The 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2021: An Overview

Dogs are considered man’s best friend; anyone will want to care for them. Therefore, picking a dog breed ideal within your lifestyle is no joke, so you must be careful.

The American Kennel Club released the most popular and renowned breeds of dogs of 2020 on March 16, 2021, which they based on statistics.

Do you think you’ll find a dog you’ll like as a companion, or is your furry companion’s breed on the list? Here are the shortlisted breeds considered by the AKC.

Labrador Retriever Dog

Labrador Retrievers are considered the most popular breed in America for thirty years. They were initially sporting dogs from Newfoundland and were brought to England around 1800 by English fishermen. 

The breed generally comes in three different colors—yellow, chocolate, and black, and their coats are usually short, thick, and weather-proof.

They also have friendly, soft, kind eyes, which mirror their warm personality.

When standing, Labrador retrievers are at least 21.5 to 24.5 inches (55 to 62 cm), and they weigh 55 to 80 pounds (25 to 36 kg). 

Labrador Retrievers are excellent family-friendly dogs with a soft spot for affection, making them great gentle cuddlers. Furthermore, these dogs are even-tempered, intelligent, outgoing, athletic, and trustworthy. 

They are giant sweethearts with a heart of gold.

Labrador Retrievers love to communicate, especially when training, but they can be whiny in between. However, they are willing to work with you and are natural people-pleasers, so they can quickly train and take cues.

Possible health conditions associated with Labrador Retrievers are hypothyroidism, seizures, arthritis, laryngeal paralysis, and cancer. Their lifespan is at 10 to 12 years.

French Bulldog

Recognized as an affectionate companion dog, French Bulldogs have a long history of being man’s best friend. They are dogs who want to be close to the pack leader, with their owner as their own.

They are the miniature version of the actual Bulldog, earning the nickname “Frenchie” by accompanying English lacemakers to France.

The breed has an explainable but unique appeal that makes it a good companion. They have a flat snout and ears that resemble bats and coats that need low maintenance that matches their easy-going personality.

Frenchies are intelligent and keen when it comes to training, but these dogs are pretty sluggish. However, they are natural comedians that make people laugh by their very presence and deal with their mischievous and playful antics.

French Bulldogs are a good choice as companion dogs due to their adaptability. In addition, they are excellent for apartment living because of their frequency, or lack thereof, of barking. 

However, this breed is not for you if you’re a busy person because they tend to be very clingy. Frenchies love to give love through physical affection; thus, if you usually work at home, you may find them happily snuggled by your feet.

Frenchies are prone to mobility issues, conjunctivitis, and conditions related to their heart and breathing capacity because of their flat nose. Their life span is at 10 to 14 years.

German Shepherd Dog

A popular breed, especially in the working classes, German Shepherds are known for their solid and unique smell. As their name implies, this breed originated from Germany in the late 1800s. 

Initially assigned for herding sheep, the breed is used all around, like guide dogs, search-and-rescue, or military.

Their appearance resembles a wolf’s, and because of that, they were temporarily renamed as “Alsatian Wolf Dog” during World War I. The colors of a German Shepherd dog either range from tan and black, red and black, or rare color combinations.

Bred for their intelligence, German Shepherds serve as watch and guard dogs, making them perfect in police and military forces. They are the preferred breed because, unlike other dogs, they can quickly learn, understand, and retain cues and commands.

Their appearance may strike them as terrifying, but they are remarkably loyal, curious, and are eager to have a purpose. However, these dogs are territorial and overprotective, slowly becoming aggressive if they’re not appropriate and actively trained and socialized correctly.

They are prone to bloating, hemophilia, diabetes, epilepsy, and cataracts. Their life span is at 9 to 13 years.

Golden Retriever Dog

Golden Retrievers are one of the most known breeds in the United States whose purpose is to retrieve shot waterfowl in hunting. 

They were developed in the 1850s by Scotsman Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, the Lord of Tweedmouth. The breed was developed by crossing several breeds through different generations, such as Retriever, Water Spaniel, Bloodhounds, and other Retrievers.

