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:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. French Bulldog
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Poodle
6. Bulldog
7. Beagle
8. Rottweilers
9. German Shorthaired Pointers
10. Dachshund
11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
12. Australian Shepherd
13. Yorkshire Terrier
14. Boxer
15. 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

1. Max                                                                                                             Luna
2. Charlie                                                                                                        Bella
3. Cooper                                                                                                        Daisy
4. Milo                                                                                                              Lucy
5. Buddy                                                                                                           Lily
6. Rocky                                                                                                          Zoe
7. Bear                                                                                                             Lola
8. Teddy                                                                                                          Sadie
9. Duke                                                                                                           Bailey
10. 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!