Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2023

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! Which breed has been named the American Kennel Club’s most popular dog breed of 2023?

For the second year in a row, the French Bulldog has secured the No.1 spot as the most popular dog breed in the United States! Before 2022, the Labrador Retriever had a firm hold on the top spot, keeping an impressive 31-year reign.

Staying in the No.1 Spot

The French Bulldog’s popularity shows no signs of slowing down. You’ve likely seen these bat-eared companions before, and they’re especially popular in cities. Over the last 11 years, the French Bulldog has steadily grown in registration rankings, ranking No. 14 in 2012. In 2021, Frenchies made it to the No. 2 spot, taking over the top spot officially in 2022.

Part of the French Bulldog’s appeal is their playful, smart, and adaptable nature. They’re easy to bring anywhere, and great companions for a variety of lifestyles. These smart little dogs originated in France, and French Bulldog history is one with many layers. Even in the past, they belonged to all kinds of people, from royalty to middle-class artisans. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1898, giving them over 100 years of AKC history along with it.

Top 10 Dog Breeds of 2023

It’s no surprise to dog lovers that the Frenchie remains in the No. 1 spot, and the rest of the top five breeds follow a similar pattern. As 2022, the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, and Poodle are ranked No. 2-5 respectively.

There’s some shuffling in the top 10 from 2022 to 2023. The Dachshund is making moves, jumping from the No. 9 spot in 2022 to the No. 6 spot in 2023. Rottweilers took their spot at No. 9 in 2023, moving down from No. 7 in 2022. Bulldogs went from No. 6 in 2022 to No. 7 in 2023. The Beagle remains at No. 8, and the German Shorthaired Pointer remains at No. 10 with no change in rank.

The top 10 breeds aren’t the only ones getting people’s attention. Other breeds working their way up the rank in 2023 were the Papillion, the Great Pyrenees, the Basenji, and the Finnish Lapphund. From 2022 to 2023, the Finnish Lapphund went from No. 167 to No. 135, a total of 32 spots. The Basenji jumped 10 spots from No. 91 to No. 81, and the The Papillion went up six ranks from No. 51 t0 No. 45. The Great Pyrenees went up five spots from 2022 to 2023, going from No. 69 to No. 64.

Over the last decade, breeds like the Cane Corso, Belgian Malinois, Giant Schnauzer, and English Cocker Spaniel have also seen jumps in popularity. The Mudi, Russian Toy, and Bracco Italiano were recognized in 2022, but since the Bracco Italiano was recognized in July of that year, they debuted in the registration lists in 2023, at No. 152. The Mudi went from its debut at No. 150 in 2022 to No. 130 in 2023, while the Russian Toy debuted at No. 144 and now ranks No. 141.

The Lancashire Heeler was the newest breed recognized by the AKC starting in January 2024. Tune in next year to see where they debut in the ranks!

Least Popular Dog Breeds of 2023

Ranked in the bottom five of the 200 breeds were the Azawakh (No. 196), the Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen (No. 197), Norwegian Lundehund (No. 198), English Foxhound (No. 199), and Sloughi (No. 200). In 2021, the Norwegian Lundehund took the bottom spot, and has been making its way slowly up the rankings, passing the English Foxhound and Sloughi in 2023.

The American Kennel Club has recognized 201 breeds since it was first founded in 1884, with additional breeds working their way towards recognition AKC Foundation Stock Service (FSS) and the Miscellaneous Class. 

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. The AKC and its affiliates have also donated over $67 million to canine health research as of 2023, and the Canine Health Foundation published its 1000th scientific publication in 2023.

Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2023 Full List

RankBreed
1French Bulldog
2Labrador Retriever
3Golden Retriever
4German Shepherd Dog
5Poodle
6Dachshund
7Bulldog
8Beagle
9Rottweiler
10German Shorthaired Pointer
11Pembroke Welsh Corgi
12Australian Shepherd
13Yorkshire Terrier
14Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
15Doberman Pinscher
16Cane Corso
17Miniature Schnauzer
18Boxer
19Great Dane
20Shih Tzu
21Bernese Mountain Dog
22Pomeranian
23Boston Terrier
24Siberian Husky
25Havanese
26Shetland Sheepdog
27English Springer Spaniel
28Brittany
29Miniature American Shepherd
30Cocker Spaniel
31Border Collie
32Chihuahua
33Belgian Malinois
34Basset Hound
35Vizsla
36Pug
37Maltese
38Mastiff
39English Cocker Spaniel
40Collie
41Rhodesian Ridgeback
42Newfoundland
43West Highland White Terrier
44Bichon Frise
45Papillion
46Shiba Inu
47Dalmatian
48Weimaraner
49Portuguese Water Dog
50Samoyed
51Whippet
52Australian Cattle Dog
53Bloodhound
54Chesapeake Bay Retriever
55Saint Bernard
56Giant Schnauzer
57Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
58Akita
59Scottish Terrier
60Bullmastiff
61German Wirehaired Pointer
62Italian Greyhound
63Cardigan Welsh Corgi
64Great Pyrenees
65Bull Terrier
66Russell Terrier
67Airedale Terrier
68Cairn Terrier
69Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
70Chinese Shar-Pei
71Alaskan Malamute
72Staffordshire Bull Terrier
73Irish Wolfhound
74Miniature Pinscher
75Boykin Spaniel
76Irish Setter
77Old English Sheepdog
78Biewer Terrier
79Chinese Crested
80Lagotto Romagnolo
81Basenji
82Anatolian Shepherd Dog
83Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
84Dogues de Bordeaux
85Lhasa Apso
86Rat Terrier
87Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
88Chow Chow
89Keeshonden
90Coton de Tulear
91Pekingese
92Brussels Griffons
93Dogo Argentino
94Border Terrier
95American Staffordshire Terrier
96Standard Schnauzer
97English Setter
98Leonberger
99Bouviers des Flandres
100Flat-Coated Retriever
101Borzoi
102Belgian Tervuren
103Japanese Chin
104Wire Fox Terrier
105Norwich Terrier
106Gordon Setter
107Miniature Bull Terrier
108Tibetan Terrier
109Beauceron
110Toy Fox Terrier
111Afghan Hound
112American Hairless Terrier
113Schipperkes
114Silky Terrier
115Norwegian Elkhound
116Welsh Terrier
117Parson Russell Terrier
118Neapolitan Mastiff
119Spinone Italiano
120Saluki
121Tibetan Spaniel
122Xoloitzcuintli
123Boerboel
124Belgian Sheepdog
125Pointer
126Manchester Terrier
127Greyhound
128Black Russian Terriers
129American Eskimo Dog
130Mudi
131Black and Tan Coonhound
132Welsh Springer Spaniel
133Smooth Fox Terrier
134Norfolk Terrier
135Finnish Lapphund
136Barbet
137Irish Terrier
138Swedish Vallhund
139Bluetick Coonhound
140Redbone Coonhound
141Russian Toy
142Wirehaired Vizsla
143Tibetan Mastiff
144Spanish Water Dog
145English Toy Spaniel
146Icelandic Sheepdog
147Field Spaniel
148Clumber Spaniel
149Bedlington Terrier
150Briard
151German Pinscher
152Bracco Italiano
153Lakeland Terrier
154Bearded Collie
155Treeing Walker Coonhound
156Australian Terrier
157Berger Picard
158Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
159Löwchen
160Kerry Blue Terrier
161Nederlandse Kooikerhondje
162Affenpinscher
163Portuguese Podengo Pequeno
164Puli
165Irish Red and White Setter
166Ibizan Hound
167Curly-Coated Retriever
168American Water Spaniel
169Sealyham Terrier
170Glen of Imaal Terrier
171Scottish Deerhound
172Pumi
173Kuvasz
174Sussex Spaniel
175Norwegian Buhund
176Pharaoh Hound
177Irish Water Spaniel
178American English Coonhound
179Chinook
180Komondor
181Plott Hound
182American Foxhound
183Entlebucher Mountain Dog
184Cirneco dell’Etna
185Skye Terrier
186Dandie Dinmont Terrier
187Pyrenean Shepherd
188Bergamasco Sheepdog
189Otterhound
190Harrier
191Canaan Dog
192Cesky Terrier
193Polish Lowland Sheepdog
194Finnish Spitz
195Belgian Laekenois
196Azawakhs
197Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
198Norwegian Lundehund
199English Foxhounds
200Sloughi

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