprise that the rest of Raleigh’s top ten most popular dogs are a mix of affable companions well-suited for suburban living.
But it’s not just about the dogs – we’ve also crunched the numbers to learn what kinds of cats are the most common, 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 the trends that we weren’t expecting. Ready to get started?
The Most Popular Dog Breeds in Raleigh
Mixed
Labrador Retriever
Golden Retriever
Goldendoodle
American Pit Bull Terrier
PitBull Mix
German Shepherd Dog
Labradoodle
Shih Tzu
Dachshund
The capital of North Carolina is an ever-growing big city packed with southern charm. While the most popular breed overall was Mixed, that sense of fine hospitality runs through many of the city’s most popular breeds including the sweet-tempered Labrador and Golden Retrievers (second and third), and the always welcoming Golden and Labradoodles (fourth and eighth). The highly ranked American Pit Bull Terrier and PitBull Mix – when properly raised and trained – also display great affection and loyalty to their human families. When it comes to more compact breeds, Raleighites’ tastes are in step with the national mood: sociable Dachshunds and the family-friendly Shih Tzus both make the top ten.
Trending Breeds in Raleigh
The Top 10 most trending breeds
Pomeranian
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Pug
Jack Russell Terrier
Great Pyrenees
French Bulldog
Doberman Pinscher
Cane Corso
American Pit Bull Terrier
Smaller dogs have a strong future in the City of Oaks, popping up in just about every variety in the city’s top ten trending breeds. We crunched the data of Rover’s thousands of users in Raleigh to work out which breeds were most on the rise. The tiny Pomeranian owes a great deal to England’s Queen Victoria, who fell in love with these vivacious pups while visiting Florence, Italy in the 1800s. In the years since, the breed’s abundant coats, cheeky faces and easy intelligence have only cemented their popularity – particularly in Raleigh where they ranked number-one trending this year.
Making an intriguing appearance on both the city’s trending and rarest lists is the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. Much like other terriers, they are a devoted, extroverted lot with just enough of a stubborn streak to keep you on your toes. Originally Irish, they get their name from the distinctive, wavy coat likened to the color of ripening wheat.
Residents in the ‘Smithsonian of the South’ have an appreciation for history, so it fits well to see such an ancient dog as the Cane Corso (pronounced Can-nay Cor-so) making an appearance. With a lineage going back to Roman times, this ‘bodyguard dog’ certainly has an imposing presence (they often weigh more than 100 pounds), but that’s matched with a loyalty and sweet desire to please that wins them a special place in the hearts of their owners and friends.
Rarest Dog Breeds in Raleigh
West Highland White Terrier
Vizsla
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Cane Corso
Havanese
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
Toy Poodle
Miniature Poodle
English Bulldog
Rottweiler
According to our data, these breeds were least common among pet owners in Raleigh. The rarest is the charming West Highland White Terrier. Cousin to the Cairn Terrier, ‘Westies’ originally hail from Scotland where they put their intelligent and plentiful energy to work hunting rats. Today they make a jolly addition to an active family, but be ready to meet these plucky terrier’s need for play!
Another import from across the pond, the English Bulldog is a dignified bruiser with a truly distinctive look. Indeed, in their native England the Bulldog’s jowly appearance and courageous temperament drew regular comparisons during World War II to the then Prime Minister Winston Churchill. But that’s not this breed’s only claim to fame: in New Haven, the Bulldog made history when Handsome Dan became the country’s first official animal sporting mascot for the teams of Yale. Today Handsome Dan XIX occupies this important role.
There are two kinds of smaller poodles on the list of rare breeds this year, a contrast to other parts of the country where poodles ranked more highly for popularity. The Toy and Miniature Poodles are spunky, kind and intelligent types who don’t let their diminutive size hold them back whether they’re heading for a swim or taking on an agility course.
Most Popular Cat Breeds in Raleigh
Domestic Shorthair
American Shorthair
Domestic Longhair
Siamese
Ragdoll
Raleigh Cat Breed Trends for 2023
Sphynx
Bengal
American Bobtail
Russian Blue
Manx
Nicknamed the ‘Golden Retriever of the cat world’ for their affectionate personalities, the American Bobtail seems a natural choice for Raleigh. Urban legend holds that these felines got their distinctive bobtail when a tabby was crossed with a bobcat, but it is likely just the result of a common genetic mutation that’s also seen in other breeds (like the Manx, also on this list). American Bobtails are known to be a particularly bright breed, with some pet parents swearing these beautiful bandits have escaped from a locked cage or closed room. When not getting into mischief, Bobtails bond so closely with their humans they are happy to adopt alternative lifestyles, like trucking, sailing or living in an RV.
Like the short-tailed Bobtail, the Manx is a highly social and almost dog-like breed with just a nub of a tail. This distinctive trait is loved among their fans, who might call a Manx with no tail a “rumpy” and one with a very small tail a “rumpy riser.” Their lack of a tail doesn’t slow them down though, and when they’re not jumping or out looking for fun, these even-tempered cats are happy to curl up on their pet parent’s lap for a solid snooze.
Manx – https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/manx-calico-cat-gm614310960-106253881?phrase=manx+cat
Get to Know the Breeds
Learn more about the Labrador Retriever.
Learn more about the Pomeranian.
Everything you wanted to know about the Manx Cat
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