Dog Breeds and Names Across the Nation – And How Oakland County Compares
(Kurt Metzger, Dec. 5, 2022)
Oakland County, MI – Our current series on the Dogs of Oakland County has been delving into the top breeds and top names of the dogs registered by community.
As a reference point for previously analyzed communities, as well as those to come, I thought it would be interesting to look at national rankings.
Each year the American Kennel Club produces a list of the Top Breeds in the U.S. As we await the 2022 list, I thought we should look at 2021, anticipating few if any changes this year.
The Top Breeds for 2021 are:
- Labrador Retriever
- French Bulldog
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Poodle
- Bulldog
- Beagle
- Rottweilers
- German Shorthaired Pointers
- Dachshund
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Australian Shepherd
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Boxer
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
We also have Rover.com, a website for locating boarding, dog walking, day care and other services across the country. They have just released their Top Dog Names for both males and females.
Most Common Boy Dog Names Most Common Girl Dog Names
- Max Luna
- Charlie Bella
- Cooper Daisy
- Milo Lucy
- Buddy Lily
- Rocky Zoe
- Bear Lola
- Teddy Sadie
- Duke Bailey
- Leo Stella
The communities in Oakland County analyzed to date have shown the Labrador and Golden Retrievers as #1 and #2, followed by the German Shepherd, Shih Tzu and Chihuahua. The French Bulldog is still well down our list.
As for naming our dogs, we also tend to stick with the national trend. Our Top 10 consists of Bella, Charlie, Lucy, Bailey, Zoe, Max, Buddy, Daisy, Cooper and Maggie. Only Maggie is unique to us.
As we continue our travels across the county, we shall search for any community that challenges these rankings.
Join in the conversation on the Oakland County Times Facebook Page, and share your puppy’s picture. And don’t forget to get your pet their vaccinations and license, which can be done through the Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center.
For more stories about population shifts, voter turnout and other election trends, and other interesting numbers, visit the Data-Based Stories Archives on Oakland County Times. Thanks to Data Expert Kurt Metzger for this work!