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

This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

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.

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.

Breed	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999	1998	1997
French Bulldog	1	2	2	4	4	4	6	6	9	11	14	18	21	24	26	34	36	38	49	54	58	64	71	73	76	76
Labrador Retriever	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Golden Retriever	3	3	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	4	5	4	4	4	4	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	4
German Shepherd Dog	4	4	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	4	3	4	3	3	3	3	3	3
Poodle	5	5	6	6	7	7	7	8	7	8	8	8	9	9	9	8	8	8	8	8	8	7	6	6	7	5
Bulldog	6	6	5	5	5	5	4	4	4	5	5	6	6	7	8	10	12	13	14	16	18	19	21	21	23	26
Rottweiler	7	8	8	8	8	8	8	9	10	9	9	10	11	13	14	15	17	16	16	15	13	11	11	8	4	2
Beagle	8	7	7	7	6	6	5	5	5	4	4	3	4	5	5	5	5	5	4	3	4	5	5	5	6	6
Dachshund	9	10	10	11	12	13	13	13	11	10	10	9	8	8	7	7	6	6	6	5	5	4	4	4	5	7
German Shorthaired Pointer	10	9	9	9	9	10	11	11	12	13	15	15	16	16	16	18	19	20	20	21	22	22	24	24	24	24
Pembroke Welsh Corgi	11	11	11	10	13	15	18	20	22	24	24	25	27	26	24	22	22	23	23	24	25	26	27	30	34	37
Australian Shepherd	12	12	12	13	15	17	16	17	18	20	22	24	26	28	29	33	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	38	40	40
Yorkshire Terrier	13	13	13	12	10	9	9	7	6	6	6	5	3	3	2	2	2	3	5	6	6	6	7	9	9	9
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	14	15	17	16	18	19	19	18	19	18	20	21	23	25	25	25	27	31	32	35	40	44	54	58	56	70
Doberman Pinscher	15	16	18	19	17	16	15	14	14	12	12	13	14	15	18	21	21	21	22	22	23	24	23	23	22	22
Boxer	16	14	14	14	11	11	10	10	8	7	7	7	7	6	6	6	7	7	7	7	7	8	9	10	12	13
Miniature Schnauzer	17	18	19	18	19	18	17	16	16	17	13	12	12	11	11	11	10	10	11	11	11	13	13	14	14	14
Cane Corso	18	21	25	30	32	37	40	35	48	50	60	67	51	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Great Dane	19	17	15	17	16	14	14	15	15	16	17	19	17	21	22	23	24	24	27	27	28	28	28	28	28	29
Shih Tzu	20	22	20	20	20	20	20	19	17	15	11	11	10	10	10	9	9	9	9	9	10	10	10	11	11	11
Siberian Husky	21	19	16	15	14	12	12	12	13	14	16	16	18	22	23	24	25	25	24	23	21	21	19	18	18	16
Bernese Mountain Dog	22	20	22	23	22	25	27	29	32	32	33	34	39	39	40	41	41	47	48	49	51	54	58	59	63	62
Pomeranian	23	24	23	24	23	22	22	21	20	19	19	17	15	14	13	13	14	14	13	13	12	12	12	12	10	10
Boston Terrier	24	23	21	21	21	21	21	22	23	23	23	22	20	19	17	16	15	17	17	18	17	18	18	19	19	20
Havanese	25	25	24	22	24	23	23	24	25	25	28	31	31	32	36	37	38	43	52	55	64	75	86	92	–	–
English Springer Spaniel	26	26	26	27	27	27	26	27	28	28	29	29	29	29	27	27	26	28	28	28	27	27	26	26	27	25
Shetland Sheepdog	27	28	27	25	25	24	24	23	21	21	21	20	19	18	19	20	20	18	18	17	16	16	16	15	15	15
Brittany	28	27	28	26	26	26	25	26	27	30	31	30	30	30	30	29	31	30	30	30	30	31	31	31	32	33
Cocker Spaniel	29	29	30	28	30	29	29	30	30	29	27	27	25	23	21	17	16	15	15	14	15	14	14	13	13	8
Border Collie	30	31	32	33	35	38	38	38	40	44	44	45	47	52	51	54	56	55	60	65	63	61	64	71	71	74
Miniature American Shepherd	31	30	31	29	34	35	36	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Belgian Malinois	32	36	37	41	43	44	47	51	60	60	71	74	76	81	77	79	90	87	97	96	90	94	95	95	91	95
