Most Popular Dog Breeds By Year [Updated August 2023] – The Ultimate List

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You would think the ultimate list of most popular dog breeds by year for the United States would be on the AKC website.

If you thought that then you were wrong. We have the ultimate list right here on PuppyInTraining.com

Why is our list the “Ultimate List”? Because The AKC’s list only goes back to 2013.

Dog Breeds - Lab and Shepherd down in grass

Why did I put together the ultimate list of most popular dog breeds by year?

Simple really, I wanted to look back to the past and see how popular Australian Shepherds were back in 2006 when I got my first dog, Linus (he was an Aussie mix).

I noticed that Aussies were ranked 12th in 2022! Back in 2006 Australian Shepherd were the 34th most popular dog breed.

Aussies are on the rise but not like our current #1 – French Bulldogs.

Check out our list to see how the Frenchie rose from #76 in 1997 to #1 today.

Ultimate List Of Most Popular Dog Breeds By Year

You might be wondering, “How come there’s no numbers for 2023?” The AKC will not have the numbers for 2023 until 2024.

Therefore the most recent list of most popular dog breeds from the AKC is currently 2022.

*This table is probably bigger than the viewable area on your screen. You may need to scrub left and right to see the full table.

Breed20222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
French Bulldog1224446691114182124263436384954586471737676
Labrador Retriever21111111111111111111111111
Golden Retriever33343333333454444222222224
German Shepherd Dog44322222222222333434333333
Poodle55667778788899988888876675
Bulldog6655554445566781012131416181921212326
Rottweiler788888891099101113141517161615131111842
Beagle87776655544345555543455566
Dachshund910101112131313111010988776665544457
German Shorthaired Pointer109999101111121315151616161819202021222224242424
Pembroke Welsh Corgi1111111013151820222424252726242222232324252627303437
Australian Shepherd1212121315171617182022242628293334343434353535384040
Yorkshire Terrier1313131210997666533222356667999
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel1415171618191918191820212325252527313235404454585670
Doberman Pinscher1516181917161514141212131415182121212222232423232222
Boxer1614141411111010877776667777789101213
Miniature Schnauzer1718191819181716161713121211111110101111111313141414
Cane Corso18212530323740354850606751
Great Dane1917151716141415151617191721222324242727282828282829
Shih Tzu20222020202020191715111110101099999101010111111
Siberian Husky2119161514121212131416161822232425252423212119181816
Bernese Mountain Dog2220222322252729323233343939404141474849515458596362
Pomeranian2324232423222221201919171514131314141313121212121010
Boston Terrier2423212121212122232323222019171615171718171818191920
Havanese252524222423232425252831313236373843525564758692
English Springer Spaniel2626262727272627282829292929272726282828272726262725
Shetland Sheepdog2728272525242423212121201918192020181817161616151515
Brittany2827282626262526273031303030302931303030303131313233
Cocker Spaniel292930283029293030292727252321171615151415141413138
Border Collie3031323335383838404444454752515456556065636164717174
Miniature American Shepherd31303129343536
Belgian Malinois3236374143444751606071747681777990879796909495959195
Vizsla3332353431303132343434374142424243444445464547484850
Chihuahua34373435333230282422181413121212111110109987812
Pug3533293128313233333130262417151413121212141515161719
Basset Hound3634363739393939424240413634333128272525242322222123
Mastiff3735333229282825262626282827282832333333343739394141
Maltese3839383637333331292725232220201918191920202020202021
Collie3938403838403736363535363838383837363632323334323130
English Cocker Spaniel4043475052525660626264636666686974747575757676767775
Rhodesian Ridgeback4141424241414240393941444648485354545553575757575656
Newfoundland4245414040363537373742434446444444464546455053535349
Shiba Inu4342434544454445474650536365636765666662555555545858
Weimaraner4440393936343434353332323231313030292929292932343739
West Highland White Terrier4546444442424141383636353436343533323131313030293336
