Mapped: America’s Favorite Dog Breed, By State
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Key Takeaways
- Labrador Retrievers are the top breed in 16 states, but no breed comes close to dominating nationwide.
- Eight different breeds rank first across the U.S., revealing surprisingly regional preferences.
- Chihuahuas lead much of the Southwest, while Labrador Retrievers are strongest across the Northeast.
Americans own more than 56 million dogs, but there’s no single breed that dominates the country. Instead, favorite breeds change dramatically from one state to the next.
Using an analysis of more than 1.2 million dog insurance records collected between 2022 and 2025 by U.S. News & World Report, this map reveals the most popular dog breed in every state.
The Most Popular Dog Breed in Every State
The table below shows each state’s favorite dog breed.
| State | Most Popular Dog Breed |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Chihuahua |
| Alaska | German Shepherd |
| Arizona | Chihuahua |
| Arkansas | Chihuahua |
| California | French Bulldog |
| Colorado | Golden Retriever |
| Connecticut | Labrador Retriever |
| Delaware | Labrador Retriever |
| Florida | French Bulldog |
| Georgia | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Hawaii | Chihuahua |
| Idaho | Labrador Retriever |
| Illinois | German Shepherd |
| Indiana | German Shepherd |
| Iowa | Labrador Retriever |
| Kansas | Chihuahua |
| Kentucky | Chihuahua |
| Louisiana | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Maine | Labrador Retriever |
| Maryland | Labrador Retriever |
| Massachusetts | Labrador Retriever |
| Michigan | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Minnesota | Golden Retriever |
| Mississippi | Chihuahua |
| Missouri | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Montana | Golden Retriever |
| Nebraska | Labrador Retriever |
| Nevada | Chihuahua |
| New Hampshire | Labrador Retriever |
| New Jersey | Shih Tzu |
| New Mexico | Chihuahua |
| New York | Yorkshire Terrier |
| North Carolina | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| North Dakota | Golden Retriever |
| Ohio | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Oklahoma | Chihuahua |
| Oregon | Chihuahua |
| Pennsylvania | Labrador Retriever |
| Rhode Island | Chihuahua |
| South Carolina | Labrador Retriever |
| South Dakota | Labrador Retriever |
| Tennessee | American Pit Bull Terrier |
| Texas | Chihuahua |
| Utah | Labrador Retriever |
| Vermont | Golden Retriever |
| Virginia | Labrador Retriever |
| Washington | Labrador Retriever |
| West Virginia | Chihuahua |
| Wisconsin | Labrador Retriever |
| Wyoming | German Shepherd |
No Breed Dominates America
Labrador Retrievers rank first in 16 states, more than any other breed, but they still lead in fewer than one-third of states.
Chihuahuas follow closely with 14 states, while six other breeds claim the top spot elsewhere. Altogether, eight different breeds finish first somewhere in America, showing there’s no single nationwide favorite.
Regional Preferences Emerge
The map reveals several clear geographic patterns.
Labrador Retrievers are especially popular across much of the Northeast, Chihuahuas dominate the Southwest, and American Pit Bull Terriers lead in several Southern states.
These clusters suggest that local lifestyles, housing, and long-standing breed popularity continue to influence which dogs Americans bring home.
America’s love of dogs may be universal, but its favorite breeds to own are anything but. From French Bulldogs in California to Yorkshire Terriers in New York, the map highlights how regional tastes shape the dogs people choose across the country.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
To learn more about this topic, check out this graphic on favorite dog breeds in the U.S. from a more national perspective.
