20 most popular dogs

3. German Shepherd. This one enjoyed the music and crowds at the Highland Games in Oakbrook. Herding dogs are smart and loyal so these big shepherds get used a lot by both police K-9 units and service agencies. Don't you love their huge alert ears?2. Yorkshire Terrier. A good choice for the people who need small dogs--how cute is this? And while they can fit in a big pocket or bag, they really are dogs and can walk much farther (and faster) than you'd think.1. Labrador Retriever. If you've been to a dog park anywhere around Chicago in the past decade, you know how popular labs are, whether yellow, black or chocolate!View the list »
Which of these dogs is int he top 20? Not the shiba, although you couldn't tell in Warrenville!

General Pets newsletter

The Pet Place, a site run by a veterinarian, holds lots of useful information and also collects all sorts of pet-related trivia including a list of the 20 dog breeds currently most popular in the U.S. I've certainly seen most of them walking around DuPage County, on or off leash. Are your dogs on the list?

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  • 1. Labrador Retriever. If you've been to a dog park anywhere around Chicago in the past decade, you know how popular labs are, whether yellow, black or chocolate!
  • 2. Yorkshire Terrier. A good choice for the people who need small dogs--how cute is this? And while they can fit in a big pocket or bag, they really are dogs and can walk much farther (and faster) than you'd think.
  • 3. German Shepherd. This one enjoyed the music and crowds at the Highland Games in Oakbrook. Herding dogs are smart and loyal so these big shepherds get used a lot by both police K-9 units and service agencies. Don't you love their huge alert ears?
  • 4. Golden Retriever. The other retriever you see a lot—the “golden” in the name ranges from red-gold to near-white, and the extreme cuteness of golden puppies ensures the breed's continued popularity. Any golden puppy showing up at the Mack Road off-leash area gets instant attention from everyone.
  • 5. Beagle. We just acquired our own beagle—Perdita is the puppy in this photo. The mother, Pearl, is going to her “forever home” this weekend. We've fostered Pearl and her 3 puppies through Chicagoland Dog Rescue since mid-November, when the puppies were less than a week old. Now, one of the boys lives in Bartlett and the other in Wilmette. Beagles are very friendly dogs: big enough to be "real dogs" but small enough to be un-threatening to children. And the stamina to hunt rabbits all day!6. Boxer. I see a lot of square, slightly jowly boxer faces at the dog park, too, but apparently haven't snapped any photos lately. Sorry, boxer fans!
  • 7. Dachshund. Bred to hunt badgers, they've got courage to spare. Also strength and stamina. Even the miniature dachshunds can manage a brisk walk of a mile or more.
  • 8. English Bulldog. Makes me smile to see these underthrust smiles trundling along the paths off-leash. I met this girl at a pet photo session held for the opening of the Mysterious and Reassuring consignment shop in Franklin Park. She had her picture taken for the benefit of a pet rescue group.
  • 14. Rottweiler. These may look fierce but are actually sensitive and affectionate dogs. Years ago, we knew a man with three rescued Rotts who regularly walked them around McKee Marsh. Those dogs outweighed him by  a large margin!
  • 15. Pug. For those who love the bulldog look, here’s a dog that can be picked up without risking your back! This one was sharing a chair with its person at the Fox Valley Folk Festival in September.16. Pointer. Another beautiful hunting dog that also makes a good family dog. Larger than the beagle but still a mid-sized dog rather than a huge one.
  • 17. Boston Terrier. Bred for when Boston had a height restriction on dogs. Really. My mother’s favorite breed—and she grew up around Boston. Must have been fate. They're good dogs for a city like Chicago because they are small and fit well in apartments, but still up for a good walk in the park.
  • 18. Doberman Pinscher. After German shepherds, the classic guard dogs—because like shepherds, they’re smart and loyal. Harness those smarts through good training—dobermans appreciate the challenge!
  • 19. Shetland Sheepdog. Urge to herd personified: Like border collies, they do best if well trained and worked often so they don’t get bored. The two in this picture are shown watching the Highland Games in Oakbrook.20. Maltese. Another small, long-coated dog. Shih Tsus still have a head start in the popularity department but these pups are on their heels.
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, Chicago Pets Examiner

Susan NC Price has a degree in biological science and three decades of editorial and writing experience, including covering the formulation chemistry side of personal care products. (Do you know what's in your shampoo, and why? Susan does.) But her lifelong love of and curiosity about animals...

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