This breed was first shown in 1908 at the U.K.’s Crystal Palace and earned the name “flat coats (golden).” However, Golden Retrievers only earned official recognition from American Kennel Club (AKC) by 1925. 

This breed has three main classifications with notable golden fur: the British class, the American class, and the Canadian class. The difference between the three classes is their statures, with the bulky British, the leaner American, and the taller Canadian.

The temperament of Golden Retrievers is considered a hallmark within dog breeds: they are kind, friendly, affectionate, intelligent, and confident.

Goldies are also playful and adventurous, with an exceptional amount of patience; they love to work and are always active.

Golden Retrievers are also an excellent choice for looking for a charming and patient companion and guide dog. They are good around children and your other pets and may even take care of them with an open heart.

Goldies love to communicate, especially when training, but can be whiny in between. However, they are willing to work with you and are natural people-pleasers, so they can quickly train and take cues.

Possible health conditions are hip dysplasia, loose knees, cataracts, low thyroids, and obesity. Their life span is at 10 to 12 years.

Bulldog

Also known as the English Bulldog, these dogs have initially bred way back in the 5th century to help butchers control their livestock. However, during the 15th century, they were trained in a brutal sport called bull-baiting. 

Bulldogs earned a title as Britain’s National Dog due to their flat snouts and wrinkled faces, closely associated with former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Furthermore, they have notably wide-set round black eyes, protruding jaws, and broadheads and shoulders. Bulldogs have short coats, making their fur low-maintenance.

Their colors vary from red, white, fawn, brindle patterns, and others.

According to the American Kennel Club, bulldogs are “equable and kind, resolute, and courageous” without aggression or viciousness included. Their temperament of having a friendly, patient, yet stubborn nature makes them a good family pet, especially children.

Nevertheless, you must encourage your Bulldog to train by using positive reinforcement. However, bear in mind not to work them up too much because Bulldogs have shorter lung capacity than other dogs.

They can also be prone to issues related to their cardiovascular system and may also experience hip dysplasia, cherry eyes, and heatstroke. These dogs cannot swim well too.

Their lifespan is at 8 to 10 years.

Poodle Dog

Contrary to what people know, Poodles originated from Germany, not France. Its name came from the German word, pudel or pudelin, which means “to splash in the water.” 

Their coats are very soft and hypoallergenic, ideal for any first-time dog owner who wants a dog but has allergies. Their colors vary from black, white, brown, blue, gray, silver, and others and may either be solid colored or multicolored.

Poodles have a friendly temperament. They can be wary and stubborn at first but can have a warm and comfortable disposition once they trust you.

They are also energetic and intelligent. Poodles got the nickname Canine Einsteins due to their exceptional intelligence. 

They are highly trainable dogs that can be adept and adaptable to any form of training and other physical activities.

As a result, standard Poodles are the most recommended Poodle type to introduce families with small children and even other pets.

In general, Poodles are most susceptible to thyroid issues, anemia, and hepatitis. Their lifespan is at 12 to 15 years.

Beagle Dog

Beagles are smaller versions of scent hounds, a breed also notable for their strong sense of smell and tracking instincts. These dogs’ primary purpose is to find and hunt for hare as a game and hunt dog.

There are no reliable documents about the origin of Beagles, but there are several accounts about them during the 5th century BCE. They are possibly the Beagle’s early ancestors. 

Early Beagles stood 8 to 9 inches tall; thus, their nickname being “Pocket Beagles.” However, during the 18th century, larger dogs became more popular, which led to this breed’s extinction in 1901. 

The early 1800s brought the standard Beagle and its four varieties: Medium Beagle, dwarf/lapdog Beagle, fox Beagle, and the rough-coated/terrier Beagle. 

Their appearance resembles miniature foxhounds, except with smaller snouts and legs; their noses are either black or liver-colored.

The most common coatings are tricolored—white with black and brown patches—but some lose the black spots as they grow older.

