Ever wondered what could be the best house dog to get?
Pets are a special thing to have in the home if you can manage to take care of one. In most homes, pets are treated as a family member than a pet.
This is because they make good companions and, in most cases, they step in to protect us when we are in danger.
In the USA the most loved pets are cats and dogs. But studies have shown that dogs are preferred in many homes to cats- 36% to 30%, respectively.
Since dogs have become more prevalent in homes than other pets, the next question will be, “which dog breeds are so popular and why?
To answer your question, let’s take a look at the top most popular dog breeds in the USA.
1. Collie
Border Collies is the popular dog breed that became even more popular when it appeared in the movies “Lassie.” The collie is a very active dog with a playful character that just makes everyone around it happy.
The collie can sometimes come in a smooth, silky coat, and others come in a rough coat.
Despite their different coat varieties, their happy temperament remains the same.
Collies are also highly ranked as one of the most intelligent dogs that are easy to train and will get along with the whole family. No wonder that Collies are a popular crossbreed to produce mixed Collie dog breed.
2. Basset Hound
Basset hound dog breed is not everyone’s cup of tea; however, with their excellent sense of smell, this droopy-eared breed is famous for its tracking skills, which makes it useful to hunters as well as the police as service dogs. They weigh about 40 to 65 pounds on average.
They are independent as they can sometimes wonder out on their own when following a scent.
This independent personality makes them a lot harder to train. Regardless of this, they are sweet loving dogs and like to play games.
3. Havanese
This breed is so popular in the USA that it almost seems like they originated there.
However, the Havanese came from Cuba and has since been titled “The National Dog of Cuba.”
The Havanese has a coat that sheds less, making them an excellent choice for allergic people.
They like playing games outdoors, and when indoors, they are affectionate and will cuddle with you on the couch.
4. Pomeranian
ThePomeranian dog breed loves being around humans for companion and will regularly beg for attention if you do not show affection to them. No wonder, they get lonely when they are left alone and will howl and bark continuously.
Besides their small size, the Pom has the energy and attitude of a big dog. They like playing with their owners and are loyal. This dog will always be beside you.
| DOG BREED QUICK FACTS | THE DOG BREED DESCRIPTION |
| Dog Breed Name: | Pomeranian Dog Breed |
| Dog Breed Origin: | China, Tibet |
| Dog Breed Lifespan: | Pomeranian Life expectancy is 12 to 16 years. |
| Breed Height: | Pomeranian dog breed adult grows up to 20 cm in height. |
| Dog Breed Weight: | Pomeranian healthy adult weighs between 1.9 to 3.5 kilograms in weight. |
| Dog Breed Temperament: | Pomeranian dogs have amiable social traits while also being active, extroverted and intelligent. |
| Dog Breed Hypoallergenic: | No! Pomeranian dogs are not hypoallergenic |
| Dog Breed Colors: | Pomeranian come in varying coat colors and the popular ones are Black, Tan, Grey-shaded, Brown. |
5. Shih Tzu
These breeds, originally from Tibet, have a cute face and are double-coated breeds.
Their hair gets so long that it touches the ground. Therefore, they need to be brushed on a regular basis for their hairs to be untangled which may seem as too much work to other dog owners but it is a price to pay for such an adorable dog.
The name Shih Tzu means “Lion Dog”. These dogs are affectionate and naturally have a happy temperament.
6. Bernese Mountain Dog
These are giant dogs that have a thick coat. Despite their big size, they have a calm demeanor and generally bark less.
Their coat sheds quite often hence they require regular grooming as well as clipping.
Besides the fact that these dogs are playful and friendly to the whole family, they tend to attach themselves to one person who becomes their best friend in the long run.
| DOG BREED QUICK FACTS | THE DOG BREED DESCRIPTION |
| Dog Breed Name: | Bernese Mountain Dog |
| Dog Breed Origin: | Switzerland |
| Dog Breed Lifespan: | Bernese Mountain Dog Life expectancy is 6 to 8 years. |
| Breed Height: | Bernese Mountain Dog adult grows up to 64–70 cm for male Bernese mountain dog while the Female Bernese mountain dog grows as high as 58–66 cm in height. |
| Dog Breed Weight: | Bernese mountain dog healthy adult male weighs between 38 to 50 kilograms while a female Bernese mountain dog weigh between 36 to 48 kg in weight. |
| Dog Breed Temperament: | Bernese mountain dogs are loyal, faithful companions with bags of amiable social traits while also being active, extroverted and intelligent. |
| Dog Breed Hypoallergenic: | No! Bernese mountain dogs are not hypoallergenic |
| Dog Breed Colors: | Bernese mountain dog breeds are synonymous for their tri-color coats but the most popular ones are Black, Tan, Grey-shaded, Brown. |
7. Mastiff
This breed dates back to the 13th century and have since become common in many homes.
