What were the most popular dog breeds of 2019?
What were the most popular dog breeds of 2019?
Every year the American Kennel Club releases the data of the most popular dog breeds of the previous year, so the latest data is always a year behind. Usually this information is given out around March or so, though this year because of the pandemic it was delayed until May, and here at Dog O’Day unfortunately it kind of slipped through the cracks until now.
But now the most popular dog breeds of 2019 will be looked at in some detail.
There wasn’t that much change from the 2018 rankings, honestly – the tried and true breeds continued to stay up near the top of the rankings.
Falling out of the top 10 this year was the Yorkshire Terrier, who drops from No. 10 to No. 12, and only one new breed cracked the top 10, while only two switched positions as the most popular dog breeds of 2019.
But overall, these popular dog breeds tend to be very versatile, equally athletic or companionable depending on what their owners’ lifestyles require.
Three of the Top 10 dog breeds come from the Sporting Group, with another three from the Non-Sporting Group, and then the Herding Group has two entries, with the Hound Group and Working Group each providing one each.
Despite being highly popular among celebrities and normal people alike, and recognizable (more or less) by casual watchers of dog shows and other canine sports, no Toy Group members were listed among the most popular dog breeds of 2019, which is interesting.
The most popular dog breeds of 2019 countdown begins…
No. 10 – Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Group: Herding Group
2018 rank – No. 13
2019 British rank – Outside Top 10
Among the favorite doggos of the internet, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has been a favorite of British royalty (particularly Queen Elizabeth) for decades, and their adorable floof has made them excellent Dogs of Instagram, and even part of a Jonas Brothers music video. (As are their smooth-haired and tailed cousins the Cardigan Welsh Corgis.)
Besides being good at modeling for photoshoots, they also can be great herding dogs, and often do well at agility competitions. No. 10 seems like a very accurate placement.
No. 9 – German Shorthaired Pointer
Group: Sporting Group
2018 rank – No. 9
2019 British rank – Outside Top 10
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a hunting dog, and given how there are many people throughout the country who enjoy the activity and lifestyle of hunting,
Given that this breed is somewhat unfamiliar to most people (if you asked them to name 10 random dog breeds, for example, it’s highly unlikely the German Shorthaired Pointer would be included), it’s a little odd that they come in at No. 9 overall.
Big and loud are the next entries in the most popular dog breeds of 2019.
No. 8 – Rottweiler
Group: Working Group
2018 rank – No. 8
2019 British rank – No. 20
The Rottweiler wouldn’t come to mind as a candidate for No. 8, but they tend to be guard dogs, though they can also make terrific family pets and companions for children, if they’re trained well. As Kuno the Servicerottie demonstrates on Dog Twitter, they can also make very good service dogs as well.
The gentleness of Rottweilers also comes up in Bill Wallace’s Upchuck and the Rotten Willy books through Willy’s friendship with his cat friend Chuck.
No. 7 – Beagle
Group: Hound Group
2018 rank – No. 6
2019 British rank – Outside Top 10
Beagles are amazing, and Wesley’s favorite breed. They’re also quite stubborn and can get bored easily, so they’re not for everyone (though honestly this is true of all breeds). They’re traditionally a hunting breed who can do a little of everything.
In pop cultural appearances, Brain steals the show in the Inspector Gadget movies, and there are also the Phyllis Reynolds Naylor Shiloh series of novels and books as well.
National symbols go next in the most popular dog breeds of 2019.
No. 6 – Standard Poodle
Group: Non-Sporting Group
2018 rank – No. 7
2019 British rank – Outside Top 10
Poodles actually come in three sizes – Standard, Miniature and Toy – and despite being the punchline for a ton of jokes given their haircuts (this happens in Upchuck and the Rotten Willy), Poodles are actually very athletic and have a history as a water dog.
The Standard Poodle is also surprisingly good at agility courses, though if they’re wearing their show coats at the time it can be a little odd.
And while no breed is truly allergy-free, their curly coat is rated as hypoallergenic, which means most people with allergies to dog fur can be around them safely without experiencing symptoms.
No. 5 – Bulldog
Group: Non-Sporting Group
2018 rank – No. 5
2019 British rank – No. 4
The Bulldog is a steady companion dog, saved from a terrible fate by mid-nineteenth century British laws against animal cruelty.
Ovie the Bulldog represents the breed well on Twitter as a hockey dog, and many other live (particularly Butler’s Trip and Blue, Drake’s Griff and Redlands’ Addie) also show how cool the breed is. Also, there is the annual Drake Beautiful Bulldog Contest beauty pageant, which is kind of great.
The most popular dog breeds of 2019 continues with familiar faces.
No. 4 – French Bulldog
Group: Non-Sporting Group
2018 rank – No. 4
2019 British rank – No. 2
The French Bulldog is a companion dog that came from late-nineteenth century English textile workers living in Paris, and they look oddly human with their enormous (relatively speaking) eyes. (They also look a little like aliens.)
Among the celebrities who have or had Frenchies are Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and NASCAR champion driver Joey Logano.
No. 3 – Golden Retriever
Group: Sporting Group
2018 rank – No. 3
2019 British rank – No. 6
As a Sporting Group dog, the Golden Retriever is an aid to bird hunters in fetching game, particularly ducks. They also are very good at agility competitions in addition to competing in other dog sports like obedience.
The Golden Retriever is an extreme fan favorite of nearly everyone (particularly 90s kids), thanks to their impressive onscreen presence with Shadow in the Homeward Bound movies, Buddy in the Air Bud franchise and Comet from Full House. (Tom Hanks’ character of Joe Fox in You’ve Got Mail also has a Golden Retriever.)
The most popular dog breeds of 2019 wraps up with the top dogs of them all.
No. 2 – German Shepherd
Group: Herding Group
2018 rank – No. 2
2019 British rank – No. 8
The German Shepherd is among the best guard dogs out there, which is part of why they’re instantly associated with police work. But they can also make great family pets, as staff dog Emma or Dog Twitter’s PeytonReads can demonstrate.
Some drawbacks can be that they are extremely vocal and mouthy, which won’t work too well if you live in a city apartment, for example. But they do well in rural areas, as they originally were herding dogs, which is why they’re (really oddly on first glance) placed into the Herding Group.
Also, arguably the most famous onscreen canine ever, silent movie star Rin Tin TIn, was a German Shepherd, so that’s pretty impressive.
No. 1 – Labrador Retriever
Group: Sporting Group
2018 rank – No. 1
2019 British rank – No. 1
How can you not love the Labrador Retriever? They’re pretty much the perfect dog – if you’re into hunting, they’re down to help, if you prefer chilling on the couch, they excel at that. They are often used as guide dogs, and they’re fantastic at everything dog sports from flyball to agility to dock diving.
They’ve inspired books by authors like John Grogan (Marley and Me) and Jon Katz, and often work in public spaces in airports doing important work like scent detection, since they’re generally friendly and non-threatening. They love to please people and are fairly smart, which makes them easy to train, and even their stuffed animal versions are extremely popular – they were by far the most popular Webkinz animal, not just dog, in the late 2000s.
Basically, they’re the best breed ever, which is why they’ve led the most popular dog breeds lists for the past thirty years, which is about 170 years in dog years.
So, there you have it – the most popular dog breeds of 2019. Which one is your favorite? Were you surprised by any of the rankings?