Portuguese Water Dog4644494950545152524955565560626569716971737880808284
Bichons Frise4747454346464544444038393735353229262626262525252528
Australian Cattle Dog4851545555565456555859606467666467707474717267666765
Dalmatian4949516056636262666465736975747785778080685849403017
Bloodhound5050465149505249504848484343414345505049494850515155
Papillon5154
Chesapeake Bay Retriever5248
Samoyed5355
Whippet5457
Akita5552
St. Bernard5653
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon5760
Giant Schnauzer5865
German Wirehaired Pointer5959
Scottish Terrier6058
Bullmastiff6156
Cardigan Welsh Corgi6267
Italian Greyhound6373
Bull Terrier6461
Airedale Terrier6562
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier6666
Alaskan Malamute6768
Chinese Shar-Pei6864
Great Pyrenees6963
Cairn Terrier7074
Irish Setter7171
Miniature Pinscher7276
Russell Terrier7372
Old English Sheepdog7469
Staffordshire Bull Terrier7575
Lagotti Romagnoli7679
Biewer Terrier7782n/an/an/a
Dogues de Bordeaux7870
Anatolian Shepherd Dog7988
Chinese Crested8077
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever8192
Boykin Spaniels8290
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog8378
Cotons de Tulear8483
Rat Terrier8586
Lhasa Apso8684
American Staffordshire
Terrier
8781
Dogo Argentino88899356
Irish Wolfhound8985
Keeshond9095
Basenji9187
Chow Chow9280
English Setter9398
Standard Schnauzer9496
Border Terrier9591
Pekingese9694
Brussels Griffon9797
Bouviers des Flandre98
Gordon Setter99
Norwegian Elkhound100100
Borzoi101
Wire Fox Terrier10299
Flat-Coated Retriever10393
Belgian Tervuren104
Japanese Chin105
Tibetan Terrier106
Pointer107
Toy Fox Terrier108
Norwich Terrier109
Miniature Bull Terrier110
Beauceron111
Spinoni Italiano112
Welsh Terrier113
Leonberger114
Schipperke115
Xoloitzcuintli116
Afghan Hound117
Boerboel118
Neapolitan Mastiff119
American Hairless Terrier120135129126136126106
Parson Russell Terrier121
Silky Terrier122
American Eskimo Dog123
Bearded Collie124
Belgian Sheepdog125
Welsh Springer Spaniel126
Tibetan Spaniel127
Black Russian Terrier128
Greyhound129
Manchester Terrier130
Irish Terrier131
Icelandic Sheepdog132
Bluetick Coonhound133
English Toy Spaniel134
Saluki135
Australian Terrier136
Tibetan Mastiff137
Norfolk Terrier138
Clumber Spaniel139
Pumi140153156158151162
Smooth Fox Terrier141
Wirehaired Vizsla142
Lakeland Terrier143
Russian Toy144
German Pinscher145
Kerry Blue Terrier146
Barbet14714814595
Affenpinscher148
Black and Tan Coonhound149
Mudi150
Briard151
Bedlington Terrier152
Berger Picard153163151148144146141
Petits Basset Griffon Vendéen154
Scottish Deerhound155
Curly-Coated Retriever156
Field Spaniel157
Redbone Coonhound158
Treeing Walker Coonhound159
Swedish Vallhund160
Pulik161
Entlebucher Mountain Dog162
Spanish Water Dog163
Sealyham Terrier164
Löwchen165
American Water Spaniel166
Finnish Lapphund167
Irish Red and White Setter168
Glen of Imaal Terrier169
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje170156162159150
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno171
Ibizan Hound172
Plott Hound173
Pharaoh Hound174
Komondor175
Otterhounds176
Kuvaszok177
Norwegian Buhunds178
Bergamasco Sheepdogs17917917318218718118417496
Chinooks180
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs181
American English Coonhounds182
Irish Water Spaniels183
Cirnechi dell’Etna184
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen185189188180177
Dandie Dinmont Terriers186
Canaan Dog187103
Finnish Spitz188
Skye Terrier189
Pyrenean Shepherd190
Cesky Terrier191
Sussex Spaniel192
Harrier193
Azawakh194185193192
Belgian Laekenois195194
American Foxhound196
Sloughi197193189193192188185
Norwegian Lundehund198
English Foxhound199

Where did we come by these stats? We did some research using the Way Back Machine to help us find AKC statistics dating back to the 1990’s.

Was the internet even around in the 90’s. The answer is YES! Don’t you remember AOL (You’ve Got Mail), 56K modems or even 33.6K or 28.8K modems?

Okay, I’ve dated myself, but yes the Way Back Machine is a great way to peek into the past. If you’re old like me then you’ll know this is a reference to Rocky and Bullwinkle.