They have an average weight of 200 pounds and can reach a height of about 30 inches.
This makes them one of the largest and most popular dogs in the USA.
Other than that, they are loyal dogs that love to protect their owners.
Due to their size, these dogs may not be suitable for people that live in very small houses.
8. Pug
Famous for its ability to mimic human facial expressions, the pug is another adorable dog that is loved by many people.
Most people also joke that the pug looks like a fist, in this case, for a joke, a group of pugs will be called a fight club.
Other than that these small dogs are very outgoing and friendly as well. They are also easy to train so if you don’t have prior experience to owning a dog, you will find the pug to be quite fun.
9. Weimaraner
These quiet dogs have been popular from many years back where they were used in hunting.
They hunted very big prey like the deer. As a result they have a good tracking nose, a lot of speed and a big jaw which they used to get a grip of their prey.
Despite their abilities, they are quiet dogs that bark less often and are loved for their friendliness.
They also love playing games. However, they need regular exercise to keep them physically and mentally fit.
10. Cane Corso
Their name is Latin, which means “Protector,” which explains why they were used as personal guard dogs back in ancient Rome.
A lot of these dogs are still used as guard dogs today and are still as popular.
The cane Corso is an alert and smart dog. Due to this, they are easy to train. However, they need to be socialized while they are very young so that they should get along with everyone in the long run.
11. Newfoundland
Sometimes called “newfies”, these dogs were used in the past by fishermen as working dogs as they would swim to place nets in the water.
As such, they became great at swimming. Today these dogs are in many homes as pets.
Their Friendly character has made them one of the most popular dogs in the USA as well as surrounding regions.
They are also known to have a protective demeanor and will protect you no matter what.
On the up side, when you have this dog as your companion, there are a lot of activities you can do together; hunt, play games like fetch or even swim.
12. Rhodesian Ridgeback
These dogs are well known for their ability to track as they have a great sense of smell. They were produced after crossbreeding the Great Dane and indigenous African dogs.
Along with their sense of smell, they are fast runners which makes these dogs great hunters in every way.
On top of that, they are determined and smart dogs that will do anything you command them to do.
However, their independence can make them hard to train therefore they are not recommended for first time dog owners.
13. Belgian Malinois
This is one particular special breed that is used in the military, search and rescue as well as security teams.
This is because they very intelligent and one of the toughest dogs out there. They also have a good sense of smell and tracking abilities.
However, you must be experienced or have an experienced trainer to train such a dog as they can be quite challenging dogs to handle.
While they might look intimidating, if they are trained to suit your home, they are very loyal dogs that will do anything to please you.
14. Chesapeake Bay Retriver
These dogs are natural born swimmers that are sometimes called “Mid-Atlantic retrievers”. Like most retriever breeds, the Chesapeake is a good hunter that specializes in duck hunting.
Throughout their decades of swimming, they have developed a waterproof coat.
Overall, these are the dogs that will play with you all day long. They are also intelligent and attentive which makes training easy and fast.
15. BloodHound
Another dog that has become increasingly popular for their skills is the Bloodhound.
With an incredible sense of smell that can track a scent of prey from a far distance, these dogs were originally bred to hunt animals like deer.
In the past these dogs were used to track down crimimals or missing persons and to this day, they are used by law enforcement and some of them are used in the military to track down and pinpoint buried landmines.
With that said, these dogs are not recommended for you if you are looking for a simple dog that will be a family pet.
16. Soft coated wheaten Terrier
Dating back to the 17th Century in Ireland where they were originally bred, these dogs worked in the farm and did jobs like chasing and killing rodents as well as guarding and herding cattle.
They are generally fast-running and smart-thinking dogs.
In addition to that, they are loving and affectionate to their owners and they will be devoted to you throughout their lifetime.
17. Bichon Frise
These adorable dogs have a fluffy white coat that does not shed often and as a result, they are categorised as hypoallergenic breeds.
This means that these dogs will make an excellent companion for you if are an allergic person.
Shedding less also means that you will not wear out the usage on the vacuum cleaner because you won’t use it often.
However, they need regular grooming which may come as a hard job to others.
Regardless of this, the Bichon Frise (pronounced “bee-shon-free-zay) is a smart and easy to train.
Their love of impressing their owners makes them perfect for performances and dog competitions.
18. Vizsla
Known for their athleticism, these dogs seem not to tire. This makes them an excellent choice if you are a person that loves going out on runs.
They are also very cheerful hence being around them will bring happiness to you.
The vizsla can sometimes be sensitive around strangers-in which case they will bark continuously but otherwise they are queit, calm and gentle dogs around their owners and will be your favorite indoor and outdoor companion.
19. German Shepherd
These are the dogs that have been popular ever since they were bred in Germany some years ago and they are known to be the first breed that was used in the military and by police as service dogs.
They are strong dogs that master-oriented. This means that they always do anything they can to please their owners.
20. Golden retriever
This is known for its adorable looks and active personality. This is the breed that you likely to find in many homes in the US.
This is because they are intelligent which makes them easy to train and are compatible to inexperienced people.
They are also active dogs that like to participate in sporting activities.
They generally do anything that to please their owners. The name retriever was given to them for their hunting and tracking skills.
With that being said, these dogs can make great family pets as they will get along with kids and will play with other pets in your home.
21. Beagle
This breed is known for its active and happy temperament. Their name came from the French and it means “loudmouth”. This is because the beagle has a very loud bark.
These dogs are also very intelligent which genuinely makes them easy to train.
As we said earlier, the beagle is very active which means that they will require both physical and mental exercises to keep them from being bored because when they get bored, their barking can be annoying and out of control.
Overall, the beagle is loyal and very friendly, two characteristics that make it an awesome pet to have.
22. Poodle.
This canine is well recognized in the USA because of its athleticism and proud attitude.
They come in 3 sizes-miniature, toy and standard. Despite these sizes, the poodle has the personality of a large dog. Along with this, they have a cute appearance having pompons around their joints.
These protect the dog’s vital organs from cold temperatures.
If you want a versatile breed that can swim, hunt, play games or simply sit on the couch and cuddle with you then get yourself a poodle today.\
23. Labrador Retriever
A natural born tracker, this dog has been the most popular breed since the early 1990s.
Nowadays, they are used as service dogs in the military, the police as well as search and rescue teams.
The Labrador is great with kids and gets along well with other pets when they are trained well. On top of that they are loyal, affectionate and eager to please.
24. Bulldog
These muscular dogs, classified as one of the most courageous dogs, were used in the past in a fighting sport known as bullbaiting because they are fierce, strong and among other things, they tolerate pain.
They have a loud and strong bark which comes in handy when they want to scare away intruders or predators.
This characteristic, along with their alertness, makes them great watchdogs. If this intimidating dog is in your compound, you are secured and well protected.
Other than their vicious side, bulldogs are very friendly and relaxed dogs that normally do not bark often.
25. French Bulldog
This is a cousin to the Bulldog mentioned above and has similar traits to it.
These dogs were bred in England many years ago to be a more owner-attached and friendly dogs.
These dogs, however are known to have health issues due to crossbreeding. In addition to that, they tend to have reproductive complications and may need human assistance. This may seem like a lot of work to the dog owners.
Despite their complications, the French bulldog is calm and friendly to almost everyone.
On top of that they make excellent family companions because they are great with kids and, if they are socialized enough as infants, they will get along with any other pet that you have.
Last words:
As we said before, popularity comes with a lot of reasons. Some dogs breeds will obviously be popular than others.
With that being said, having a breed that is not popular means that it is unique. Unique breeds are harder to take care of because most people do not know them hence their traits or health complications are not known.
Therefore it is good to have a popular breed that people know about. On top of that, a lot of popular breeds have cute looks so along with being your best friend, they will look great with you in pictures.
