Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted a dog. When I was a kid, I asked. Mom and Dad said no. I’d wait a little while and ask again. The same “no” came back every time.
It wasn’t until I was 28 years old that I got my first dog. A golden retriever named Bess. She was a wild child, but I loved her dearly. Since that time, I’ve had at least one dog. At one point, I had 16. Thanks to our very prolific Frances.
Dogs have a way of touching our hearts. They are unlike any other creature on this Earth. The types and breeds are endless. But the truth is, some dogs are better for certain people than others. And maybe this has to do a little bit with where we live.
If you take a walk through any neighborhood, you’ll see it immediately. Some towns feel full of those sturdy, watchful kind of dogs. Other cities are filled with tiny companions. The tiny tots that trot confidently on leashes that are far bigger than the little dog itself. Maybe our favorite breeds say something about climate and culture.
I wondered about this and found a study that ranks our dog choices by state. According to recent data pulled from hundreds of thousands of pet insurance records, we Americans love our dogs equally. But we don’t all love the same dogs.
What’s striking is how regional these preferences are. Golden retrievers dominate colder states and family-heavy regions. Chihuahuas flourish in warmer climates and urban-friendly spaces. French bulldogs rule style-forward states like California and Florida. Meanwhile, German shepherds hold their ground in wide-open states.
Dogs don’t just live with us. They adapt to us. They fit into our houses, our weather, our rhythms. And in return, they give us companionship that doesn’t care about politics, productivity, or bad days.
Below is the full list of the most popular dog breeds in each U.S. state (plus Washington, D.C.), exactly as reported.
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The Most Popular Dog Breed in Each U.S. State
– Alabama — Chihuahua
– Alaska — German Shepherd
– Arizona — Chihuahua
– Arkansas — Chihuahua
– California — French bulldog
– Colorado — Golden retriever
– Connecticut — Golden retriever
– Delaware — German Shepherd
– Florida — French bulldog
– Georgia — Chihuahua
– Hawaii — French bulldog
– Idaho — Goldendoodle
– Illinois — Golden retriever
– Indiana — Chihuahua
– Iowa — Shih tzu
– Kansas — Chihuahua
– Kentucky — Chihuahua
– Louisiana — Chihuahua
– Maine — Golden retriever
– Maryland — Yorkshire terrier
– Massachusetts — Golden retriever
– Michigan — Golden retriever
– Minnesota — Golden retriever
– Mississippi — Chihuahua
– Missouri — Chihuahua
– Montana — German Shepherd
– Nebraska — Golden retriever
– Nevada — Chihuahua
– New Hampshire — Golden retriever
– New Jersey — Shih tzu
– New Mexico — Chihuahua
– New York — Shih tzu
– North Carolina — Chihuahua
– North Dakota — Golden retriever
– Ohio — Golden retriever
– Oklahoma — Chihuahua
– Oregon — Chihuahua
– Pennsylvania — German Shepherd
– Rhode Island — Shih tzu
– South Carolina — Chihuahua
– South Dakota — Chihuahua
– Tennessee — Chihuahua
– Texas — Chihuahua
– Utah — Goldendoodle
– Vermont — Golden retriever
– Virginia — Golden retriever
– Washington — Chihuahua
– Washington, D.C. — Yorkshire terrier
– West Virginia — Chihuahua
– Wisconsin — Golden retriever
– Wyoming — German Shepherd
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We all know who we love in the end. That’s all of us. Across all fifty states.
We have chosen to share our lives with a being whose greatest talent is unconditional love.
So here’s to all our good dogs. Everywhere.
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“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” — Charles de Gaulle
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“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.” — Dean Koontz
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“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” — Roger Caras
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