New Dog Breeds By Year As Recognized By The AKC

To be eligible for consideration to become an AKC recognized breed, the following general criteria must be met: 

  1. A demonstrated following and interest (minimum of 100 active household members) in the breed (in the form of a National Breed Club). 
  2. A sufficient population in this country (minimum of 300-400 dogs), with a three-generation pedigree. Dogs in that pedigree must all be of the same breed. 
  3. Geographic distribution of the dogs and people (located in 20 or more states). 
  4. AKC must review and approve the club’s breed standard as well as the club’s constitution and by-laws. Breed observations must be completed by AKC Field Staff.

Check out the new dog breeds by year dating back to the turn of the century.

2022

  • Bracco Italiano
  • Mudi
  • Russian Toy

2021

  • Biewer Terrier

2020

  • Barbet
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Belgian Laekenois

2019

  • Azawakh

2018

  • Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
  • Nederlandse Kooikerhondje 

2017

No new breeds added to the AKC in Twenty-Seventeen.

2016

  • American Hairless Terrier
  • Pumi
  • Sloughi

2015

Wow! 2015 was a big year for new breeds added to the AKC with 7 total.

  • Bergamasco
  • Berger Picard
  • Boerboel
  • Cirneco dell’Etna
  • Lagotto Romagnolo
  • Miniature American Shepherd
  • Spanish Water Dog

2014

  • Coton de Tulear 
  • Wirehaired Vizsla 

2013

  • Chinook 
  • Portuguese Podengo Pequeno 
  • Rat Terrier 

2012

  • Russell Terrier 
  • Treeing Walker Coonhound 

2011

  • American English Coonhound
  • Cesky Terrier 
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dog 
  • Finnish Lapphund 
  • Norwegian Lundehund 
  • Xoloitzcuintli 

2010

  • Cane Corso 
  • Icelandic Sheepdog 
  • Leonberger

2009

  • Bluetick Coonhound 
  • Boykin Spaniel 
  • Irish Red & White Setter 
  • Norwegian Buhund 
  • Pyrenean Shepherd 
  • Redbone Coonhound 

2008

  • Dogue de Bordeaux 

2007

  • Beauceron 
  • Swedish Vallhund 

2006

  • Plott 
  • Tibetan Mastiff 

2005

No new breeds added to the AKC in 2005.

2004

  • Black Russian Terrier 
  • Glen of Imaal Terrier 
  • Neapolitan Mastiff 

2003

  • German Pinscher 
  • Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retriever 
  • Toy Fox Terrier 

2002

No new breeds added to the AKC in 2002.

2001

  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog 

2000

  • Spinoni Italiano

1999

No new breeds added to the AKC in 1999.

1998

No new breeds added to the AKC in 1998.

1997

  • Canaan Dog
  • Parson Russell Terrier 

Check out this page on the AKC to see a history all the way back to the 1800’s

Here are some personal highlights from some of my favorite breeds:

  • We got out Border Collie Mix, Maffy in 1985. The breed wasn’t recognized by the AKC until 10 years later in 1995.
  • Our Aussie mix, Linus was born in 2005. His breed was recognized only 14 years earlier in 1991.
  • We currently have a Golden Retriever, Raven. Golden’s were recognized by the AKC in 1925!
  • Our black Lab, Elsa is the baby of the group. Labrador Retriever were recognized by the AKC in 1917.

“Nothing Left To Say I Guess…”

Yep, quoted from one of my favorite U2 songs. You get extra points if you can name that tune without searching in Google.

Anyhoo, as I mentioned earlier this post is spawned from my desire to see the meteoric rise of the Australian Shepherd. I bet you thought I was going to say our new #1, the French Bulldog. Nope!

Just in case you care. My Aussie mix, Linus was born in 2005 and that year the Australian Shepherd was #34 on the AKC’s most popular breeds. Today, Aussies are just shy of the top 10 at #12.

Maybe the Aussie will be the breed to dethrone French Bulldog. One thing I’m sure of is there will be a lot of shuffling in positions over the next 18 years. We’ll see.

What’s your favorite dog breed?

Do you have one of the most popular dog breeds in the top 10? top 20?

Tell us about your dog in the comment section below.

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The Ultimate List Of Most Popular Dog Breeds By Year - Lab and Shepherd Down Stay Grass