Top Dog Breeds & AI-Generated Dogs By State

In honor of National Dog Day on August 26, Camp Bow Wow released a list of top large and small dog breeds based on our database of four-legged Campers. Our lists include a range of purebreds, mixed-breed dogs and popular crossbreeds like doodles, rather than only listing purebred dog registrations.

Top 5 Large Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Australian Shepherd

Top 5 Small Breeds

1. Miniature Poodle
2. Beagle
3. Chihuahua
4. Shih Tzu
5. Dachshund

For those who are thinking of adopting a dog, Camp Bow Wow’s Animal Health and Behavioral Expert, Erin Askeland, MSc, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, notes that the biggest differentiator between large and small dog breeds is lifespan. Small dogs tend to have longer lifespans of 12 to 15 years or more, while large dogs typically have lifespans of around 8 to 12 years (8 to 10 for giant breeds).

“A dog’s breed can influence certain characteristics, but it shouldn’t be the sole factor in choosing which furry friend to add to the family,” said Askeland. “Every dog is unique — some small dogs have high energy and bold personalities, while some large dogs have a laid-back demeanor. At Camp Bow Wow, we celebrate all breeds and believe that every dog deserves a loving home where they can enjoy playtime, social activities and enrichment. It’s the individual personality of each dog that truly makes them special.”

Wondering what the top breeds are in your state? Check out the list below with the top 5 breeds per state (if available) and an AI image of how a dog could represent their state.

Alabama

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Miniature Poodle
5. Australian Shepherd

Alaska

*Top breeds not available

Arizona

Top Breeds

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

Arkansas

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. German Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

California

Top Breeds

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

Colorado

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Golden Retriever
3. German Shepherd
4. Australian Shepherd
5. Goldendoodle

Connecticut

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Pit Bull Terrier

Delaware

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Pit Bull Terrier
3. German Shepherd
4. Goldendoodle
5. Golden Retriever

Florida

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Australian Shepherd
5. Pit Bull Terrier

Georgia

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Pit Bull Terrier
5. German Shepherd

Hawaii

*Top breeds not available

Idaho

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Border Collie
5. Australian Shepherd

Illinois

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Australian Shepherd

Indiana

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Pit Bull Terrier
4. Australian Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

Iowa

Top Breeds

1. Goldendoodle
2. Labrador Retriever
3. Golden Retriever
4. Australian Shepherd
5. German Shepherd

Kansas

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Australian Shepherd
5. German Shepherd

Kentucky

Top Breeds

1. Goldendoodle
2. Labrador Retriever
3. Pit Bull Terrier
4. Australian Shepherd
5. German Shepherd

Louisiana

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Pit Bull Terrier
4. Australian Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

Maine

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Golden Retriever
3. Goldendoodle
4. Australian Shepherd
5. Pit Bull Terrier

Maryland

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Pit Bull Terrier
4. German Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

Massachusetts

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Australian Shepherd

Michigan

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Australian Shepherd
5. German Shepherd

Minnesota

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Australian Shepherd

Mississippi

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. German Shepherd

Missouri

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. German Shepherd

Montana

*Top breeds not available

Nebraska

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. German Shepherd

Nevada

Top Breeds

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

New Hampshire

*Top breeds not available

New Jersey

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Pit Bull Terrier
5. German Shepherd

New Mexico

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Australian Shepherd
3. German Shepherd
4. Australian Cattle Dog
5. Pit Bull Terrier

New York

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Pit Bull Terrier
5. German Shepherd

North Carolina

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. Australian Shepherd

North Dakota

*Top breeds not available

Nova Scotia, Canada

Top Breeds

1. Golden Retriever
2. Labrador Retriever
3. Goldendoodle
4. German Shepherd
5. Australian Shepherd

Ohio

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Pit Bull Terrier

Oklahoma

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Australian Shepherd
3. Goldendoodle
4. Pit Bull Terrier
5. German Shepherd

Oregon

Top Breeds

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

Pennsylvania

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. Pit Bull Terrier
5. German Shepherd

Rhode Island

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. Golden Retriever
5. German Shepherd

South Carolina

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Pit Bull Terrier

South Dakota

*Top breeds not available

Tennessee

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. German Shepherd
5. Pit Bull Terrier

Texas

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. German Shepherd
4. Australian Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

Utah

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Australian Shepherd
4. German Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

Vermont

*Top breeds not available

Virginia

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Pit Bull Terrier
4. German Shepherd
5. Golden Retriever

Washington

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Golden Retriever
3. German Shepherd
4. Goldendoodle
5. Australian Shepherd

West Virginia

*Top breeds not available

Wisconsin

Top Breeds

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Goldendoodle
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Australian Shepherd

Wyoming

*Top breeds not available