Best dogs
Most popular dog breeds in America
The 25 most popular breeds in the American Kennel Club's 2025 registration ranking, with size and lifespan.
The American Kennel Club ranks breeds by how many dogs were registered with it in 2025. Registration is a measure of popularity, not of quality, and it counts purebred registrations only. This is the top of its list.
The list
| # | Breed | Size | Typical weight | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Bulldog | Small | 20 to 28 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 2 | Labrador Retriever | Large | 55 to 80 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 3 | Golden Retriever | Large | 55 to 75 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 4 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | 50 to 90 lb | 9 to 13 years |
| 5 | Dachshund | Small | 16 to 32 lb | 12 to 16 years |
| 6 | Poodle | Medium | 40 to 70 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 7 | Beagle | Medium | 20 to 30 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 8 | Rottweiler | Large | 80 to 135 lb | 9 to 10 years |
| 9 | German Shorthaired Pointer | Medium | 45 to 70 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 10 | Bulldog | Medium | 40 to 50 lb | 8 to 10 years |
| 11 | Cane Corso | Large | 90 to 120 lb | 9 to 12 years |
| 12 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | 13 to 18 lb | 10 to 14 years |
| 13 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | 4 to 7 lb | 13 to 16 years |
| 14 | Australian Shepherd | Medium | 40 to 65 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 15 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | 60 to 100 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 16 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | 25 to 30 lb | 12 to 14 years |
| 17 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | 11 to 20 lb | 12 to 15 years |
| 18 | Boxer | Medium | 50 to 70 lb | 10 to 12 years |
| 19 | Pomeranian | Small | 3 to 7 lb | 12 to 16 years |
| 20 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Large | 70 to 115 lb | 7 to 10 years |
| 21 | Shih Tzu | Small | 9 to 16 lb | 10 to 16 years |
| 22 | Great Dane | Large | 110 to 175 lb | 7 to 10 years |
| 23 | Boston Terrier | Small | 12 to 25 lb | 11 to 13 years |
| 24 | Chihuahua | Small | 3 to 6 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 25 | Havanese | Small | 7 to 13 lb | 14 to 16 years |
About the breeds
1. French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a small, muscular, bat-eared companion from France and England, popular in cities for its easygoing nature and limited exercise needs. Read the French Bulldog profile.
2. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a sturdy, water-loving gun dog with an easygoing nature, widely kept as a family pet and a working guide and service dog. Read the Labrador Retriever profile.
3. Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever is a friendly, feathered gun dog from Scotland, known as a patient family companion, a bird retriever and a frequent service dog. Read the Golden Retriever profile.
4. German Shepherd Dog
A large, athletic herding breed from Germany, widely used in police, military and service work and kept as a loyal, trainable family guardian. Read the German Shepherd Dog profile.
5. Dachshund
The Dachshund is a long-bodied, short-legged scent hound from Germany, bred to follow badgers underground and kept today as a bold, vocal companion. Read the Dachshund profile.
6. Poodle
The Poodle is an intelligent, athletic water retriever in three sizes, known for a curly non-shedding coat and strong trainability. Read the Poodle profile.
7. Beagle
The Beagle is a compact, merry scent hound from England, bred to hunt rabbits in a pack and known for its nose, its voice and its appetite. Read the Beagle profile.
8. Rottweiler
The Rottweiler is a powerful German guardian and herding breed, black with rust markings, known for loyalty, confidence and a serious working nature. Read the Rottweiler profile.
9. German Shorthaired Pointer
The German Shorthaired Pointer is an athletic, versatile hunting dog with a short liver or black-and-white coat and very high energy. Read the German Shorthaired Pointer profile.
10. Bulldog
The Bulldog is a heavy, wrinkled, short-faced English breed once used in bull-baiting and now a calm, stubborn and affectionate house companion. Read the Bulldog profile.
11. Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is an Italian mastiff-type guardian with a muscular build and an alert, serious manner, suited to experienced owners. Read the Cane Corso profile.
12. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a gentle English toy spaniel with a silky coat and an affectionate nature, prone to inherited heart and neurologic disease. Read the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel profile.
13. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny, steel-blue and tan toy terrier from northern England, a former mill ratter turned fashionable and feisty lapdog. Read the Yorkshire Terrier profile.
14. Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is an agile, intelligent American herding dog with a merle or solid coat, known for stamina, loyalty and a need for work. Read the Australian Shepherd profile.
15. Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a sleek, fast German guard and working dog valued for intelligence, loyalty and a strong bond with its family. Read the Doberman Pinscher profile.
16. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
A low, sturdy herding dog from Wales with a fox-like face, big ears and a bold, outgoing manner, bred to drive cattle by nipping at their heels. Read the Pembroke Welsh Corgi profile.
17. Miniature Schnauzer
A sturdy, bearded German terrier-type dog with a wiry coat, a quick mind, and a loud voice, popular as a small family companion and watchdog. Read the Miniature Schnauzer profile.
18. Boxer
The Boxer is a muscular, short-coated German working breed known for boundless energy, a playful streak and strong attachment to its family. Read the Boxer profile.
19. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a tiny, fluffy spitz with a fox-like face and a plumed tail, a confident and noisy companion descended from much larger working dogs. Read the Pomeranian profile.
20. Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, tricolor Swiss farm dog known for a gentle, affectionate nature and a thick coat, with a short lifespan. Read the Bernese Mountain Dog profile.
21. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a small, long-coated companion from imperial China, bred purely to keep people company and known for its friendly, outgoing nature. Read the Shih Tzu profile.
22. Great Dane
The Great Dane is one of the tallest dog breeds, a gentle and dignified German giant with a short coat and a relatively short life. Read the Great Dane profile.
23. Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a compact, short-nosed American companion with a tuxedo coat, known for its friendly, lively and sociable nature. Read the Boston Terrier profile.
24. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is the smallest recognized breed, a Mexican toy dog with a big personality, a loud voice and a strong attachment to one person. Read the Chihuahua profile.
25. Havanese
The Havanese is a sturdy little Cuban companion with a long, silky, wavy coat and a bouncy, people-loving temperament that suits families and apartments. Read the Havanese profile.
How this list was made
Breeds in the order of the American Kennel Club's 2025 ranking. The ratings come from the breed profiles on this site, which rate each breed as a whole. Individual dogs differ, so use the list to decide which profiles to read, then meet the breed before you choose.