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The Labrador Retriever may have just been named the most popular dog breed in the United States for the 27th year in a row, but overseas, this high-spirited companion doesn’t carry the same kind of clout. According to new research, Europe’s most popular dog breeds are the Cane Corso and the Rottweiler.

However, these rankings, which were conducted by Protectivity Insurance, are determined simply by measuring the volume of Google searches for each breed by country. The AKC’s list of most popular breeds in the U.S. is compiled using dog registration numbers from the past year. Still, the research is fascinating.

This data shows that Europeans favor the Cane Corso, which currently ranks 37th on the U.S. list. The breed’s popularity in Europe may be to thank for the 13-spot climb in AKC’s rankings over the past five years. This confident guard dog is the most searched for breed in 12 European countries, including France and Romania. However, despite its ancient Roman origins, the Corso does not top the list in Italy.

That honor goes to the Rottweiler, a dog that is thought to have ties to ancient Rome. Europe’s second-most-searched-for breed is a favorite in Switzerland and Finland, and currently ranks eighth on the list of most popular breeds in the U.S. This robust working dog has maintained its spot in the top 10 for the last few years and clearly has a dedicated fan base overseas, as well.

In Europe, the Pug takes third place, dominating in countries such as Ireland, Portugal, and Turkey. It’s also the most searched dog breed in Russia. This charming and mischievous member of the Toy Group ranks a little further down in the U.S., currently sitting in the 31st spot.

Rounding out the top nine in Europe is the French Bulldog (popular in Great Britain), the Shiba Inu (a hit in Belgium and the Czech Republic), the Border Collie (Spain and Iceland’s most searched breed), the Australian Shepherd (a favorite in Germany and Austria), the Pomeranian (top dog in Norway and Sweden), and the Golden Retriever (beloved in Denmark and Hungary).

But ultimately, it doesn’t matter where a breed ranks. The main takeaway is that dogs bring joy to people all over the world, and we’ll never stop giving them the love and attention they deserve!

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