2016-03-24



The love between an owner and her dog can’t be quantified or easily expressed. Breeds vary in disposition, and the training and love shown toward a dog will make a big difference — plus, every individual pup has a unique personality.

That said, some breeds are just more popular among owners than others. Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) ranks the most popular breeds, and 2015’s data has just been released. The most popular breed has held the top spot for 25 consecutive years, but quite a few different breeds have reigned since the AKC’s founding.

PetBreeds provides the AKC’s top 35 rank here, along with detailed information regarding 2014 breed standings, life expectancy of each breed, purchase price estimates from around the Web, breed group and common nicknames for each beloved pooch. Some breeds held steady in their rank, while others jumped up or down the list by upwards of 10 positions since just last year.

#35. Cane Corso

Cane Corso Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 35
AKC Popularity – 2014: 48
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $1,750
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): Cane Corz, Italian Mastiff, Cane di Macellaio

#34. Weimaraner

Weimaraner Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 34
AKC Popularity – 2014: 35
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $700
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): Weimaraner Vorstehhund, Weim, Grey Ghost

#33. Pug

Pug Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 33
AKC Popularity – 2014: 33
Average Life Expectancy: 14 years
Puppy Price: $350
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Chinese Pug, Dutch Bulldog, Dutch Mastiff, Mini Mastiff, Mops, Carlin

#32. Vizsla

Vizsla Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 32
AKC Popularity – 2014: 34
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $950
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): Hungarian Vizsla, Magyar Vizsla, Hungarian Pointer, Drotszoru Magyar Vizsla

#31. Maltese

Maltese Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 31
AKC Popularity – 2014: 29
Average Life Expectancy: 14 years
Puppy Price: $700
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Maltese Dog

#30. Cocker Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 30
AKC Popularity – 2014: 30
Average Life Expectancy: 14 years
Puppy Price: $700
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): American Cocker Spaniel, Cocker, Merry Cocker

#29. Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 29
AKC Popularity – 2014: 32
Average Life Expectancy: 8 years
Puppy Price: $900
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): Berner Sennenhund, Bernese Cattle Dog, Berner

#28. Chihuahua

Chihuahua Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 28
AKC Popularity – 2014: 24
Average Life Expectancy: 16 years
Puppy Price: $650
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): None

#27. English Springer Spaniel

English Springer Spaniel Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 27
AKC Popularity – 2014: 28
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $600
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): Springer Spaniel

#26. Brittany

Brittany Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 26
AKC Popularity – 2014: 27
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $750
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): Epagneul Breton, Brittany Spaniel, American Brittany, Brittany Wiegref

#25. Mastiff

Mastiff Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 25
AKC Popularity – 2014: 26
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $1,250
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): English Mastiff, Old English Mastiff

#24. Havanese

Havanese Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 24
AKC Popularity – 2014: 25
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $900
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Bichon Habanero, Havanese Cuban Bichon, Bichon Havanais, Bichon Havanês, Havaneser, Havanezer

#23. Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdog Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 23
AKC Popularity – 2014: 21
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $906
Breed Group: Herding
Nickname(s): Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie

#22. Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 22
AKC Popularity – 2014: 23
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $700
Breed Group: Non-Sporting
Nickname(s): Boston Bull, Boston Bull Terrier, Boxwood, American Gentlemen

#21. Pomeranian

Pomeranian Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 21
AKC Popularity – 2014: 20
Average Life Expectancy: 14 years
Puppy Price: $700
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Pom, Pom Pom, Deutsche Spitze, Zwergspitz, Spitz Nain, Spitz Enano, Zwers

#20. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 20
AKC Popularity – 2014: 22
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $550
Breed Group: Herding
Nickname(s): Pembroke, PWC, Pem, Corgi

#19. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 19
AKC Popularity – 2014: 17
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $925
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Chinese Lion Dog, Chrysanthemum Dog

#18. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 18
AKC Popularity – 2014: 19
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $1,250
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Cav, Cavalier, Cavie

#17. Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 17
AKC Popularity – 2014: 18
Average Life Expectancy: 14 years
Puppy Price: $550
Breed Group: Herding
Nickname(s): Aussie or Little Blue Dog

#16. Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 16
AKC Popularity – 2014: 16
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $750
Breed Group: Terrier
Nickname(s): Zwergschnauzer

#15. Great Dane

Great Dane Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 15
AKC Popularity – 2014: 15
Average Life Expectancy: 7 years
Puppy Price: $1,100
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): Dane, Gentle Giant, Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff

#14. Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinscher Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 14
AKC Popularity – 2014: 14
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $800
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): Dobe, Dobie, Doby, Doberman, Dobermann, Dobynm

#13. Dachshund

Dachshund Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 13
AKC Popularity – 2014: 11
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $500
Breed Group: Hound
Nickname(s): Teckel, Tekkel, Tekkel Doxie, Weenie Dog, Sausage Dog, Bassotto, Worshond

#12. Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 12
AKC Popularity – 2014: 13
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $850
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): Chukcha, Chuksha, Husky, Icee, Sibe

#11. German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 11
AKC Popularity – 2014: 12
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $550
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): GSP, DK, Kurzhaar, Deutscher Kurzhaariger Vorstehhund, Deutsch Kurzhaar

#10. Boxer

Boxer Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 10
AKC Popularity – 2014: 8
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $900
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): German Boxer, Deutscher Boxer

#9. Rottweiler

Rottweiler Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 9
AKC Popularity – 2014: 10
Average Life Expectancy: 10 years
Puppy Price: $1,600
Breed Group: Working
Nickname(s): Rottie, Rott

#8. Poodle

Poodle Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 8
AKC Popularity – 2014: 7
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $1,250
Breed Group: Non-Sporting
Nickname(s): Pudle, Caniche, Barbone

#7. Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 7
AKC Popularity – 2014: 6
Average Life Expectancy: 13 years
Puppy Price: $600
Breed Group: Toy
Nickname(s): Yorkie

#6. French Bulldog

French Bulldog Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 6
AKC Popularity – 2014: 9
Average Life Expectancy: 10 years
Puppy Price: $2,050
Breed Group: Non-Sporting
Nickname(s): Frenchie, Bouledogue Français

#5. Beagle

Beagle Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 5
AKC Popularity – 2014: 5
Average Life Expectancy: 14 years
Puppy Price: $650
Breed Group: Hound
Nickname(s): English Beagle

#4. Bulldog

Bulldog Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 4
AKC Popularity – 2014: 4
Average Life Expectancy: 9 years
Puppy Price: $1,600
Breed Group: Non-Sporting
Nickname(s): English Bulldog

#3. Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 3
AKC Popularity – 2014: 3
Average Life Expectancy: 12 years
Puppy Price: $1,500
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): Yellow Retriever, Golden Flat Coat

#2. German Shepherd

German Shepherd Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 2
AKC Popularity – 2014: 2
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $1,150
Breed Group: Herding
Nickname(s): Alsatian, Alsatian Wolfdog, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schäferhund, GSD, Schäferhund

#1. Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever Overview | PetBreeds

AKC Popularity – 2015: 1
AKC Popularity – 2014: 1
Average Life Expectancy: 11 years
Puppy Price: $750
Breed Group: Sporting
Nickname(s): Lab, Labrador

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