Rover analyzed its database of dog breeds submitted by millions of pet parents, to identify the breeds capturing the hearts of Americans. This year’s data highlights the nation’s most popular canine companions and the fastest-rising “trending” breeds, offering a unique look at the shifting landscape of pet parenthood and the emerging favorites defined by year-over-year growth.
The headlines
- Non-designer mixed breeds remain the most popular dog breed in America, while retrievers (Labradors and goldens) remain in the top 3.
- Australian cattle dog enters the top 20 this year at #19. Also called blue or red heelers, the breed is experiencing global popularity in part because of the popular animated children’s show, Bluey.
- The Pomsky is the breakout star of the year. The designer crossbreed debuts at #1 on the trending list, up+13% year-over-year — nearly double the next-fastest growing breed. This husky-pomeranian mix is the talk of the dog park in 2026.
- Poodle variants keep climbing. Toy poodle (#2 trending, +7%) and miniature poodle (#4, +6%) continue to trend across the country, after the mini poodle topped the trending list in 2024 and 2025.
- A corgi swap. In 2025, the Pembroke Welsh corgi (of Queen Elizabeth fame) made the top 10 trending list. This year, the more rare Cardigan Welsh corgi makes the top 10, coming in at #9.
- Working and guardian breeds making a comeback. Great Pyrenees, cane corso, Dutch shepherd dog and German shorthaired pointer all appear on the 2026 trending list, as American pet parents look for furry family members that can guard the house and help with the chores.
- Popular and still growing. Bernedoodle and dachshund appear on both lists in 2026, establishing themselves as a top-20 most popular breed that are still adding pets faster than the field.
U.S. Most Popular Breeds: 2025 vs 2026
Popular breeds ranked by total national volume of user-submitted dogs. “Move” shows the shift from the 2025 rank. Excludes non-designer mixed breeds.
| 2026 | Breed | 2025 | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-designer Mixed Breeds | 1 | |
| 2 | Labrador Retriever | 2 | |
| 3 | Golden Retriever | 3 | |
| 4 | Goldendoodle | 4 | |
| 5 | German Shepherd Dog | 5 | |
| 6 | Chihuahua | 6 | |
| 7 | Dachshund | 8 | +1 |
| 8 | French Bulldog | 7 | -1 |
| 9 | Shih Tzu | 9 | |
| 10 | Yorkshire Terrier | 10 | |
| 11 | Australian Shepherd | 11 | |
| 12 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 12 | |
| 13 | Labradoodle | 14 | +1 |
| 14 | Siberian Husky | 13 | -1 |
| 15 | Bernedoodle | 15 | |
| 16 | Poodle | 16 | |
| 17 | Maltese | 17 | |
| 18 | Miniature Schnauzer | 20 | +2 |
| 19 | Beagle | 19 | |
| 20 | Australian Cattle Dog | 20 | NEW |
U.S. Top Trending Breeds: Fastest-Rising in 2026
Nationally trending breeds ranked by year-over-year growth (minimum 1,000 new pets added per breed). Excludes non-designer mixed breeds.
| # | Breed | YoY growth | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pomsky | 13% | New breakout |
| 2 | Toy Poodle | 7% | 2025 trending #4 |
| 3 | Bernedoodle | 7% | Also popular #14 |
| 4 | Miniature Poodle | 6% | 2025 trending #1 |
| 5 | Dachshund | 6% | Also popular #6 |
| 6 | English Cocker Spaniel | 6% | NEW |
| 7 | Miniature American Shepherd | 5% | New |
| 8 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 4% | 2025 trending #3 |
| 9 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 3% | NEW |
| 10 | Dutch Shepherd Dog | 3% | NEW |
| 11 | Great Pyrenees | 3% | NEW |
| 12 | Miniature Australian Shepherd | 3% | NEW |
| 13 | Cairn Terrier | 3% | NEW |
| 14 | Cane Corso | 2% | NEW |
| 15 | Miniature Schnauzer | 2% | Also popular #17 |
| 16 | Goldendoodle | 2% | Also popular #3 |
| 17 | Golden Retriever | 2% | Also popular #2 |
| 18 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 2% | NEW |
| 19 | Shih Tzu | 2% | Also popular #8 |
| 20 | Yorkshire Terrier | 1% | Also popular #9 |
Popular Breeds by State: Fastest-Rising in 2026
The #1 most popular breed in each state, ranked by total state volume of user-submitted dogs. “Move” shows the shift from the 2025 rank. Excludes non-designer mixed breeds.
