When it comes to Sacramento’s most popular dog breeds, one particular pup leads the pack.
That’s according to the American Kennel Club, which recently released its list of the most popular dog breeds across California and the country.
Advertised as the “world’s largest registry of purebred dogs,” the kennel club said it used registration statistics to rank pet owners’ favorite pedigreed pooches in 2025.
Here’s which breed took the top spot in the City of Trees:
The French bulldog is the most popular dog in Sacramento, according to the American Kennel Club. Image Via: Dragan Mujan/Shutterstock What’s the No. 1 dog breed in Sacramento?
According to the American Kennel Club, the most popular dog breed in Sacramento in 2025 was the French bulldog.
French bulldogs, also known as frenchies, also took the No. 1 spot on the pedigreed dog registry’s California and national lists.
The breed has reigned supreme in the United States for four years in a row, the American Kennel Club said.
Resembling miniature bulldogs with large, erect “bat ears,” French bulldogs are “playful, alert, adaptable and completely irresistible,” the kennel club said, noting that they’re particularly popular with city dwellers.
“In addition to being a popular dog breed in movies and television, the French bulldog has warmed the hearts of California’s residents for a long time,” Brandi Munden, American Kennel Club vice president of communications and public relations, wrote in an email.
“Frenchies are adaptable and do well in urban and suburban environments and are friendly dogs,” Munden said.
Golden retrievers are among the most registered dogs in California, the American Kennel Club says. Image via Shutterstock/Olya Maximenko What are the most popular dog breeds in California?
In most of California’s biggest cities, the French bulldog reigns supreme as the most popular dog breed based on registration data, according to the American Kennel Club.
That breed also took first place in Los Angeles, Oakland and San Diego, the kennel club said.
Only San Francisco bucked the trend, with pet owners in the Bay Area crowning the golden retriever as the most popular pedigreed dog breed.
Other beloved breeds in major California cities included bulldogs, Pembroke Welsh corgis, poodles, Pomeranians and rottweilers.
In California, these five dog breeds get the most love, according to the American Kennel Club:
French bulldogLabrador retrieverGolden retrieverDaschundCane corso 
Olivia and Tanner Keller walk their dog Rory near their home in Lincoln on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com What are the top pedigree dog breeds in the US?
Across the United States, these were the five most registered breeds, the American Kennel Club said:
French bulldogLabrador retrieverGolden retrieverDachshundPoodle
The “curious, spunky” dachshund skyrocketed in popularity in 2025, the American Kennel Club said in a March 18 news release, replacing the poodle in the top five.
“Dachshunds are very intelligent, excellent problem solvers and adorable,” American Kennel Club CEO and president Gina M. DiNardo said in the release.
Although these breeds are popular, they may not be the right pets for you, according to the kennel club.
“The American Kennel Club always urges potential dog owners to do their research and make sure you choose a breed that fits your lifestyle,” Munden said.
“Dogs are a lifetime commitment,” Nor Cal French Bulldog Rescue in Folsom said on its website.
Before you buy or adopt a dog, the group said, “Please be certain you’re ready to make that commitment.”
Shana McDaniels, a River District tenant, walks her dog Winter on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. HECTOR AMEZCUA hamezcua@sacbee.com How did American Kennel Club come up with rankings?
To determine the most beloved breeds, the American Kennel Club studied 2025 data from owners who registered dogs with California ZIP codes.
The club wouldn’t share the precise number of pups in the registry, but told The News & Observer in North Carolina that there were “hundreds of thousands” as of March.
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Brooke (they/them) covers Fresno and California news as the Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. They previously covered wildlife and national parks out west for the national real-time team at McClatchy News. Originally from Florida, they studied journalism at the University of Florida and previously covered LGBTQ+ news for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, their hometown newspaper. When they’re not writing stories, they enjoy hanging out with their cats, riding horses or spending time outdoors.