The Most Popular Dog Breed in Every Country [MAP]
What unites a national culture? The food we eat? The language we speak? Or the dogs we love?
All these factors have their part to play. But, just as there’s a kind of magic about the love between a dog and its owner, there’s something special about the way each culture shares a taste for a particular breed. What does it say about a country if the population favours big dogs or little ones, bouncy pooches or lapdogs, dogs who dig cuddles or dogs who bliss out on grooming?
That’s not for HouseholdQuotes to say. But what we have done is to research the most popular dog in every country for a new series of dog-themed maps. Yes, that’s right: DOG-THEMED MAPS! We used Google search data to find the most sought-after breed in every country on Earth. And then we put pictures of the popular ones on maps. Scroll on for the ‘winners’ and a continent-by-continent breakdown.
Key Findings
- The Rottweiler is number one dog in 34 countries – the highest number of appearances for any breed.
- However, the Australian Shepherd is the most-searched breed in the world, with 913,000 monthly hits across the 4 countries where it is number one.
- The most popular dog in the UK is the cockapoo.
- The 150 territories in our study share a love for just 27 different dog breeds.
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Europe
The UK is known as a nation of dog-lovers, with around a quarter of UK adults sharing a population of 10.1 million dogs. Their favourite? The cockapoo. What-apoo? For the uninitiated, the cockapoo is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle. In other words, intelligent, fun – and manageable! Just make sure you get your cross-breed from an ethical breeder.
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The border collie and the Cane Corso are tied for the most popular dog in Europe. Each is top dog in seven European countries. The border collie is a familiar sheep dog, but what of the Cane Corso? This “affectionate, intelligent, majestic” guard dog can trace her heritage to Roman times, and is well-loved in the Balkans and surrounding nations.
North America
The ultimate family dog has climbed up on top of the continent: the golden retriever takes Canada! This “intelligent, confident worker”/friendly pillow is the second-most searched breed in our study, and the most popular breed in 22 countries – beaten only by the Rottweiler (34) and German shepherd (29).
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Top dog in the States is the Australian shepherd. Despite the name, the Aussie shepherd is an American breed. Most likely, it took its name from the imported Australian sheep its ancestors herded. This breed is especially sought after right now for its distinctive mottled colouring and – very often – mismatched eyes.
South America
The number one dog in our study is especially beloved by South Americans. But the powerful Rottweiler counts the mastiffs of the Roman legions as her ancestors. Today, she is valued as a dog that does both: offers a fierce warning to potential intruders while coveting a bit of sofa time with her family.
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At the other end of the scale, Chileans love the pug. Of course, it’s possible that they’re just Googling images of the handbag-sized cute-ster, given that pugs tend to suffer in warm conditions. It’s advisable to have a hardier dog if your pug will be uncomfortable in your surroundings.
Middle East and Central Asia
The German shepherd is the most popular dog in seven countries of the region (plus a further 22 around the world). This working dog with a heart of gold is also known as an Alsatian, after British troops refused to call their four-legged colleagues ‘Germans’ during World War II.
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It’s big, guard dogs all around in the Middle East and Central Asia, as Dobermanns and Rottweilers occupy many of the remaining countries. The golden retriever is popular in Egypt, although stray dogs still roam the streets and adopting a homeless hound can save a life.
Rest of Asia and Oceania
Asian breeds such as the shiba inu have made their way west, partly thanks to how internet-friendly this neat little dog (or doge) is. But the shiba makes its biggest mark in Asia, where she is top dog in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Singapore.
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The German shepherd and the goldie tussle playfully for the rest of the region. A special mention goes to the Shih Tzu, who makes his only appearance in the Philippines. This homely little fellow is originally from Tibet, and developed as a cross between the Lhasa Apso and other Chinese imperial breeds.
Africa
The German shepherd is most popular in 14 African countries, just edging out the Rottweiler, who is most-searched in 13 places. But the Boerboel makes a good effort too: all four of her number one appearances are in African countries (Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe). In fact, this tough, intelligent dog originated in South Africa.
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The Rhodesian Ridgeback makes his only appearance as number one - in Botswana. He’s another South African breed, although he takes the first part of his name from the former name of Zimbabwe. The ‘Ridgeback’ part refers to a prominent stripe of hair along the dog’s spine. It was said that the more pronounced the ridge, the braver the dog.
Like international celebrities, there isn’t always a clear reason why a certain breed of dog is more popular in one country or another. Thankfully, dogs are not really about “reason” so much as “cuddling,” “rolling senselessly on their backs,” and – occasionally – a bit of loyal hard work such as guarding the home. Which dog breed would you and your compatriots most like to cuddle?
METHODOLOGY & SOURCES