Friendliness, Loyalty and Playfulness Are Most Sought After Personality Traits As Pet Parents Seek a Deeper Bond with Animal Companions
Mixed Breed Dogs Rank Most Popular in Canada, While Yorkshire Terrier is Top Trending. For Cats, Domestic Shorthair Remains Most Popular.
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 International Dog Day on August 26. The sixth iteration of the report unveils this year’s most popular and trending dog breeds nationwide and breaks out local trends in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.
According to the report, non designer mixed breeds are the most popular dog breed in Canada, followed by the Golden Retriever and the Labrador Retriever. In terms of year-over-year change, the Yorkshire Terrier is the top-trending breed of 2024, up 10%. For cats, the Domestic Shorthair remains most popular in Canada.
When it comes time for Canadians to pick a new furry family member, it turns out that personality and behavior are just as important as looks and pedigree. According to a recent Rover survey of 500 Canada-based pet parents, more than half (61%) choose their dog based on assumed personality and behavioral traits. In terms of the most desirable traits, friendliness and sociability (74%) is the most important characteristic a dog can have. According to Rover’s survey, mixed breeds (13%) are the friendliest and most social, followed by the Labrador Retriever (6%), Golden Retriever (6%) and German Shepherd (5%). Other top sought after characteristics include loyalty (65%), playfulness (61%), cuddly (58%), intelligent (53%) and protective (36%).
“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.”
Rover’s report also shows that it’s not just DNA at play, pet personalities can reflect that of their people. Most (70%) Canadian pet parents agree a person’s choice of dog breed is an extension of their own personality and 84% believe that pet personalities are influenced by their people. In fact, over half (51%) of pet parents say they share behavioral traits and interests with their dog, with the leading shared traits being social anxiety (49%) and separation anxiety (38%). According to Rover’s survey, the breeds most likely to have separation anxiety are mixed breeds (13%), German Shepherds (9%), Golden Retrievers (7%) and Shih Tzus (5%).
“In general, DNA and breed traits can offer useful information about your dog,” said Tedeschi. “While some traits are inherent, honoring your pet’s unique needs can be just as impactful when it comes to influencing their personality. Learning more about your dog’s DNA can be a helpful starting point, but it’s important to recognize the bond we create with our pets can also contribute to their personalities.”
To view the full report on most popular and trending dog breeds, visit here. For cats, visit here. To view Rover’s annual report on America’s most popular dog breeds, visit here.
About the Report
Rover data includes the most popular and rarest dog breeds across Canada in addition to the top trending dog breeds–where breeds experienced the most growth in 2024. Additionally, the report includes the top 10 most common cat breeds in Canada. In conjunction, Rover conducted a survey via Pollfish in July 2024 of 500 Canada 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.
Rover Press Contact:
Kristin Sandberg
pr@rover.com
360-510-6365