Top 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds in the US in 2022

Countless individuals and families across the United States have welcomed dogs they love dearly into their homes. But what are some of the most common or popular breeds? Many of these breeds are sure to make a wonderful fit for any family. The Labrador Retriever continues to be a fan favorite holding the spot of most popular dog breed in the US for over thirty years.

The French Bulldog is continuing to rise in popularity and maintains its spot at number two. If you are looking to add a new playful addition to your family, a loyal companion, or a top-of-the-line working dog, this list will have something for you.

Labrador Retrievers

Labrador Retrievers have been the most popular breed in the United States since 1991, so it is little surprise that it is once again the number one most popular breed in 2022. They are so loved because of their good temperaments and versatility. They are incredibly friendly dogs who are athletic, eager to learn, and eager to please. They are quite high-energy and would be very happy playing a game of fetch for hours on end if they could! But they are also content to cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie with their family.

These dogs stand at between 21.5 and 23.5 inches and weigh between 55 and 70 pounds for females. For males, Labrador retrievers typically stand somewhere between 22.5 and 24.5 inches and weigh between 65 and 80 pounds.

The Labrador Retriever was originally a water dog from Newfoundland but gained popularity in England in the early 1800s. No one knows for certain why they are called Labrador when they are originally from Newfoundland. But nonetheless, from there, it became increasingly popular as British breeders worked to further refine and preserve the breed standard. In more recent years, the lab has grown popular as a hunting and retrieving dog, companion dog, search and rescue dog, service dog, and guide dog.

All around, they just really do make a great family dog, in addition to all of the different helpful roles they can play and jobs they can have. As can be seen, by all of their different jobs and roles, they are very smart dogs who are eager to please. They also have a relatively long lifespan of between 11 and 13 years and face relatively few major health concerns when compared to some other purebred dog breeds.

French Bulldogs

The second breed on our list of the most popular dog breeds is the French Bulldog. Though much smaller in size and looks, the French Bulldog is quite similar in temperament to the Labrador Retriever. They are playful, smart, and fun-loving. The French Bulldog looks much like what you'd imagine a miniature Bulldog would look like.

However, one unique trait about the French Bulldog is their tall, erect, bat-like ears. They typically stand at about 11-13 inches tall and weigh between 16 and 28 pounds on average. They are particularly loving and friendly dogs that are well adapted to just about any sort of life, from country living to city living and anything in between.

The French Bulldogs' history goes back to the mid-1800s in England. In Nottingham, a particularly small breed of Bulldog could be found. These mini Bulldogs were a favorite of the lace makers living there. Unfortunately, because of the Industrial Revolution, the livelihood of these lace makers was threatened, and they had little choice but to go somewhere else where their work would be valued. The lace makers and their little Bulldogs settled in rural France, where the breed began to grow in popularity, eventually reaching Paris. In Paris, the little dogs quickly became companions of the rich and the famous.

Eventually, wealthy Americans visiting the city of Paris fell in love with these dogs that are now called the French Bulldog, despite their English ancestry, and brought them back to the United States, where they were quite popular for a time. As popularity ebbs and flows, the French Bulldog has been, in more recent years, steadily rising thanks to being a favorite among celebrities like Nathan Lane, Lady Gaga, Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson, Reese Witherspoon, and Madonna.

Golden Retrievers

Golden Retrievers are intelligent, easy to train, and incredibly friendly dogs. They are outgoing, fun-loving, and will happily adapt to just about any situation or environment. Golden Retrievers are a medium to a large-sized breed of dog. Female Golden Retrievers typically are between 21.5 and 22.5 inches in height and weigh between 55 and 65 pounds. Male Golden Retrievers stand at about 23-24 inches in height and weigh between 65 and 75 pounds.

They have a wavy, thick, and shiny coat that is typically golden in color, which is where they get their name, but they can also have different shades of golden, including dark and light. They have a strong, athletic build and a friendly, expressive face. They are known for being highly intelligent, which makes them easy to train and a great choice for families. They are also very loyal and affectionate, making them great companion dogs.

Golden Retrievers were originally bred in Scotland in the 19th century for hunting and retrieving game by Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Lord of Tweedmouth. His goal was to create the ideal gun dog for hunting in the Scottish Highlands. Golden Retrievers have a natural instinct to retrieve and carry objects in their mouths, which makes them well-suited for activities like hunting, agility, and obedience training. They are also commonly used as therapy dogs, service dogs, and search and rescue dogs due to their intelligence and trainability.

Golden Retrievers have a lifespan of around 10-12 years, and they need regular exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being. They are also known to shed quite a bit, so they may require regular grooming to keep their coat healthy and looking good. They are also prone to certain health issues such as hip dysplasia, obesity, and certain types of cancer, so it's important to keep an eye on their health and take them to the vet for regular check-ups.