Beagles have an even temper and are gentle; they are also not aggressive nor timid. They are intelligent but are determined, single-minded, and stubborn, making them hard to train as they are distracted and forgetful.

If trained properly, they can be alert and participate well in food rewards and become people pleasers. However, beagles suffer from separation anxiety if left alone, leaving them distraught and destructive because of their nature as pack animals.

Regular exercise is a recommendation for them because they are prone to obesity and must not overeat. Beagles are also prone to epilepsy, cherry eye, and allergies.

Their life span is 12 to 15 years.

Rottweiler Dog

Rottweilers are a breed of working dogs descended from drover dogs (cattle-driving dogs). Their primary task was to herd livestock, pull carts full of meat to the market, and become watchdogs. 

They are initially from Rome but abandoned by Roman legions in Rottweil, Germany, during the 2nd century C.E.; thereby, their name. 

The breed both has an outer coat and undercoat, but they may miss the latter in hot climates because of heat. Their coats are always black with brown or tan points, especially on their eyes, cheeks, muzzles, chest, and other parts.

Rottweilers are good-natured, devoted, and obedient dogs despite their status as a powerful and potentially dangerous dog breed.

Despite being territorial and overprotective, they exhibit affection and good behavior towards their humans and may even act like clowns.

It is a requirement that Rottweilers should undergo socialization and obedience training to allow them to interact with others. However, with their intellect and instinct, they seamlessly execute their jobs without any training, making them easily take cues.

They are prone to conditions like aortic stenosis, lymphoma, hip and elbow dysplasia, and distemper. Their life span is 8 to 10 years.

German Shorthaired Pointer Dog

German Shorthaired Pointers dated back to the 17th century. They descended from a breed called German Bird Dog, which is also from earlier breeds. 

This bold breed trains mainly to hunt in both land and water and is a versatile dog. The American Kennel Club considers them as part of the Sporting class with their instinct and purpose.

This breed has a short outer coat with dense undercoats and guard hairs that keep them water-resistant and warm in cold climates. Their color varies in their coat, but usually, they’re full white with liver splotches or vice versa.

German Shorthaired Pointers are suitable for adventurous families. Their temperament makes them intelligent, friendly, enthusiastic, and curious—which makes them trainable. 

GSPs must train as young as possible with basic obedience commands and other tricks. By being consistent in every training session, they can learn quickly and efficiently.

Although they are generally healthy, German Shorthaired Pointers are prone to hip dysplasia. They are also prone to eye and heart-related conditions.

Their life span is 12 to 14 years.

Dachshund

A German breed whose roots date back to 600 years ago, Dachshund‘s name came from a German word meaning “badger dog.” These dogs, classified as hunting dogs, are a favorite in hunting and European royalty, especially by the English Queen Victoria.

Dachshunds have long bodies and are muscular but short-legged; their front paws are large and suitable for digging. Dachshunds also have three types of coats; short-hair, long-hair, and wired.

Their dominant fur colors are red, black, and tan.

Born and bred to be hunting dogs, Dachshunds can be stubborn, but if you warm them up, they’d be playful. However, their endearing and loving nature has been their charm to make people fall in love with them.

These dogs are somehow prone to separation anxiety, so they must do training to avoid probable destruction around the home. Dachshunds may even bark loudly, making them suitable as watchdogs, but training can make it less frequent.

They are prone to having epilepsy, Cushing’s syndrome, and spine-related conditions. They may also have inbreeding depression, a disorder related to direct inbreeding of similar breeds.

Their lifespan is likely to be around 12 to 16 years.

Conclusion

And that’s our top 10 favorite dog breeds in 2021! While we can’t list them all, it’s great to see that these furry babies are well-known and cared for.

Like humans, dogs are diverse in different parts of the world, whether known or not. They’re cooperative, affectionate, and loyal to their owners, which comes as a treat.

They’ve become mirrors of ourselves as well! How your dog acts may depend on what they see from you or what you teach them.

All in all, it depends on how you’re going to take care of them. 

Is your favorite breed or furry companion on the list? Let us know in the comment section below!

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