What’s the most popular dog breed in Sacramento? This ‘playful’ pup is No. 1
When it comes to Sacramento’s most popular dog breeds, one particular pup leads the pack.
That’s according to the American Kennel Club, which recently released its list of the most popular dog breeds across California and the country.
Advertised as the “world’s largest registry of purebred dogs,” the kennel club said it used registration statistics to rank pet owners’ favorite pedigreed pooches in 2025.
Here’s which breed took the top spot in the City of Trees:
What’s the No. 1 dog breed in Sacramento?
According to the American Kennel Club, the most popular dog breed in Sacramento in 2025 was the French bulldog.
French bulldogs, also known as frenchies, also took the No. 1 spot on the pedigreed dog registry’s California and national lists.
The breed has reigned supreme in the United States for four years in a row, the American Kennel Club said.
Resembling miniature bulldogs with large, erect “bat ears,” French bulldogs are “playful, alert, adaptable and completely irresistible,” the kennel club said, noting that they’re particularly popular with city dwellers.
“In addition to being a popular dog breed in movies and television, the French bulldog has warmed the hearts of California’s residents for a long time,” Brandi Munden, American Kennel Club vice president of communications and public relations, wrote in an email.
“Frenchies are adaptable and do well in urban and suburban environments and are friendly dogs,” Munden said.
What are the most popular dog breeds in California?
In most of California’s biggest cities, the French bulldog reigns supreme as the most popular dog breed based on registration data, according to the American Kennel Club.
That breed also took first place in Los Angeles, Oakland and San Diego, the kennel club said.
Only San Francisco bucked the trend, with pet owners in the Bay Area crowning the golden retriever as the most popular pedigreed dog breed.
Other beloved breeds in major California cities included bulldogs, Pembroke Welsh corgis, poodles, Pomeranians and rottweilers.
In California, these five dog breeds get the most love, according to the American Kennel Club:
- French bulldog
- Labrador retriever
- Golden retriever
- Daschund
- Cane corso
What are the top pedigree dog breeds in the US?
Across the United States, these were the five most registered breeds, the American Kennel Club said:
- French bulldog
- Labrador retriever
- Golden retriever
- Dachshund
- Poodle
The “curious, spunky” dachshund skyrocketed in popularity in 2025, the American Kennel Club said in a March 18 news release, replacing the poodle in the top five.
“Dachshunds are very intelligent, excellent problem solvers and adorable,” American Kennel Club CEO and president Gina M. DiNardo said in the release.
Although these breeds are popular, they may not be the right pets for you, according to the kennel club.
“The American Kennel Club always urges potential dog owners to do their research and make sure you choose a breed that fits your lifestyle,” Munden said.
“Dogs are a lifetime commitment,” Nor Cal French Bulldog Rescue in Folsom said on its website.
Before you buy or adopt a dog, the group said, “Please be certain you’re ready to make that commitment.”
How did American Kennel Club come up with rankings?
To determine the most beloved breeds, the American Kennel Club studied 2025 data from owners who registered dogs with California ZIP codes.
The club wouldn’t share the precise number of pups in the registry, but told The News & Observer in North Carolina that there were “hundreds of thousands” as of March.
