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Pitbulls Are The Most Popular Dogs In the U.S.

Dogs labeled as 'pitbulls' are the most popular dogs in the U.S., more popular than Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Boxers, Huskies, Rottweilers, and many others, as revealed by a recent analysis of veterinary data. In addition, they are the #1 most common breed found in DNA-tested dogs. While the American Pit Bull Terrier is a distinct breed, the broader label of 'pitbull' is not a breed but instead, a generic term used to describe a type of dog loosely based on its appearance, resembling any medium-sized dog with physical characteristics from any of the numerous bully-type breeds. Accordingly, as the term 'pitbull' used in breed population data includes the four unique breeds commonly included in the pitbull-type category, a wide variety of pitbull-type mixes, and other breeds or mixes labeled as 'pitbulls' based on their appearance, we conservatively estimate, based on the DNA and veterinary data provided below, that they represent 20% (18 million of 90 million dogs) of the U.S. dog population.

Breed Population Data 📑

DNA Data

According to Embark, the #1 most common breed identified in DNA-tested dogs is the American Pit Bull Terrier - twice as common as German Shepherds (7%), the second most common breed, and almost 3x as common as Labrador Retrievers (5.7%), the third most common breed. DNA results from Embark reveal that the top 5 most commonly detected breeds are:


  1. American Pit Bull Terrier: 14.8%
  2. German Shepherd Dog: 7%
  3. Labrador Retriever: 5.7%
  4. Chihuahua: 5.1%
  5. Australian Cattle Dog: 4.6%


The American Staffordshire Terrier, the 10th most common breed, is found in 1.9% of Embark’s results. Data data isn’t available for the last two breeds commonly included in the modern pitbull-type category: the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Bully (not to be confused with the American Bulldog).

Veterinary Data

A recent analysis of over 200K veterinary and pet expert interactions found that pitbulls are the most popular dogs in at least 21 states and the most popular dogs in the U.S. overall. Furthermore, veterinary data from Banfield shows that the population of pitbulls has increased while the popularity of other large breeds has declined:


  • Pitbull-type dogs: increased 24%
  • Boxers: increased 6%
  • German Shepherds: decreased 7%
  • Labrador Retrievers: decreased 17%

Breed Registration Data

There are an estimated 90 million dogs in the U.S. While there are no conclusive population counts by breed, kennel club breed registration data (e.g., AKC/UKC) is often used to compile 'most popular dog breeds' lists and rankings. However, since breed registration data only includes purebred dogs, it cannot accurately determine the breed population sizes. This is particularly relevant considering that over 50% of dogs in the U.S. are mixed breed, and only a small minority are registered by a kennel club. Additionally, because breed registration data excludes mixed-breed dogs, it disproportionately impacts population estimates for pitbull-type dogs. A recent study found that most (98%) pitbull-type dogs are mixed-breed. Therefore, as most pitbull-type dogs are not purebred, DNA and veterinary data provide a more accurate representation of their overall population size than breed registration data. This is because DNA and veterinary data include both purebred and mixed-breed dogs and represent comprehensive dog population data from across the country, regardless of registration or breed-specific legislation.

America's Dog 🐶

Contrary to misinformation promoted by special-interest organizations and tabloids that support breed-specific legislation (BSL), pitbulls are not fringe or unpopular. Instead, they are popular and mainstream dogs, providing companionship and happiness to millions of families. This popularity is unsurprising, given their excellent temperament and outstanding behavior. Pitbulls have been popular in the U.S. since the early 1900s, featured prominently as national mascots on military recruitment posters during World Wars I and II, as mascots for sports teams and companies, in television shows and movies, and were proudly considered 'America's dog.' Furthermore, their popularity is a key reason why dog bans targeting pitbulls are a trend in decline and have been repealed in many cities and towns, including Denver, CO, where voters repealed the city's 31-year-old ban against pitbulls by a wide 66% majority. Therefore, we'd say they are still 'America's dog' today, which is why BSL and dog bans are frequently challenged and often repealed—after all, great dogs are family.

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