Do you love knowing more about the dog population near to where you live? Good, us too! That’s why 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 San Francisco and across the country.
While some breeds are perennially popular in the city by the bay, others are just starting to climb the ranks as what we call trending breeds. These are dogs and cats that rose quickly in popularity in 2023, becoming the top trending breeds for their cities. Can you guess what they might be?
As you will see, when it comes to dogs, the most common breed is in fact Mixed breeds. According to our nationwide survey, 60% of pet owners across the US have a mixed breed dog , while one in five (19%) specifically sought out a mixed breed dog, or “mutt”.
We also notice that three of the top 10 most popular dogs in San Francisco are ‘doodles’ or poodle crosses. In recent years, poodle crosses of all kinds have skyrocketed in popularity in part because of their coats, which have less tendency to shed than other breeds. As such, certain ‘doodles’ have come to be accepted as established breeds in their own right. Interestingly in this tech-forward city, it is the hybrid ‘designer dogs’ that are already firmly established as popular breeds, while the ‘trending’ list is made up of more seemingly classic dogs! See if you agree with us as you read on.
We haven’t forgotten about cats either! We have also done a deep-dive to find out which cat breeds are most popular with our users, and we learned more about some amazing breeds along the way.
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 these results that we weren’t expecting. Let’s take a look!
The Most Popular Dog Breeds in San Francisco
Mixed
Goldendoodle
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Chihuahua
Labradoodle
French Bulldog
Bernedoodle
German Shepherd Dog
Shih Tzu
In this high-tech city, designer hybrid breeds are already well established among the most popular kinds of dog. Right up top we see the Goldendoodle and the Golden Retriever. The poodle cross, Goldendoodle is much loved for its friendly, outgoing personality and intelligence, as well as its adorable face – though their appearance can vary quite widely. They don’t even have to be golden, they could also take the color of different poodle parents.
According to Rover experts, though doodles are often described as allergy-friendly or even hypoallergenic, “the truth is, most allergies are caused by dander (dead skin cells shed alongside fur) more than the dog’s coat. Some people with more mild allergies may react less severely to these dogs because they shed less, but there’s no guarantee that a Goldendoodle will be hypoallergenic.”
Trending Breeds in San Francisco
The Top 10 most trending breeds
West Highland White Terrier
Shih Tzu
Pomeranian
American Staffordshire Terrier
English Bulldog
Toy Poodle
Bernese Mountain Dog
PitBull Mix
Shiba Inu
Doberman Pinscher
Trending breeds are not necessarily new breeds, least of all in SF! At the top we have the well-established “Westie” and the ancient Shih-Tzu, while other more classic breeds like the Pomeranian and the English Bulldog are also in the ranking.
The Westie, a shaggy-haired sweetheart who is impossible to miss with his pure white coat, was originally a mutation of the gray-colored Cairn Terrier (à la Toto!). As time went on, West Highland Whites began to be bred deliberately and became increasingly popular throughout the 20th century. They had a spike in popularity in the Nineties after being featured in a high-profile advertising campaign, but under their cute looks they are alert terriers with sparky personalities. Their instinct for ratting is still strong, and sometimes leads them into tight spots, quite literally!
Rarest Dog Breeds in San Francisco
Norfolk Terrier
McNab
Curly Coated Retriever
Berger Blanc Suisse
Mastiff
Manchester Terrier
Borzoi
Aidi
Irish Setter
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Among the diverse list of breeds that make up our list of the rarest dogs in SF, we see some of the fastest dogs in the world. The McNab dog or ‘McNab Collie’, a native of California, is a highly intelligent herding dog that needs plenty of running and requires challenges and stimulation. The same is true of the regal-looking athlete, the Borzoi, who can reach speeds of 35-40 miles per hour. The American Kennel Club recommends early socialization and training for this highly intelligent and loving breed that nonetheless has an independent, stubborn streak.
The Most Popular Cat Breeds in San Francisco
Domestic Shorthair
American Shorthair
Domestic Longhair
Ragdoll
Siamese
San Francisco Cat Breed Trends for 2023
Manx
Singapura
Highlander
British Shorthair
Moggie
When it comes to trending cats, we’re seeing a distinct influence from the UK over in the Pacific Northwest. The distinctive Manx cat, hailing from the Isle of Man, a British dependency in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, is the cat breed that’s most markedly on the rise, according to our data. This island breed is instantly recognizable thanks to its being ‘tailless’, or only having a short stub of a tail; they have been affectionately referred to locally in the Isle of Man as ‘Stubbin’ or ‘rumpy’.
The second rarest cat breed, the Singapura, is also distinctive to look at. Known as the smallest kind of cat in the world, you’ll identify them immediately, not only because of their diminutive size, but also their large eyes and ears, which dominate their petite heads. They may be rare but they don’t stand on ceremony — the breed is known to be affectionate and cuddly and likes to be in the company of its human as much as possible.
Get to Know the Breeds
Labradoodle Dog Breed Facts & Information
Chihuahua Dog Breed Facts & Information
The essential guide to the West Highland White Terrier
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Manx Cat
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