Vizsla	33	32	35	34	31	30	31	32	34	34	34	37	41	42	42	42	43	44	44	45	46	45	47	48	48	50
Chihuahua	34	37	34	35	33	32	30	28	24	22	18	14	13	12	12	12	11	11	10	10	9	9	8	7	8	12
Pug	35	33	29	31	28	31	32	33	33	31	30	26	24	17	15	14	13	12	12	12	14	15	15	16	17	19
Basset Hound	36	34	36	37	39	39	39	39	42	42	40	41	36	34	33	31	28	27	25	25	24	23	22	22	21	23
Mastiff	37	35	33	32	29	28	28	25	26	26	26	28	28	27	28	28	32	33	33	33	34	37	39	39	41	41
Maltese	38	39	38	36	37	33	33	31	29	27	25	23	22	20	20	19	18	19	19	20	20	20	20	20	20	21
Collie	39	38	40	38	38	40	37	36	36	35	35	36	38	38	38	38	37	36	36	32	32	33	34	32	31	30
English Cocker Spaniel	40	43	47	50	52	52	56	60	62	62	64	63	66	66	68	69	74	74	75	75	75	76	76	76	77	75
Rhodesian Ridgeback	41	41	42	42	41	41	42	40	39	39	41	44	46	48	48	53	54	54	55	53	57	57	57	57	56	56
Newfoundland	42	45	41	40	40	36	35	37	37	37	42	43	44	46	44	44	44	46	45	46	45	50	53	53	53	49
Shiba Inu	43	42	43	45	44	45	44	45	47	46	50	53	63	65	63	67	65	66	66	62	55	55	55	54	58	58
Weimaraner	44	40	39	39	36	34	34	34	35	33	32	32	32	31	31	30	30	29	29	29	29	29	32	34	37	39
West Highland White Terrier	45	46	44	44	42	42	41	41	38	36	36	35	34	36	34	35	33	32	31	31	31	30	30	29	33	36
Portuguese Water Dog	46	44	49	49	50	54	51	52	52	49	55	56	55	60	62	65	69	71	69	71	73	78	80	80	82	84
Bichons Frise	47	47	45	43	46	46	45	44	44	40	38	39	37	35	35	32	29	26	26	26	26	25	25	25	25	28
Australian Cattle Dog	48	51	54	55	55	56	54	56	55	58	59	60	64	67	66	64	67	70	74	74	71	72	67	66	67	65
Dalmatian	49	49	51	60	56	63	62	62	66	64	65	73	69	75	74	77	85	77	80	80	68	58	49	40	30	17
Bloodhound	50	50	46	51	49	50	52	49	50	48	48	48	43	43	41	43	45	50	50	49	49	48	50	51	51	55
Papillon	51	54
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	52	48
Samoyed	53	55
Whippet	54	57
Akita	55	52
St. Bernard	56	53
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	57	60
Giant Schnauzer	58	65
German Wirehaired Pointer	59	59
Scottish Terrier	60	58
Bullmastiff	61	56
Cardigan Welsh Corgi	62	67
Italian Greyhound	63	73
Bull Terrier	64	61
Airedale Terrier	65	62
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier	66	66
Alaskan Malamute	67	68
Chinese Shar-Pei	68	64
Great Pyrenees	69	63
Cairn Terrier	70	74
Irish Setter	71	71
Miniature Pinscher	72	76
Russell Terrier	73	72
Old English Sheepdog	74	69
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	75	75
Lagotti Romagnoli	76	79
Biewer Terrier	77	82	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	n/a	n/a	n/a
Dogues de Bordeaux	78	70
Anatolian Shepherd Dog	79	88																								–
Chinese Crested	80	77
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	81	92																								–
Boykin Spaniels	82	90
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog	83	78
Cotons de Tulear	84	83
Rat Terrier	85	86
Lhasa Apso	86	84
American Staffordshire Terrier	87	81
Dogo Argentino	88	89	93	56	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Irish Wolfhound	89	85
Keeshond	90	95
Basenji	91	87
Chow Chow	92	80
English Setter	93	98
Standard Schnauzer	94	96
Border Terrier	95	91
Pekingese	96	94
Brussels Griffon	97	97
Bouviers des Flandre	98
Gordon Setter	99
Norwegian Elkhound	100	100
Borzoi	101
Wire Fox Terrier	102	99
Flat-Coated Retriever	103	93
Belgian Tervuren	104
Japanese Chin	105
Tibetan Terrier	106