| State | Most Popular Breed |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Goldendoodle |
| Alaska | Golden Retriever |
| Arizona | Goldendoodle |
| Arkansas | Goldendoodle |
| California | Golden Retriever |
| Colorado | Golden Retriever |
| Connecticut | Labrador Retriever |
| Delaware | Labrador Retriever |
| District of Columbia | Goldendoodle |
| Florida | Goldendoodle |
| Georgia | Goldendoodle |
| Hawaii | Labrador Retriever |
| Idaho | Labrador Retriever |
| Illinois | Goldendoodle |
| Indiana | Goldendoodle |
| Iowa | Labrador Retriever |
| Kansas | Labrador Retriever |
| Kentucky | Goldendoodle |
| Louisiana | Labrador Retriever |
| Maine | Labrador Retriever |
| Maryland | Labrador Retriever |
| Massachusetts | Labrador Retriever |
| Michigan | Labrador Retriever |
| Minnesota | Labrador Retriever |
| Mississippi | Labrador Retriever |
| Missouri | Labrador Retriever |
| Montana | Labrador Retriever |
| Nebraska | Labrador Retriever |
| Nevada | Chihuahua |
| New Hampshire | Labrador Retriever |
| New Jersey | Goldendoodle |
| New Mexico | Chihuahua |
| New York | Labrador Retriever |
| North Carolina | Labrador Retriever |
| North Dakota | Labrador Retriever |
| Ohio | Golden Retriever |
| Oklahoma | Goldendoodle |
| Oregon | Labrador Retriever |
| Pennsylvania | Labrador Retriever |
| Rhode Island | Labrador Retriever |
| South Carolina | Labrador Retriever |
| South Dakota | Labrador Retriever |
| Tennessee | Goldendoodle |
| Texas | Goldendoodle |
| Utah | Goldendoodle |
| Vermont | Labrador Retriever |
| Virginia | Labrador Retriever |
| Washington | Labrador Retriever |
| West Virginia | Labrador Retriever |
| Wisconsin | Labrador Retriever |
| Wyoming | Labrador Retriever |
Top Trending Breeds by State: Fastest-Rising in 2026
Top-trending breed in each state ranked by year-over-year growth (minimum 10 new pets added per breed). Excludes non-designer mixed breeds.
| State | #1 Most Popular Breed | YoY growth |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | English Shepherd | 268% |
| Alaska | Bichon Frise | 564% |
| Arizona | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | 252% |
| Arkansas | Mountain Cur | 245% |
| California | Tibetan Mastiff | 197% |
| Colorado | Swedish Vallhund | 362% |
| Connecticut | Bouvier des Flandres | 285% |
| Delaware | Bluetick Coonhound | 921% |
| District of Columbia | Terrier | 203% |
| Florida | Barbet | 202% |
| Georgia | Scottish Terrier | 251% |
| Hawaii | Parson Russell Terrier | 424% |
| Idaho | French Brittany | 244% |
| Illinois | German Pinscher | 396% |
| Indiana | Australian Kelpie | 239% |
| Iowa | Lagotto Romagnolo | 568% |
| Kansas | Bloodhound | 149% |
| Kentucky | Parson Russell Terrier | 1321% |
| Louisiana | Brussels Griffon | 919% |
| Maine | English Mastiff | 423% |
| Maryland | Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog | 421% |
| Massachusetts | Irish Terrier | 291% |
| Michigan | Leonberger | 420% |
| Minnesota | Miniature American Eskimo Dog | 356% |
| Mississippi | Standard Schnauzer | 136% |
| Missouri | Tibetan Spaniel | 1218% |
| Montana | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 205% |
| Nebraska | Irish Wolfhound | 1514% |
| Nevada | Irish Setter | 1070% |
| New Hampshire | Cane Corso | 103% |
| New Jersey | Galgo Espanol | 253% |
| New Mexico | Weimaraner | 209% |
| New York | American Mastiff | 153% |
| North Carolina | English Foxhound | 204% |
| North Dakota | Puggle | 411% |
| Ohio | Bull Terrier (Miniature) | 186% |
| Oklahoma | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 273% |
| Oregon | Borzoi | 289% |
| Pennsylvania | Saluki | 384% |
| Rhode Island | Vizsla | 127% |
| South Carolina | Pointer | 134% |
| South Dakota | Havanese | 220% |
| Tennessee | White Shepherd Dog | 288% |
| Texas | Markiesje | 1019% |
| Utah | Australian Terrier | 250% |
| Vermont | Shiba Inu | 198% |
| Virginia | Saluki | 573% |
| Washington | Spinone Italiano | 122% |
| West Virginia | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 197% |
| Wisconsin | French Brittany | 199% |
| Wyoming | American Cocker Spaniel | 487% |