And here we go! 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 Toronto and across Canada. While some breeds are dependably popular, others are just starting to climb the ranks of what we call trending breeds. These are dogs and cats that rose quickly in popularity in 2024, becoming the top trending breed for their cities.
Find out if your pet’s breed is among them! Following a bigger trend in North America, when it comes to dogs, Toronto’s most common breed is a mix, with crossbreeds topping the table in Canada for the most popular dog breed overall. In fact, 62% of pet parents say their dog is a mix of breeds, with 15% intentionally seeking a mixed-breed dog. The rest of the top 10 is a genteel lot –only too appropriate for the largest city in a country of famously polite people– but with a variety that reflects the different living styles in this dense but sprawling hub.
The discoveries don’t stop with dogs though. We’ve also crunched the numbers for cats to see which breeds are the most common, and which are up and coming. 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 these results that surprises us too. Ready to dive in?
Toronto’s Most Popular Dog Breeds
How common is your dog’s breed?
Mixed
Goldendoodle
Cockapoo
Golden Retriever
Labrador Retriever
Shih Tzu
Chihuahua
French Bulldog
Yorkshire Terrier
German Shepherd Dog
Goldedoodle – Brad Covington via iStock
As a city of almost 3 million people Toronto has a well-earned reputation as an exciting and multicultural melting-pot. With its vast footprint that offers everything from buzzing downtown apartments to quaint Victorian homes in a quiet suburb, it was no surprise to find that the city’s popular breeds are a snapshot of diverging tastes. In the number one spot both in Toronto and nationally was the Mixed breed, followed closely by the Goldendoodle and their relatives the Golden and Labrador Retrievers. Jumping up to third place, the sweet-natured Cockapoo was another poodle cross to do well this year, followed by some reliably popular smaller breeds — the French Bulldogs (or Frenchies), Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas.
Toronto Dog Breed Trends for 2024
Top 10 Trending Dog Breeds
Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever
Alaskan Malamute
Great Dane
Cocker Spaniel
American Bulldog
Samoyed
Chow Chow
Miniature Australian Shepherd
Cardigan Welsh Corgi
Akita Inu
Shetland Sheepdog – Pixabay
Toronto’s choice of trending breeds is enticingly diverse; no surprise for a city where roughly half of the population was born somewhere else. We crunched the data of Rover’s thousands of users in the city to work out which breeds were most on the rise.
The top trending breed this year jumped up from the fifth spot last year. The Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever is as adorable as its name is long. Affectionately known as Tollers among pet parents who love them, these pups are incredibly intelligent. Bred in Nova Scotia in the early 19th century to hunt waterfowl and other prey, Tollers are still happiest when they have a job to do. They excel at activities like agility courses, dock diving, and more. Toller pet parents know that keeping these pups busy is key to their overall happiness. A bored Toller can be mischievous, so physical and mental stimulation is a must.
Also trending in Toronto is a breed as big as it is sweet. The Great Dane takes the number three spot and can weigh an impressive 100 to 200 pounds and will tower over most other breeds. The absolute definition of “gentle giant”, the Great Dane is beloved for having a calm demeanor and loving disposition. Apartment-dwellers beware! This gargantuan beast is best suited for a home with room to move and humans who can provide long, easy walks every day.
Finally, the Cocker Spaniel clinches the fourth spot on the list this year. With big, floppy ears and doe eyes, the Cocker Spaniel puppy will melt the coldest heart. Originally bred for flushing out birds for hunters, this compact sporting dog is equal parts curious, affectionate, and spritely. That curiosity can lead to mischievousness when they are bored, so be sure to give your Cocker Spaniel plenty of attention and mental stimulation.
Toronto’s Rarest Dog Breeds
Is your dog one of these?
Wire Fox Terrier
Tibetan Spaniel
Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
Scotch Collie
These breeds were least common among our database of pet owners in Toronto. The rarest was the Wire Fox Terrier, which originated in the early 19th century in Britain as a hunting dog. Second place goes to the Tibetan Spaniel, also known as “comforter dogs” due to their affinity for non-stop snuggling. But don’t let this fool you – they’re also spirited and smart and require mental stimulation to stay truly content.
Canada’s Most Popular Cat Breeds
Does your cat’s breed feature?
Domestic Shorthair
American Shorthair
Domestic Longhair
Ragdoll
Siamese
Bengal
Maine Coon
British Shorthair
Persian
Russian Blue
Ragdoll – iStock/Julia Gomina
Continuing the theme of mixed breeds being most popular, the Domestic Shorthair is often considered to be the “mutt” of cat breeds due to their mixed and unknown heritages. Because of this, Domestic Shorthairs present with a variety of physical attributes but they are generally medium-sized with round faces, sleek and soft short coats, and can be any mix of colors.
It’s believed that cats like the Domestic Shorthair made their way around the globe, including to North America (likely aboard the Mayflower and other ships). These cats were favored as mousers and considered hard-working. Domestic Shorthair cats live an average of 12-14 years but have been known to live much longer.
Also on the list this year is the Persian. These cats have stocky bodies with flat, slightly scrunched-looking faces. This is one of the qualities people are often so drawn to, but it can lead to the need for additional medical care. They sport long, soft coats in a variety of colors, including white and black. Though they share some physical characteristics with Maine Coons, they’re often smaller and weigh between 7-12 pounds.
Despite being sweet with their humans, Persians have a reputation for being slightly standoffish with new people and are considered generally less likely than others to demand attention. Additionally, they can be laid back and mellow relative to other breeds.
The Persian is one of the oldest-known breeds and was first spotted in Iran, known at the time as Persia. The breed made its debut to a wider audience in the 1871 Crystal Palace cat show and is also known as having been a favorite of Queen Victoria’s.
Pet parent stats are from a Rover survey of 500 Canadian 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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