Dog walker Tara Serafini, of Urban Paw Print, pauses with three French bulldogs, (left to right) Louie, Zoe and Lola while walking at the Public Garden. (Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The French bulldog has once again claimed the top spot as America’s most popular dog breed, marking its fourth consecutive year leading the American Kennel Club’s annual rankings.
The French bulldog held onto its title as the nation’s most popular dog breed for a fourth consecutive year in 2025, after first ending the Labrador retriever’s 31-year run at No. 1 in 2022. Labrador retrievers, however, remain among the most popular breeds in the U.S.
Dig deeper:
The American Kennel Club has recognized 205 breeds since its founding in 1884, with 202 included in the 2025 registration statistics. Three additional breeds were recognized in 2026 and will be reflected in next year’s rankings, while others continue to advance toward recognition through the AKC Foundation Stock Service and Miscellaneous Class.
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Beyond contributing to annual popularity rankings, registration also supports oversight efforts. The AKC says it is the only U.S. purebred dog registry that conducts routine inspections and investigations, carrying out thousands each year to help ensure breeders meet standards for animal welfare, safety and health.
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The French bulldog
Big picture view:
French bulldogs have surged in popularity over the past decade, driven in part by their small size and adaptability to urban living, making them a common choice for city and apartment dwellers.
The breed ranked No. 14 in 2012 before climbing to No. 2 by 2021. It overtook the Labrador retriever in 2022 to become the nation’s most popular breed, a position it has maintained for four consecutive years.
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Originating in France, the breed has a long and complex history and was first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1898, giving it more than a century of standing with the organization.
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Top 10 Dog Breeds of 2025
Why you should care:
- French Bulldog
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd Dog
- Dachshund
- Poodle
- Beagle
- Rottweiler
- German Shorthaired Pointer
- Bulldog
Other key takeaways
- Wide movement in rankings: Among 202 breeds, some jumped nearly 30 spots while others fell by similar margins; declines don’t necessarily mean decreased popularity.
- Biggest climbers: Wirehaired Vizsla (+29) led gains; several working and hunting breeds also rose, including Bergamasco Sheepdog (+17) and English Foxhound (+14).
- Notable risers: Cane Corso neared the top 10 (No. 11), while Border Collies and Pomeranians saw smaller gains.
- Biggest drops: Greyhound (-33), Briard and Black Russian Terrier (-27 each), and Kerry Blue Terrier (-20) saw the steepest declines.
- Stable rankings: Breeds like the Boston Terrier, Havanese and Basset Hound held steady year over year.
- New additions: The Danish-Swedish Farmdog debuted at No. 170 in 2025; three newly recognized breeds will join the rankings in 2026.
The Source: The information in this story comes from the American Kennel Club’s annual breed popularity rankings. This story was reported from Los Angeles.