Who’s Top Dog in All 50 States?

We used Ranker data to identify the most popular dog breeds across the country. The results are as varied as you’d expect from a nation of dog-lovers

Some scientists argue that our choice in pet can say a lot about us — our personalities, our aesthetics, and even the way we look. But can this same principle apply to states as well as it does to individuals? With the help of Ranker data, you can decide that for yourself.

To celebrate National Pet Day on April 11, we took a look at our list of The Very Best Dog Breeds, which has been voted on by nearly 30,000 dog lovers, and mapped the results out across the US, identifying the “top dog” in all 50 states. While a few favorites like Labrador retrievers and German shepherds top the list for many parts of the country, we found a surprising amount of variety, with nearly 20 different breeds ranking at #1 in at least one American province. Take a look for yourself and see which dog is most popular in your state.

What We Found

The #1 overall choice wins relatively few states

Topping our list of The Very Best Dog Breeds, Ranked (240K votes) is the golden retriever, with an upvote count of 5,762 that accounts for 70% of the total votes cast for the breed. But while the goldie wins an admirable total of four states — Iowa, Kentucky, Virginia, and Wisconsin — it doesn’t come close to the totals put up by the German shepherd and the Labrador retriever, the respective #2 and #3 breeds on the list overall. The German shepherd wins more states than any other, including densely populated ones like Florida and Pennsylvania.

Not a single state favored its official state dog

Only 13 American states have official state breeds, and the residents of those that do aren’t letting it influence their preferences. Alaska, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin all have specific dog breeds they’ve chosen to represent them as states, but those choices don’t match their tastes as individuals. Tennessee and Texas both go for the Great Dane instead of their respective state breeds, the bluetick coonhound and the blue Lacy, respectively; New Hampshire takes the German shorthair over the Chinook; and Alaskans preferred the American Eskimo to the Alaskan malamute.

12 states set themselves apart

Twelve of 50 states pick breeds that are #1 in their state and their state only — that’s more than the number of states won by the winningest breed on the map. New York is the only state to pick the miniature schnauzer as its favorite breed, while California is unique in its preference for the black Russian Terrier. The boxer, sheltie, English mastiff, and shiba inu breeds are also all chosen by one state each.

Small dogs take a backseat

Small dogs generally have a harder time winning over states than larger ones do. The border collie is the only small dog (at or below 22 pounds on average) to win three states: Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Shih Tzus take home both Indiana and Maine, but the other small dogs that manage to win states — the sheltie, shiba inu, Yorkshire terrier, mini-schnauzer, and American Eskimo — win only one of them. Meanwhile, well-known small dog breeds like the Chihuahua and Pomeranian fail to make an appearance on the map at all.

Of course, this list is a general one that doesn’t consider all the factors that go into adopting a dog. For example, many people choose dogs that differ from their favorite breed because they’re looking for a great family pet, a particularly smart breed, an animal that won’t aggravate their allergies, a dog that’s perfect for first-time owners, or one that will fit in their apartment. If the results on our map surprise you, vote on the list yourself and determine who is the top dog in your state!

These stories are crafted using Ranker Insights, which takes over one billion votes cast on Ranker.com and converts them into actionable psychographics about pop culture fans across the world. To learn more about how our Ranker Insights can be customized to serve your business needs, visit insights.ranker.com, or email us at insights@ranker.com.

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