German Shepherds

German Shepherds are often viewed as an all-purpose working breed of dog. They are incredibly intelligent and can learn to perform any task their owner asks of them. They are devoted and loyal to their owners and have been known to knowingly put themselves in harm's way in order to protect their humans.

Overall, they make good family pets with proper, dedicated training. They are generally friendly once they get to know a person but can be a bit aloof around strangers at first. The average male German Shepherd stands between 24 and 26 inches tall and weighs between 65 and 90 pounds. A typical female German Shepherd stands between 22 and 24 inches tall and weighs between 50 and 70 pounds.

The term German Shepherd was first used to describe herding dogs in Germany, which varied a bit from district to district. Later on in the 1800s, a German officer by the name of Captain Max von Stephanitz started efforts with other breeders to create an ideal shepherd dog which resulted in the development of the modern-day German Shepherd Dog (GSD).

In the United States, the breed began to grow in popularity starting in the early 1900s thanks to German Shepherd movie stars like Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart. Though the breed did suffer from some anti-German sentiment during the periods of the World Wars and did decline somewhat due to fewer herding dogs being needed as technology advanced, it has moved on to become the favorite breed for police units and military forces all over the world. In addition, these dogs perform exceedingly well in other areas like agility, obedience, and various dog sports. They also make for excellent service dogs and watchdogs.

Poodles

Poodles are active and smart dogs with sweet and friendly dispositions. Though they have a strong history with France and are even the national dog of France, the poodle was originally a duck-hunting dog in Germany known for its strong swimming ability.

The breed's history is believed to go back as far as 400 years. In more recent years, the breed has been bred down in size to also include the categories of miniature and toy. The toy poodle stands no taller than 10 inches and typically weighs between 4 and 6 pounds. Miniature poodles stand between 10 and 15 inches and weigh between 10 and 15 pounds. Both toy and miniature poodles have a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years. The standard poodle will typically stand around 18 to 24 inches and weigh 40 to 50 pounds if female and 60 to 70 pounds if male. They, too, have a life expectancy of 10 to 18 years.

Poodles have a distinctive curly coat that can come in a variety of colors, including black, white, brown, apricot, silver, gray, cream, and many more. Their distinctive show coat is known as the Continental clip, but most owners prefer a Sporting clip. The Continental clip did originally serve a purpose. German duck hunters wanted their dogs not to be weighed down by their coats when swimming in the cold water to retrieve ducks. But they also wanted to keep their thick coats to protect them. Because of this, the hunters would shave everything on the dog except for the more vital areas of the dog's anatomy, like the chest, hips, and leg joints. The tufts of rounded fur on their legs are known as pompons.

Bulldogs

Bulldogs are known to be friendly and courageous dogs. They are short, heavily muscled, and thick-set. Many people all over, including colleges like Yale University, the University of Minnesota in Duluth, and the University of Georgia and other various schools, use the Bulldog as their fierce and courageous mascot. Various companies use the Bulldog as a mascot as well, including the Mack Truck company. In fact, the Bulldog is even the mascot of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Bulldogs are believed to have been originally bred under the rule of King John of England in the 13th century. These dogs were used to fight a bull while spectators watched and would bet on the winner. Eventually, in 1835, these so-called sports were outlawed. But their story didn't stop there. They continued to be bred and bred down to a smaller, quicker size so gamblers could continue using the dogs to fight each other in small cellars instead of fighting bulls.

Eventually, those who loved the breed worked to create a mellow and kind animal that would do great with families.

The Bulldog of today stands between 14 and 15 inches and weighs between 40 and 50 pounds. Their life expectancy is typically between 8 and 10 years. Bulldogs have a short, smooth coat that comes in a wide variety of colors, including fawn, brindle, red, white, and fallow, as well as any combination of these colors.

Many people love this breed of dog because though they do like to be active, they are also quite happy to hang out on the couch all day long, too. Unfortunately, because of the Bulldog's structure, they can be more prone to certain health problems. For example, their short noses and pinched nostrils can make breathing a challenge for them, especially during strenuous exercise and in high heat and humidity. Regular visits to the veterinarian, along with good preventative care, will be necessary to keep these dogs in good condition.

Beagles

The beagle is a cute, compact small to a medium-sized hound dog. There are two varieties of beagle, with the only difference between the two being size. The smaller beagle stands at less than 13 inches tall and weighs less than 20 pounds. The larger beagle stands between 13 and 15 inches tall and weighs between 20 and 30 pounds. They have a short, sleek coat that can be made up of various colors, including brown, white, tan, black, red, lemon, and more. Beagles are loving, friendly, and happy dogs that were originally bred for hunting small game like rabbits and hares.

