National Dog Day: Choose Your Furry Bestie Wisely

National Dog Day hits on August 26, and if you’re considering adopting a furry friend, you best do some digging. What’s the perfect pup for you? Rover.com, that online pet marketplace, and Ancestry teamed up to find the most popular pooches and their personalities.

Dogs have been our buds from crawling to our last breaths. No wonder 65.1 million Americans have one—they’re the top pet in the USA, as per [Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/#:~:text=66%25%20of%20U.S.%20households%20(86.9,fish%20(11.1%20million%20households).).

Phil Tedeschi, a prof at the University of Denver, summed it up: "Almost anyone who has had a dog knows the joy of getting home at the end of the day and being greeted by a wild wagging tail," he told USA TODAY.

Rover surveyed 1,000 pet parents in July 2024 to suss out the most popular breeds and their quirks.

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Top Dogs in America

Folks, here are your top breeds:

• Non-designer mixed breeds
• Labrador Retrievers
• Goldendoodle
• Golden Retriever
• German Shepherd
• Chihuahua
• French Bulldog
• Dachshund

Personality Over Breed

Some 88% of dog parents reckon knowing the breed mix helps understand their pooch better, and 56% think it strengthens their bond. Another 62% say breed is key when picking a pup.

Tedeschi chimes in: Sure, breed matters, but so does personality. It’s about the whole package, not just the label.

Know Your Pup

Get to know your dog, not just their breed. Pups are individuals, after all. Tedeschi says building a bond with a furry companion is crucial for mental health, especially when times are tough.

Top Traits

Top shared traits between pooches and people:

• Loyalty - 71%
• Playfulness - 65%
• Intelligence - 61%
• Friendliness - 61%

Around 62% of folks admit they and their dogs are socially anxious.

Anxious Pups

Around 42% of dog owners struggle with separation anxiety in their pets. Top breeds with this issue:

• Dachshunds
• Yorkshire Terriers

But any dog can get anxious. It can lead to barking, destruction, or messes, according to American Humane.

Loyalty Parade

Most loyal breeds, as per the survey:

• American pit bull terriers
• German shepherds
• Chihuahuas

German shepherds are big, energetic dogs, says the Golden State German Shepherd Rescue. Pit bulls have energy to burn, need daily exercise, and deal with controversy and bans, like Miami-Dade’s 1989 ban (now lifted thanks to Gov. Ron DeSantis).

Find Your Furry Soulmate

Truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Dogs have been man’s best friend for ages, each breed with its own job. Think of this survey as a guide, not a shopping list. Maybe a Chihuahua is perfect for a single gal living high up, while a rescue mutt is the old man’s best pal, and a Goldendoodle is the ideal playmate for a young family.

Do your homework! Good luck!

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Find her on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and TikTok : @juliamariegz