National Dog Day: Want to find your new best friend? A guide to canine companionship

National Dog Day, held annually on August 26, is a great time to start researching whether or not you should adopt a furry, four-legged bestie. But which is the perfect pup for you? Experts say it depends, but here are 2024's top dog breeds.

Rover.com, an online market for pet care, teamed up with Ancestry to find out which dog breeds are the most popular across the country and what their personalities are like. It's the sixth time they've conducted the survey.

Dogs are our companions from the time we learn to crawl to the time we take our last breaths, so it's no wonder that around 65.1 million Americans own a dog, making them the most popular pet in the country, according to Forbes.

"Almost anyone who has had a dog knows the joy of getting home at the end of the day and being greeted by a wild wagging tail," Phil Tedeschi, a professor at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver who runs a program focused on human-animal connection, told USA TODAY.

In July 2024, Rover surveyed 1,000 U.S. pet parents to learn more about which dog breeds are popular and what personality traits each breed is likely to show.

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What are the most popular breeds in America?

The eight most popular kinds of dogs are, according to Rover, the following:

• Non-designer mixed breeds
• Labrador Retrievers
• Goldendoodle
• Golden Retriever
• German Shepherd
• Chihuahua
• French Bulldog
• Dachshund

Personalities and connections over breeds

Around 88% of the dog parents that were surveyed said understanding their dog's mix of breeds would help them better understand their dogs, and 56% said knowing more about their dogs' genetic makeup would help "strengthen their bond."

Another 62% of those surveyed said that breed was also an important factor for them when considering which dog to add to their family.

While a dog's breed is important when deciding if a dog would fit into a person's lifestyle, it's also essential to get to know the dog's personality, Tedeschi, who is also a Rover Pet People Panelist, said.

The breed can give you clues as to what environments dogs thrive in, but it doesn't give you the whole picture.

Get to know your pup

It's essential to get to know the individual dog and their personality instead of stereotyping them by their breed.

Yes, dog breeds are unique from one another, but individual dogs have their own characteristics and needs.

"So often, these are companions that [we] spend some of our most high-quality recreational time," said Tedeschi. This bonding time often takes place when people are just able to relax.

Building a relationship with a companion animal, whether it be a dog or cat, whose company you enjoy, is responsive to your moods and emotions, and that helps you feel a connection plays out frequently in the "human-animal connection."

"There's this level of connection, social support, and enthusiasm that really kind of transcends or maybe even defines healthy relationships," said Tedeschi. "And people really noticed this during the pandemic [when] people who were feeling isolated and had lost aspects of their social support system were really finding these [connections] to be very important."

Common personality traits

The following are some of the top personality traits people and dogs share:

• Loyalty- 71%
• Playfulness- 65%
• Intelligence- 61%
• Friendliness- 61%

Around 62% of parents also said they and their dogs are also socially anxious.

Which dogs are more likely to have separation anxiety?

There are obstacles dog parents might have to overcome, and separation anxiety is one of them.

Around 42% of dog parents said their dog's separation anxiety is a challenge.

Breeds that were most likely to have separation anxiety were:

• Dachshunds
• Yorkshire Terriers

While these dogs are more likely to have separation anxiety, any dog can get anxious when they're away from their owners.

It can lead to dogs barking and crying, showing destructive behaviors or soiling the the house as their owner is leaving or shortly after they leave, according to American Humane.

Loyalty and other traits

The most loyal dog breeds, according to the survey, are:

• American pit bull terriers
• German shepherds
• Chihuahuas

German shepherds are big, usually have a lot of energy, and are constantly looking for something to do, according to the Golden State German Shepherd Rescue.

Meanwhile, pit bulls are also high-energy, and according to Dogster, daily exercise is crucial to ensuring they stay healthy. Still, due to a controversial past, Pit Bulls can be stigmatized and are banned in certain counties or cities.

For example, after a 7-year-old girl was attacked by a pit bull in 1989, a ban made it illegal to own pit bulls in Miami-Dade, according to the Miami Herald.

In 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that barred local governments and public housing officials from banning dogs of a specific breed, weight, or size.

So, what dog should you get?

Sorry to complicate it, but there isn't a single correct answer that applies to everyone.

Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, and each breed was created to do a different task, according to the study.

People should think about the survey as more of a guide than a shopping list, said Tedeschi.

Just because mixed dogs and Labradors are the most popular doggy companions doesn't necessarily mean they are the best dogs for everyone.

Hypothetically, a chihuahua might be the best companion for a single woman who lives on the 19th floor of a 20-story building, while a 5-year-old mixed rescue from a shelter is an older gentleman's best pal, and a Goldendoodle is the perfect playmate for a young family with three kids.

Everyone's situation is different, so it will take some research and time to figure out which dog would fit best in your life.

Good luck!

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz