---
title: "The Labrador still rules 28 states, but a few places have very different favourite dogs"
url: https://badiyaa.com/most-popular-dog-breed-every-state-labrador-2026/
published: 2026-10-12T12:12:00+01:00
modified: 2026-10-12T12:25:37+01:00
section: Pets & Animals
publisher: Badiyaa
---

# The Labrador still rules 28 states, but a few places have very different favourite dogs

A state-by-state ranking of popular dog breeds crowns the Labrador in most of America, with surprises in Kentucky, North Dakota and Wyoming.

Ask Americans which dog they love most and the answer, in most of the country, is still the same: the Labrador retriever. A state-by-state ranking from the pet-sitting platform TrustedHousesitters puts the Lab first in 28 states. It is the places that broke ranks that make the map interesting.

## The outliers

- **Kentucky:** the Miniature Schnauzer, a bearded, bossy little terrier more often associated with city flats than horse country.

- **North Dakota:** the Cockapoo, a cocker spaniel and poodle cross, which is not a recognised pedigree breed at all.

- **Alaska:** the Australian Cattle Dog, a tireless herder bred for Australian ranches.

- **Rhode Island:** the French Bulldog, the compact, apartment-friendly favourite.

- **Oklahoma:** the German Shepherd.

- **Arizona and Utah:** the Chihuahua, in both neighbouring states.

- **Wyoming:** a four-way tie between the Australian Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Labrador and, improbably, the tiny Papillon.

## Why the Lab keeps winning

Labradors are famously easy to live with: friendly with strangers, patient with children, keen to please and happy to swim, hike or sleep depending on the day. That flexibility suits suburban families, rural households and active owners alike, which is why the breed has been an American favourite for decades.

It is worth noting how differently rankings can come out depending on who is counting. In American Kennel Club registrations, the French Bulldog overtook the Labrador as the most popular breed in 2022 and stayed at number one in the years that followed. Registrations only count purebred dogs whose owners sign them up, though, while a company ranking reflects the dogs it happens to see, crossbreeds included. Neither is a census, and mixed-breed dogs, which make up a huge share of American pets, rarely show up in breed tables at all.

## What the map says about us

Geography and lifestyle shape the choices. Big, active breeds do well where there is space and outdoor life; small dogs dominate where homes are smaller or the heat is fierce. Herding breeds show up in ranching country. And sometimes a state simply falls for something unexpected, as Kentucky has with the Schnauzer.

Whatever tops your state, the most popular dog in any home is the one asleep on the sofa. The next AKC breed rankings, due in the spring, will show whether the Frenchie keeps its crown nationally.

## Further reading

- [Labrador Retriever — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labrador_Retriever)

- [French Bulldog — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Bulldog)

- [Miniature Schnauzer — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_Schnauzer)

- [Cockapoo — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockapoo)

*Image: Dktue, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons*

*This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed by our Editorial Desk. [How we work](/editorial-policy/).*