Pointer	107
Toy Fox Terrier	108																									–
Norwich Terrier	109
Miniature Bull Terrier	110
Beauceron	111																									–
Spinoni Italiano	112
Welsh Terrier	113
Leonberger	114
Schipperke	115
Xoloitzcuintli	116
Afghan Hound	117
Boerboel	118
Neapolitan Mastiff	119
American Hairless Terrier	120	135	129	126	136	126	106	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Parson Russell Terrier	121																									–
Silky Terrier	122
American Eskimo Dog	123
Bearded Collie	124
Belgian Sheepdog	125
Welsh Springer Spaniel	126
Tibetan Spaniel	127
Black Russian Terrier	128
Greyhound	129
Manchester Terrier	130
Irish Terrier	131
Icelandic Sheepdog	132
Bluetick Coonhound	133
English Toy Spaniel	134
Saluki	135
Australian Terrier	136
Tibetan Mastiff	137
Norfolk Terrier	138
Clumber Spaniel	139
Pumi	140	153	156	158	151	162	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Smooth Fox Terrier	141
Wirehaired Vizsla	142
Lakeland Terrier	143
Russian Toy	144	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
German Pinscher	145
Kerry Blue Terrier	146
Barbet	147	148	145	95	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Affenpinscher	148
Black and Tan Coonhound	149
Mudi	150	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Briard	151
Bedlington Terrier	152
Berger Picard	153	163	151	148	144	146	141	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Petits Basset Griffon Vendéen	154
Scottish Deerhound	155
Curly-Coated Retriever	156
Field Spaniel	157
Redbone Coonhound	158
Treeing Walker Coonhound	159
Swedish Vallhund	160																									–
Pulik	161
Entlebucher Mountain Dog	162
Spanish Water Dog	163
Sealyham Terrier	164
Löwchen	165
American Water Spaniel	166
Finnish Lapphund	167
Irish Red and White Setter	168
Glen of Imaal Terrier	169
Nederlandse Kooikerhondje	170	156	162	159	150	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Portuguese Podengo Pequeno	171
Ibizan Hound	172
Plott Hound	173
Pharaoh Hound	174
Komondor	175
Otterhounds	176
Kuvaszok	177
Norwegian Buhunds	178
Bergamasco Sheepdogs	179	179	173	182	187	181	184	174	96	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Chinooks	180
Polish Lowland Sheepdogs	181
American English Coonhounds	182
Irish Water Spaniels	183
Cirnechi dell’Etna	184
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen	185	189	188	180	177	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Dandie Dinmont Terriers	186
Canaan Dog	187																									103
Finnish Spitz	188
Skye Terrier	189
Pyrenean Shepherd	190
Cesky Terrier	191
Sussex Spaniel	192
Harrier	193
Azawakh	194	185	193	192	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Belgian Laekenois	195	194	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
American Foxhound	196
Sloughi	197	193	189	193	192	188	185	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Norwegian Lundehund	198
English Foxhound	199

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.

Resources

• American Kennel Club
• Way Back Machine

Related Articles:

• 10 Best Large Breed Dogs for Families
• 10 Best Indoor Dog Breeds
• Velcro Dog Breeds – Meet 9 Super Clingy Dog Breeds
• Top 10 Dogs Good With Children
• 13 of the Calmest Large Dog Breeds

Save To Pinterest