Americans Love Chihuahuas, the Most Popular Dog Owned in 2023

It’s a well-known fact that Americans have a soft spot for dogs. They are the most popular pets owned by around 49 million families. The APPA National Pet Owners Survey has observed pet ownership since 1988 and it has reported that 66% of those that have a pet chose a dog. For many, 51%, according to The Pew Research Center, furry friends are more like a human, a family member who needs tons of love, high-quality food, assistance, and toys. But have you ever wondered what the most popular dog breed is in the US?

Looking at the rankings published by US News, Americans don’t seem to prefer any particular size: in the top 10 list of the most beloved dog breeds in the US there are both extra-small and super-big canines. 

The Chihuahua is the most popular, dominating the scene in 21 States, especially in the South–being the favorite in every Southern State except for Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. According to the rankings for each State, 4% of US dogs are Chihuahuas, but they are the most numerous in New Mexico, covering about 7% of all pets in the State.

The second is the French Bulldog, at the top in 3 States–California, Hawaii and Florida. The third is the Golden Retriever, favored in 14 States, such as Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont. The list continues with the German Shepherd, who is best four-legged-friend in Alaska; the Shih Tzu, which is the New Yorkers’ pet; bringing up the rear is the Goldendoodle, the most popular in Idaho. 

Color combinations don’t really matter either, except when it comes for the Labrador Retriever: the Black one takes the 10th position, the Yellow one covers the 14th, and the Chocolate one comes in at 22nd.

Alabama

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Goldendoodle
5. German Shepherd

Alaska

1. German Shepherd
2. Golden Retriever
3. Chihuahua
4. French Bulldog
5. Yorkshire Terrier

Arizona

1. Chihuahua
2. French Bulldog
3. German Shepherd
4. Shih Tzu
5. Golden Retriever

Arkansas

1. Chihuahua
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. German Shepherd
4. Shih Tzu
5. Goldendoodle

California

1. French Bulldog
2. Chihuahua
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Yorkshire Terrier

Colorado

1. Golden Retriever
2. Chihuahua
3. Goldendoodle
4. German Shepherd
5. French Bulldog

Connecticut

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Goldendoodle
4. Yorkshire Terrier
5. Shih Tzu

Delaware

1. German Shepherd
2. Shih Tzu
3. Goldendoodle
4. Golden Retriever
5. French Bulldog

Florida

1. French Bulldog
2. Chihuahua
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Shih Tzu
5. Goldendoodle

Georgia

1. Chihuahua
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. Shih Tzu
4. Goldendoodle
5. German Shepherd

Hawaii

1. French Bulldog
2. Golden Retriever
3. Chihuahua
4. Shih Tzu
5. Pomeranian

Idaho

1. Goldendoodle
2. Golden Retriever
3. Chihuahua
4. French Bulldog
5. German Shepherd

Illinois

1. Golden Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Shih Tzu
4. Chihuahua
5. German Shepherd

Indiana

1. Chihuahua
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Goldendoodle
5. Golden Retriever

Iowa

1. Shih Tzu
2. Golden Retriever
3. Chihuahua
4. German Shepherd
5. Goldendoodle

Kansas

1. Chihuahua
2. German Shepherd
3. Goldendoodle
4. Shih Tzu
5. French Bulldog

Kentucky

1. Chihuahua
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. Shih Tzu
4. Goldendoodle
5. German Shepherd

Louisiana

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Goldendoodle
5. German Shepherd

Maine

1. Golden Retriever
2. Labrador Retriever (Black)
3. German Shepherd
4. Labrador Retriever (Yellow)
5. Goldendoodle

Maryland

1. Yorkshire Terrier
2. Shih Tzu
3. French Bulldog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Goldendoodle

Massachusetts

1. Golden Retriever
2. French Bulldog
3. Goldendoodle
4. German Shepherd
5. Shih Tzu

Michigan

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Chihuahua
4. Shih Tzu
5. Goldendoodle

Minnesota

1. Golden Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Shih Tzu
5. Chihuahua

Mississippi

1. Chihuahua
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. Shih Tzu
4. German Shepherd
5. Pit Bull

Missouri

1. Chihuahua
2. German Shepherd
3. Shih Tzu
4. Yorkshire Terrier
5. Goldendoodle

Montana

1. German Shepherd
2. Golden Retriever
3. Chihuahua
4. Yorkshire Terrier
5. Labrador Retriever (Black)

Nebraska

1. Golden Retriever
2. Chihuahua
3. Shih Tzu
4. Goldendoodle
5. French Bulldog

Nevada

1. Chihuahua
2. French Bulldog
3. German Shepherd
4. Shih Tzu
5. Yorkshire Terrier

New Hampshire

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Labrador Retriever (Black)
4. French Bulldog
5. Labrador Retriever (Yellow)

New Jersey

1. Shih Tzu
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. Goldendoodle
4. Golden Retriever
5. French Bulldog

New Mexico

1. Chihuahua
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Shih Tzu
5. French Bulldog

New York

1. Shih Tzu
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. French Bulldog
4. Golden Retriever
5. Goldendoodle

North Carolina

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. Goldendoodle
4. German Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

North Dakota

1. Golden Retriever
2. Shih Tzu
3. Goldendoodle
4. German Shepherd
5. Chihuahua

Ohio

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Chihuahua
4. Goldendoodle
5. Yorkshire Terrier

Oklahoma

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. German Shepherd
4. French Bulldog
5. Yorkshire Terrier

Oregon

1. Chihuahua
2. Golden Retriever
3. French Bulldog
4. German Shepherd
5. Goldendoodle

Pennsylvania

1. German Shepherd
2. Golden Retriever
3. Goldendoodle
4. Shih Tzu
5. Chihuahua

Rhode Island

1. Shih Tzu
2. Golden Retriever
3. French Bulldog
4. Chihuahua
5. Goldendoodle

South Carolina

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Golden Retriever
5. Goldendoodle

South Dakota

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Goldendoodle

Tennessee

1. Chihuahua
2. Yorkshire Terrier
3. Goldendoodle
4. Shih Tzu
5. German Shepherd

Texas

1. Chihuahua
2. Shih Tzu
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. French Bulldog
5. German Shepherd

Utah

1. Goldendoodle
2. Chihuahua
3. Shih Tzu
4. Golden Retriever
5. French Bulldog

Vermont

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Labrador Retriever (Yellow)
4. Chihuahua
5. Labrador Retriever (Black)

Virginia

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Chihuahua
5. Shih Tzu

Washington

1. Chihuahua
2. Golden Retriever
3. German Shepherd
4. French Bulldog
5. Goldendoodle

Washington, D.C.

1. Yorkshire Terrier
2. Shih Tzu
3. American Pit Bull Terrier
4. Goldendoodle
5. Golden Retriever

West Virginia

1. Chihuahua
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Shih Tzu
5. Goldendoodle

Wisconsin

1. Golden Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Goldendoodle
4. Shih Tzu
5. Chihuahua

Wyoming

1. German Shepherd
2. Chihuahua
3. Golden Retriever
4. French Bulldog
5. Labrador Retriever (Black)