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5 Most Popular Dog Breeds in Texas in 2024 (With Pictures)

Hallie Roddy

By Hallie Roddy

Three Golden Retriever dogs

The citizens of the United States adore their pets— so much so that they have the leading dog and cat populations worldwide.1 There are dozens of dog breeds that people gravitate towards here. Some are much more popular than others, but the types of dogs people choose vary between each state.

Texas is a state where people keep pets as both companions and working dogs. Texas is currently leading the nation with the number of ranches and farms—the 248,4416 farms and ranches located here cover over 127 million acres.2 That is a lot of land and animals to care for without having a few hardworking dog breeds to help you out!

This list goes over some of the top dog breeds in Texas and explains why they thrive there.

hepper-dog-paw-divider 3

 

The 5 Most Popular Dog Breeds in Texas:

Texas may not be the leading state for the number of pet owners, but they aren’t the lowest either. Texas ranks 28th in pet ownership in the US. Of the 58.2% of pet-owning households in the state, 47% of those households own dogs.

1. Blue Lacy

Blue Lacy dog
Image Credit: Jessica Lobsinger, Shutterstock

The Blue Lacy is the official state dog breed of Texas. The breed was developed around the 1800s with the purpose of helping people with herding, hunting, and ranch work in the state of Texas specifically. They are very hardy, intelligent, and adaptable dogs. They also come with lots of energy, making Texas the perfect place for them to run and roam because of the abundance of open spaces.


2. Golden Retriever

Golden Retriever
Image Credit: JacLou, Pixabay

It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that another popular dog breed found in the state of Texas is the Golden Retriever—this breed is one of the most popular dogs in the entire country. Golden Retrievers are kind, gentle dogs that make great companions, but they are also obedient and intelligent enough to help out when needed.


3. French Bulldog

french bulldog looking back
Image Credit: icsilviu, Pixabay

When you think of Texans, you probably don’t picture them walking around with French Bulldogs! These are cute little dogs with calculative and curious personalities. The reason they are so popular is that they are ideal for city dwellers residing in places like Austin, Houston, and Dallas. They are perfect dogs for small apartments because they don’t require too much space or exercise.


4. Labrador Retriever

labrador retriever standing on green meadow
Image Credit: fsHH, Pixabay

Another popular dog in Texas and the entire United States is the Labrador Retriever. These dogs have warmed the hearts of the entire country and are the most loved dog in America. They have beautiful coats of Black, chocolate, silver, or golden and are friendly and active companions. They are often used as hunting and service dogs, but they don’t always have to be working to make a good pet.


5. Yorkshire Terrier

yorkshire terrier on the grass
Image Credit: Josep Monter Martinez, Pixabay

Even though many terrier breeds have become more like toy pups over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is still one of the most popular dogs in Texas because of their working history. Yorkshire Terriers were brought over with immigrants and were ideal for hunting rats inside mills. They were almost double in size then, but they remained popular in Texas even after they were no longer being used for work.

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Conclusion

The American Kennel Club might only recognize around 200 dog breeds, but it is estimated that there could be around 500 breeds currently existing in our world today. In the past, many of these dogs were used for guarding land, herding livestock, and killing rodents, but time has transformed most of these dogs into loyal companions that live in all parts of the country.

Texas may not be the top state for pet ownership, but Texans love their furry friends just as much as anyone else.

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Featured Image Credit: pixshots, Shutterstock

Hallie Roddy

Authored by

Hallie has been a proud nature and animal enthusiast for as long as she can remember. She attributes her passion for the environment and all its creatures to her childhood when she was showing horses on weekends and spending her weeknights devoting her attention to her pets. She enjoys spending most of her time in Michigan playing with her two rescue cats, Chewbacca and Lena, and her dog, Clayton. When Hallie isn’t usin...Read more

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