SEATTLE, WA – June 23, 2021 – Rover.com®, the world’s largest online marketplace for pet care, today released “America’s Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2021,” its third-annual report ranking the top 20 most popular dog breeds in the country and the top five trending dog breeds in 35 U.S. cities. As expected, mixed breeds once again reign as the most popular dog breed nationally, followed by Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd and Goldendoodle. Chihuahua fell out of the top tier, after ranking third in 2020.
The Goldendoodle jumped up in ranking from number nine in 2020 to the top five in 2021, with “Doodle” ownership doubling in the U.S. since 2016, according to Rover’s database of millions of dog profiles. Goldendoodles are also the second most popular puppy breed, behind only mixed breeds.
“As millions of pet parents across the U.S. welcomed new dogs to their family this past year, we’ve found that doodles are on a meteoric rise, accounting for one out of every 10 new pets added to our platform,” said Rover pet trends expert, Kate Jaffe. “Among puppies, mixed breeds and Goldendoodles led the pack nationally, making them the official breeds of the ‘pandemic puppy’ boom.”
The “pandemic pet” phenomenon is real as 67% of dog owners said they welcomed a dog into their family in the past year. Pet parents are taking note as the vast majority (75%) said they’ve noticed more dogs in their neighborhood. To gain a deeper understanding of how the pandemic has impacted pet parenthood, Rover surveyed 1,000 U.S. dog parents. The resulting data revealed what factors were most important when selecting a new furry companion.
Pet parents are drawn to breeds based on the unique characteristics that make them the perfect companion. When it came down to adding a new furry family member, the majority of dog parents (76%) said that breed was important to them and the biggest consideration was being “family friendly.” Other key factors for pet lovers when getting a dog included: a dog that would snuggle (60%); a breed that would get along with other pets (54%); and a breed that was highly intelligent (51%).
Even as “doodles” make a national splash, mixed breed dogs are still the most prevalent with nearly half of those surveyed saying they have a mixed breed dog and that they were specifically looking for one. A shared affinity for particular breeds appears to foster community among pet parents. Pet parents gravitate toward others with similar dogs, with the majority (74%) surveyed claiming they connect with people who have the same dog breed as them. Over half of dog owners go as far as joining a club or attending a meetup related to their dog’s breed. If that wasn’t enough, nearly two-thirds of dog parents share their dog love by sporting dog-centric apparel or decor related to their dog’s breed.
“Every dog, regardless of shape, size, or breed, has the unique ability to provide us with unconditional love and emotional support—and this year has proven just how much we need it,” said Jaffe. “While the ideal companion looks different for each person, all pet parents can come together around a shared appreciation for the enduring bonds we have with our dogs.”
To view the full report on popular dog breeds, please visit here. A similar report was conducted in Canada. To view Rover’s annual report on America’s most popular cat breeds, please visit here.
About the Report
Rover data from June 2021 includes the top 20 list of the most popular dog breeds across the U.S. as well as the top 5 trending dog breeds in 35 U.S. cities where the dog breeds outpaced the national rank in popularity within each city. Rover also conducted a survey via Pollfish in June 2021 of 1,000 U.S.-based dog parents.
About Rover:
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover® is the world’s largest network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Rover connects dog and cat owners with pet care whenever they need it. Millions of services have been booked on Rover, including pet sitting, dog walking, in-home boarding, drop-in visits, doggy day care, and grooming in select markets.
Rover makes it easier for people to have pet love in their lives through the Rover Guarantee, 24/7 support, vet consultations, and GPS walk mapping. And by sharing expertise on TheDogPeople.com, a trusted resource for millions of dog and cat parents worldwide, Rover provides tips and articles that delight, inform, and enhance the bond between people and their pets. To learn more about Rover, please visit https://www.rover.com.
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Contact:
Kristin Sandberg
360-510-6365