They make excellent hunters thanks to their keen sense of smell, but they are also more prone to becoming distracted and wandering off too far when following a scent. They also have a certain fondness for howling and barking, so training is very important for this breed. Typically, they are a healthy breed and can live anywhere from 10 to 15 years. However, like many purebred dogs, they may be more prone to developing conditions like obesity, hip dysplasia, and ear infections. Because of this, they require regular check-ups with a veterinarian along with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

No one is entirely certain of the breed's ancestry or origins, but it is most likely that the breed developed in the western parts of Europe. As far back as 55 BC, there are reports of small hound dogs that would run in packs to chase and hunt rabbits and hares. These dogs are likely the ancestors of the modern-day beagle. After the Civil War, Americans began to take more notice of the breed, and their popularity began to soar.

Rottweilers

Rottweilers are a strong, confident, and protective breed of dog that was originally bred for herding and guarding livestock. They are loyal and obedient to their owners. Rottweilers have a short, thick, but sleek coat that is usually either black and mahogany, black, and rust, or black and tan. Female Rottweilers usually are about 22 to 25 inches in height and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Male Rottweilers are usually between 24 and 27 inches in height and weigh between 95 and 135 pounds.

The average life expectancy of a Rottweiler is 9 to 10 years. Rottweilers are known to be more susceptible to conditions like hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand's disease. Regular visits to a veterinarian and a nutritious diet along with regular exercise will be important to ensure their health.

Rottweilers' history is believed to go as far back as the ancient Roman Empire. The Roman soldiers would use the Rottweilers' ancestors to herd and guard their herds of animals. After the empire fell, the dogs made a name for themselves in the town of Rottweil, where they were called the Rottweiler Metzgerhund, or the Butcher's Dog of Rottweil. Here they worked to herd cattle and as guard dogs. Later on, they would go on to become police dogs, guide dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs. Most notably, Rottweilers worked at Oklahoma City and at the World Trade Center as search and rescue dogs.

German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer is another versatile hunting, pointing, and retrieving dog. They are also sometimes referred to as GSP for short. They can be numerous colors, including black, black and white, liver, liver roan, liver and white, and black roan.

The average female GSP stands at 21 to 23 inches tall and weighs between 45 and 60 pounds. The typical male GSP stands at 23 to 25 inches tall and weighs between 55 and 70 pounds. Overall, they are a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.

They do have a few health concerns that they may be more prone to developing, including lymphedema, entropion, hypothyroidism, and cardiomyopathy. Regular check-ups with a veterinarian, as well as a nutritious diet and regular exercise, will be key in ensuring their good health.

It is believed that the German Shorthaired Pointer was developed in Germany in the 1700s. Prince Albrecht zu Solms-Braunfels is largely credited with being a key component of their development. He and others like him were eager to create an all-purpose hunting dog and family dog, and they did just that.

They are one of the best hunters among all the hunting breeds. They also excel in areas like obedience, agility, and other sports. In particular, they often do exceedingly well in sports like dock diving. Because of their history with hunting and having to swim to retrieve, they are usually quite fond of the water.

Dachshund

Dachshunds are intelligent, friendly, and active popular companion dogs that were originally bred for hunting. Dachshunds can be one of two sizes. Standard Dachshunds are about 8 to 9 inches tall and weigh about 16 to 32 pounds. Miniature Dachshunds are about 5 to 6 inches tall and weigh less than 11 pounds.

Overall, they are a healthy breed with an expected lifespan of 12 to 16 years. However, like many dog breeds, there are a few health concerns that they may be more prone to, such as epilepsy, obesity, bloat, Cushing's disease, and intervertebral disc disease.

They can come in a wide variety of colors, including black, tan, chocolate, cream, fawn, red, wheaten, cream, and any variation of such colors. Their standard markings include brindle, piebald, sable, and dapple. Dachshunds are easily recognizable dogs with their long bodies and short little legs. They have short, smooth coats as well as longer coats and even wirehaired coats.

The breed was first developed in Germany about 600 years ago. The name Dachshund actually translates to "badger dog." These little dogs would enthusiastically dig into badgers' dens and flush out the badgers for the hunters. They have an impressively loud bark, too, for being such a little dog. This proved to be helpful to hunters who needed to find their Dachshunds.

Final Takeaways

The top ten dog breeds in the US in 2022 are certainly a diverse group that includes many long-time favorites. It is important to research and carefully consider which breed suits your lifestyle and personality best before making the decision to bring a dog into your home. And remember, these are just the top ten most popular! There are well over a hundred other dog breeds out there that make for amazing pets. The possibilities are truly endless.