These Are the Most Popular Mixed-Breed Dogs By State

Every state in the U.S. has a distinct personality. You can see our varying tastes based on the Valentine’s Day candy we eat, the IKEA products we buy, and our best small towns. We also have different favorite dog breeds across American states, according to dog genetics company Embark. 

For the study, Embark analyzed the DNA of more than 200,000 mixed-breed dogs across the country. From there, it found each state’s top two most popular mixed-breed dogs and created a series of infographics to display them. 

Some of the maps’ results aren’t too surprising: Americans like Labrador retrievers and German shepherds, and Californians in particular love chihuahuas. What surprised us most was the prevalence of pit bulls as number-one favorite mixed-breeds. They cover the map with the exception of only seven states. Embark explains how that happened:

“American Pit Bull Terriers (affectionately referred to as Pitties) were popular in ares with lax spray/neuter laws. Coupled with their large litter sizes, this led to a surging number of Pitties over the decades.

“Most dogs are imported across state lines, to shelters with open spaces. This explains why Pitties became so widely distributed across the country.”

When it comes to the states’ number-two favorite mixed-breed dogs, there’s much more diversity. Labrador retrievers and German shepherds together cover most of the map, and they’re joined by pit bulls, beagles, chihuahuas, Alaskan huskies, miniature poodles, and Australian cattle dogs.

Here are the mixed-breed dogs that made the list of the top ten in the entire country:

1. American Pit Bull Terrier
2. German Shepherd
3. Chow Chow
4. Labrador Retriever
5. Australian Cattle Dog
6. Boxer
7. American Staffordshire Terrier
8. Chihuahua
9. Rottweiler
10. Siberian Husky

Find other infographics and information about dog genetics on Embark’s blog.