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
- Goldendoodle
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- French Bulldog
- Labradoodle
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- Chihuahua
- 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 fourth), and the always welcoming Golden and Labradoodles (third and seventh). The highly ranked American Pit Bull Terrier also displays 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 feisty Chihuahua both make the top ten.
Trending Breeds in Raleigh
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- French Bulldog
- Miniature Australian Shepherd
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Cockapoo
- Rottweiler
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Doberman Pinscher
- German Shorthaired Pointer
Doberman Pinscher
via iStock/
We crunched the data of Rover’s thousands of users in Raleigh to work out which breeds were most on the rise. The Treeing Walker Coonhound tops the trending list this year. Nicknamed “The People’s Choice”, this breed is known to be smart and brave. And although they might have Walker in their name, these pups are lightning-fast runners, especially when they catch the scent of prey. Like most hounds, the Treeing Walker Coonhound is as affectionate as it is intelligent. Just be sure to give them plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to help them thrive.
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. French Bulldogs, or Frenchies, are the second trending breed this year. Instantly recognizable by their signature “bat ears”, this breed is considered smart and well-tempered. Their coats are short and they don’t shed very much, which is great news for your furniture during hot Raleigh summers. They are also a flat-faced breed, so pet parents must take care to protect them in hot and humid weather.
Residents in the ‘Smithsonian of the South’ have an appreciation for history, so it fits well that one of the most popular dogs of the last century made the list. Full of grace, charm, and cheekiness, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel might just be considered royalty in the dog world. Though small in size, these pups have made their mark with a personality that consistently sparkles. Their soft, sweet eyes could melt the hardest heart.
America’s Most Popular Cat Breeds for 2024
- Domestic Shorthair
- American Shorthair
- Domestic Longhair
- Siamese
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- Russian Blue
- Bombay
- Bengal
- Siberian
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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