The Labrador retriever has been identified as the most popular dog breed in the United States in 2025, according to an analysis of pet insurance records covering January 2022 through July 2025. The national ranking places the Chihuahua at No. 2 and the Golden retriever at No. 3, with notable movement elsewhere on the list: the French bulldog slid to sixth place while the dachshund entered the top 10 at No. 10. What are the most popular dog breeds in DC, Maryland, Virginia?

The findings come from Fletch, a third-party partner to the pet insurance industry, which supplied the underlying data used to assemble national and state-by-state lists reported by Fox5Dc. The provider described the dataset as spanning multiple years and a wide cross section of owners, framing the 2025 report as a multi-year view of ownership patterns rather than a single-year snapshot. What factors contribute to the popularity of specific dog breeds in different re

Regional patterns helped secure the Labrador’s top national position: the breed led in 17 states, the largest number for any single breed in the analysis. At the same time, analysts noted broad geographic overlap in preferences — only six states reported a favorite breed that does not appear in the national top 10 — underscoring how a relatively small set of breeds dominates ownership across much of the country.

Local top-three lists in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area illustrate some regional variety. In Washington, D.C., the top breeds were reported as Labrador retriever, Goldendoodle and American pit bull terrier. Maryland’s top three were Labrador retriever, Shih tzu and American pit bull terrier, while Virginia’s list placed Labrador retriever, German shepherd and Golden retriever in the top three. How can prospective dog owners choose the right breed for their lifestyle?

Observers pointed to several forces that shape which breeds are most common in particular places. Factors contributing to the popularity of specific dog breeds in different regions include geography, climate, urban versus rural living, lifestyle needs, cultural preferences and media influence. For example, French bulldogs tend to dominate in dense urban areas and in states such as Florida, California and Hawaii, where smaller, apartment-friendly breeds have become especially common.

The report’s timeline — January 2022 through July 2025 — captures shifts that took place over several years. National movement in the rankings illustrates how ownership patterns evolve: the French bulldog’s slide to sixth and the dachshund’s entry at No. 10 reflect changing choices by owners during the reporting window, rather than sudden seasonal trends. What are the statistics on dog ownership trends across the United States over th

Rankings based on pet insurance records offer one perspective on popularity that differs from other measures such as kennel club registrations or online search trends. Insurance-derived lists tend to reflect dogs for which owners seek coverage and therefore may emphasize breeds with higher rates of insured pets; registration counts can be influenced by breeder and show communities, while search trends gauge interest rather than confirmed ownership.

The broader context of dog ownership in the United States has also been shifting upward. Over the past decade and beyond, the pet dog population rose from 52.9 million in 1996 to an estimated 87.3 million in 2025. More recent counts show an increase from about 65.1 million dogs in a 2023–2024 survey to roughly 68 million in 2025, reflecting steady growth in the number of pet dogs nationwide.

Prospective dog owners weighing these lists can use them as one input among many. Choosing the right breed often begins by evaluating lifestyle factors such as living space, activity level, family dynamics, work schedule, experience and the time available for exercise and grooming, then matching those to breeds with compatible energy levels, temperaments and care needs.

For readers seeking the full state-by-state breakdown or additional details on methodology, the original reporting and the complete list are available from Fox5Dc, which published the Fletch-supplied rankings.

Source

Original reporting: Fox5Dc.