Loyalty, Friendliness and Playfulness Are Most Sought After Personality Traits As Pet Parents Seek a Deeper Bond with Animal Companions
Mixed Breed Dogs Rank Most Popular While Miniature Poodles Trend Upward. For Cats, Domestic Shorthair Remains Most Popular as Aegean Claims Top Trending Spot
SEATTLE, WA – August 20, 2024 – Rover.com®, the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, today announced the 2024 Most Popular Dog and Cat Breeds Report–in time for National Dog Day on August 26. The sixth iteration of the report unveils this year’s most popular and trending dog and cat breeds nationwide and breaks out local trends in 10 U.S. cities. Supported in partnership with Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry®, the report also examines the connection between genetics and personality and encourages pet parents to get “bark to their roots” by exploring their own pet’s unique makeup.
According to the report, non designer mixed breeds are the most popular dog breed in America, followed by the Labrador Retriever and Goldendoodle. In terms of year-over-year change, the Miniature Poodle is the top-trending breed of 2024, up 12%. For cats, the Domestic Shorthair remains most popular, while Aegean cats are trending up 84% year-over-year.
Rover recognizes that pet parents crave a deeper understanding, beyond breed type, when it comes to pets and their identities. This year’s report explores the connection between DNA and personalities, as suggested by breed traits. According to a recent Rover survey of 1,000 U.S. pet parents, 88% of those with dogs agree that knowing more about their pet’s unique mix of breeds would help them understand their needs better, and over half (56%) believe that knowing more about their pet’s genetic makeup would help strengthen their bond.
“Asking the right questions about ourselves and honest self-reflection can illuminate what kind of dog fits into our own lives,” said Phil Tedeschi, Rover Pet People Panelist and expert on the human-animal bond. “Apart from aesthetics, breed-specific knowledge and attributes allow for supporting a better quality of life. These enduring relationships deserve careful attention and our deep commitment to one another.”
A dog’s personality and behavior is more important than their pedigree, according to pet parents. In fact, 61% of pet parents chose their dog based on the assumed characteristics of their breed or breed mix, rather than appearance. According to the report, loyalty is the most desired personality trait for a dog and is most commonly seen in American Pitbull Terriers, German Shepherds, and the Chihuahua. Other top sought after characteristics include friendly and/or social, playful, cuddly, intelligent and protective – in that order.
“We know that pets are integral parts of our families, and learning how their DNA can suggest certain behaviors or personality traits is extremely important for forming a deeper connection with them,” says Caitlyn Bruns, Animal Geneticist for Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry. “Just like in human relationships, deepening our understanding of our animal companions can help uncover their unique needs and desires.”
Rover’s report also shows that it’s not just DNA at play, pet personalities can reflect that of their people. Most (71%) pet parents agree a person’s choice of dog breed is an extension of their own personality and 83% believe that pet personalities are influenced by their people. In fact, over half (52%) of pet parents say they share behavioral traits and interests with their dog, with the leading shared trait being anxiety. Of this year’s top 10 most popular breeds, the DNA of most Dachshunds and Yorkshire Terriers suggests they are more likely to experience separation anxiety (according to Caitlyn Bruns).
To view the full report on most popular and trending dog breeds, visit here. To view Rover’s annual report on America’s most popular cat breeds, visit here. For more on Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry, visit here.
About the Report
Rover data includes the most popular and rarest dog breeds across the U.S., the top trending dog breeds–where breeds experienced the most growth in 2024–and aggregated traits data by breed from Know Your Pet DNA by Ancestry. Additionally, the report includes the top 10 most common cat breeds in America. In conjunction, Rover conducted a survey via Pollfish in July 2024 of 1,000 U.S. based pet parents.
About Rover
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover is the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care. Rover connects pet parents with pet providers who offer overnight services, including boarding and in-home pet sitting, as well as daytime services, including doggy daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits. To learn more about Rover, please visit www.rover.com.
About Ancestry®
Ancestry®, the global leader in family history, empowers journeys of personal discovery to enrich lives. With our unparalleled collection of more than 60 billion records, over 3 million subscribers and over 25 million people in our growing DNA network, customers can discover their family story and gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Over the past 40 years, we’ve built trusted relationships with millions of people who have chosen us as the platform for discovering, preserving and sharing the most important information about themselves and their families.
Rover Press Contact:
Kristin Sandberg
pr@rover.com
360-510-6365