10 Most Popular Dog Breeds in Florida (2023 Update)

As you’d expect, dogs in Florida are pretty common. They are all over the state, and the state’s favorite dogs are pretty similar to the favorite dogs of the rest of the country. However, there are some significant differences.

Figuring out what breeds are most popular in Florida is a bit difficult. Most of the statistics we have been on a national level—there is no kennel club that registers dogs that are just in Florida, for instance.

However, many different organizations do have surveys from time to time, which give us a good idea of what dogs are most common in Florida.

The 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds in Florida

1. Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dog in the United States, and they are the most popular dog in Florida as a whole. They are especially common in the suburban and rural areas, where these larger dogs fit in a bit better. However, you can also find them in urban areas—just not to the same extent.

These dogs are extremely popular largely because of their orientation towards people and ease of training. They are great family dogs as long as you carefully consider their activity needs, which are quite high. They are best for active families and open spaces, which is why they are not common in urban areas.

2. German Shepherd

German Shepherds are also extremely common throughout the United States, and they are also extremely popular throughout Florida. They are known for their protective nature and ease of training. They are extremely obedient to their people, which is also why they are so popular. However, they need to be socialized and trained properly, or they can be a bit too protective.

As long as they are raised properly, they can be very good jobs.

3. French Bulldog

Frenchies are extremely common in urban areas. They are smaller and don’t require much exercise at all. In fact, because of their squished faces, they really can’t exercise much at all. However, they are extremely prone to health problems. Their squished faces do not allow them to breathe correctly, which leads to all sorts of problems. For this reason, we highly recommend that you carefully choose a breeder to avoid all the health problems possible.

Of course, you are not going to be able to completely avoid health issues with this breed. It just comes with the territory.

4. Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers are known for being extremely people-oriented and friendly. They are great with larger families and extremely outgoing. Therefore, they are very tolerable towards children and even other pets. For this reason, they are commonly adopted by families looking for a good, overall family dog.

They are quite popular in the suburban and rural areas of Florida. They are a bit too large and active for urban areas, though.

5. Bulldogs

Bulldogs are another very popular dog in Florida and throughout the rest of the United States. We highly recommend them for those that need a smaller dog. However, despite the fact that they are extremely short and considered medium-sized dogs, they are very bulky. Therefore, they have a bit more weight than you’d expect them to have.

These dogs are friendly and calm. They are quite great family dogs for this reason. They are bulky enough to withstand children and calm enough in most situations.

6. Poodle

You may not expect Poodles to rank very high on the list. However, they are one of the most popular dogs in Florida. These larger dogs need quite a bit of exercise, training, and grooming, though. We highly recommend that they are only adopted by those with plenty of time on their hands. Otherwise, their care can be a bit much.

However, they are extremely obedient and easy to train. Their level of intelligence makes them able to do just about anything, but you also have to consider how much care you have to put into them.

7. Rottweiler

Rottweilers are extremely large and bulky dogs and they are popular in the rural parts of the state. They are known for being very loyal and loving guardians. They are great with children and other pets, as long as they are socialized properly. It is important that they are trained, though, as they may be a bit too protective in those cases.

These dogs are great for many families but they do require a bit of care and training, so be sure that you have the time to dedicate to them.

8. Dachshund

Dachshunds are extremely small and great for smaller spaces. They are quite popular in the more urban areas, as that is where they are best suited. However, some in more rural areas also have them.

However, because these dogs are so short and long, they have some health problems associated with their back. Therefore, we highly recommend that you purchase from a quality breeder, as health testing can lessen the chance of these health problems.

To avoid health issues, you may end up spending more on these dogs.

9. Yorkshire Terrier

These small dogs are becoming more and more popular in Florida, as they are very suited to smaller environments. However, because they are so small, some complications may arise—especially if you haven’t had a smaller dog before. For instance, they have a hard time getting up onto taller surfaces, like couches and beds, and they are also more likely to be preyed upon by predators.

Therefore, be sure that you have the environment to care for these dogs.

10. Boxer

Boxers are quite common throughout the whole United States. However, they are less common in Florida than in other areas. These canines are quite active and fun-loving, which is why they are often adopted. They are great for those that are looking for a personality dog that is going to give them a lot of fun.

However, these dogs do require quite a bit of care. They do love people, so they need a bit more care than other dogs. They are also quite energetic, so they need wide, open spaces.

Conclusion

Florida is home to quite a few dogs. Many dogs common in Florida are also common in the rest of the United States. They are not terribly different from many other states in their dog population.

The population in the cities is a bit different, though. As you might expect, smaller dogs are more common in the city, as there are more apartments and fewer large backyards for the bigger dogs. However, the same small dogs are common in cities that are common throughout the rest of the state, like the French Bulldog.

Featured Image Credit: fotorince, Shutterstock