Humans first domesticated dogs between 18,000 and 32,000 years ago. While scientists debate the specific timing (and ancestral lineage) of when this first happened, one fact is not in dispute: People love dogs. Nearly half of all US households have at least one dog, living up to the moniker of “man’s best friend.” We don’t yet know where the first dogs originated. But it’s a different story when it comes to today’s breeds.
This animated map counts down the 101 most popular dog breeds and their origins. It’s based on data from the American Kennel Club and Wikipedia.
Starting with the Bouvier de Flandres at 101, each breed appears as a card connected to its place of origin. The card features an outline of the breed, as well as information about the breed’s size, origin, and the year it was recognized by the American Kennel Club. Each card is color-coded based on the breed’s region of origin.
Origin data differs for each breed. Some can be traced to countries (such as Madagascar for the Coton de Tulear) or even specific cities (like Tenerife in the Canary Islands for the Bichon Frise). Others can only be classified to broader regions, like the Anglo-Scottish border for the Border Terrier.
There is significant variance among the 101 most popular breeds, both in size and legacy. The English Setter, Cocker Spaniel, Irish Setter, and Chesapeake Bay Retriever were all first recognized in 1878. Conversely, the Biewer Terrier wasn’t fully recognized until 2021. Popular breeds range from very small dogs like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians up to enormous pups like Mastiffs.
After the video counts down to the French Bulldog at #1, a choropleth map appears. This shows the geographic footprint of the 101 most popular breeds, and where they cluster. Of the top 10, only one originates outside of Europe. The UK leads with 29 breeds. Germany (18 breeds) and France (8 breeds) come in at second and third. The map reveals that breeds come from every continent except Antarctica. As new breeds are recognized every year, it will be interesting to see how origins (and preferences) shift.
