As the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs, the AKC uses our registration statistics to rank the most popular breeds of the past year — and the numbers are in!
The French Bulldog has secured the No. 1 spot as the most popular dog breed in the United States for the third year in a row. In 2022, the Frenchie took the Most Popular title from the Labrador Retriever, a breed who had previously sat comfortably at No. 1 for 31 years.
Staying in the No.1 Spot
French Bulldogs have surged to the top, quickly amassing popularity for their size and adaptability. It’s hard to miss their signature bat ears on city streets and rural roads alike.
Over the last 12 years, they’ve climbed the rankings. In 2012, they were ranked the No. 14 most popular breed, and by 2021, they’d made it to the No. 2 spot. They officially became the No.1 breed in 2022, and have held that title for three years now.
French Bulldogs are especially popular in cities, but their playful nature and compact size are great for a variety of lifestyles. These little dogs originated in France, and French Bulldog history is complex. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1898, and now have over 100 years of AKC history behind them.
Top 10 Dog Breeds of 2024
The top five and top 10 dog breeds are popular for a reason, and typically don’t shift too much. The Frenchie is again at No. 1, followed by the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, and Poodle at No. 5.
As for the rest of the top 10, a few placements have shifted. Beagles have moved from No. 8 to No. 7, moving Bulldogs from No. 7 to No. 9 and Rottweilers from No. 9 to No. 8. German Shorthaired Pointers remain at No. 10 from 2023 to 2024.
Big Shifts of Note in 2024
2024 saw major shifts for a lot of breeds across the rankings. While some breeds surged over 20 rankings higher, others shifted 10 or more rankings lower. Many breeds, especially in the 20s and 30s, stayed at the same spot from 2023 to 2024.
The Danish-Swedish Farmdog, which debuted in January 2025 as part of the Working Group as the 202nd AKC-recognized breed will be included in the registration rankings for 2025. The Lancashire Heeler, which became AKC-recognized in January 2024, debuted in the 2024 rankings at No. 189.
Climbing the Rankings
The biggest surges in popularity among breeds came from four very different dog breeds. The Kerry Blue Terrier had the highest jump, moving up a whopping 25 spots from No. 160 to No. 135. The Bracco Italiano, recognized by the AKC in 2022, continues to move up. From 2023 to 2024, the Bracco moved up 20 spots from No. 152 to No. 132.
The German Pinscher and the American Staffordshire Terrier both went up 18 spots year over year. The German Pinscher moved from No. 151 to No. 133, and the AmStaff moved from No. 95 to No. 77.
The Bedlington Terrier went up 15 ranks from No. 149 to No. 134, and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever went up 14 rankings from No. 83 to No. 69.
The Brussels Griffon, American Eskimo Dog, and Harrier all went up 13 placements. The Brussels Griffon moved from No. 92 to No. 84, the Eskie from No. 129 to No. 116, and the Harrier from No. 190 to No. 183.
The Mudi, recognized in 2022, continues to climb the ranks, going up 12 from No. 130 in 2023 to No. 122 in 2024. The Polish Lowland Sheepdog also went up 12 spots, from No. 193 to No. 181.
The Manchester Terrier went up 11 ranks from No. 126 to No. 115, and the Boykin Spaniel went up 10 rankings from No. 75 to No. 65.
Moving Down on the List
The Saluki, Black and Tan Coonhound, and Wirehaired Vizsla all saw their breeds move down the list significantly from 2023 to 2024. The Saluki went from No. 120 to No. 141, down 21 spots. The Black and Tan Coonhound went down 20 spots, from No. 131 to No. 151. Down 17 from 2023 to 2024, the Wirehaired Vizsla went from the No. 142 spot to No. 159.
The Chinese Shar-Pei went from No. 70 to No. 83, down 13 spots. Also down 13 spots was the Field Spaniel, from No. 147 to No. 160.
Each down 12 spots were the Bergamasco Sheepdog, the Old English Sheepdog, and the Dogue de Bordeaux. They went from No. 188 to No. 200, No. 77 to No. 89, and No. 84 to No. 96 respectfully.
Other big dogs have moved down as well. The Neapolitan Mastiff and Great Pyrenees are both down 10 spots. The Neapolitan Mastiff went from No. 118 to No. 128, and the Pyr went from No. 64 to No. 74.
Holding Their Spots
These breeds found solace in their 2023 placements and stayed there. The top five breeds stayed the same, but so did the Shih Tzu at No. 20, Pomeranian at No. 22, Boston Terrier at No. 23, and Havanese at No. 25. In the 30s, Belgian Malinois stayed at No. 33, Basset Hounds stayed at No. 34, Vizsla stayed at No. 35, and the Maltese stayed at No. 37. The German Wirehaired Pointer stayed at No. 61, and the Chow Chow stayed at No. 88. The Finnish Spitz kept their spot at No. 194.
Least Popular Dog Breeds of 2024
Often rare breeds, the dogs in the bottom 20 have the lowest numbers in terms of registration in the United States. There are 201 breeds counted since the addition of the Lancashire Heeler in 2024, and there will be 202 for 2025 when the registration numbers for the Danish-Swedish Farmdog are added.
The Sloughi, which was ranked last at No. 200 in 2023, has made the jump to No. 197 in 2024. They’re followed by the Norwegian Lundehund at No. 198, the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen at No. 199, the Bergamasco Sheepdog at No. 200, and the English Foxhound at No. 201. The English Foxhound was ranked 199 in 2023, and dropped two spots in 2024.
The American Kennel Club has recognized 202 breeds since it was first founded in 1884, with additional breeds working their way towards recognition through the AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) and the Miscellaneous Class. If you’re looking for a puppy of your own, AKC Marketplace can connect you with a responsible breeder.
Knowing your dog will be counted as part of the compilation of the annual breed popularity list is only a small benefit of dog registration. The AKC is the only purebred dog registry in the United States that maintains systematic inspections and investigations. The AKC conducts thousands of inspections each year to ensure compliance with standards that support the welfare, safety, and health of dogs across the nation.
Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2024 Full List
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