Fourth place goes to the noble German Shepherd, a beloved breed that has remained within the top five for decades. As a German Shepherd owner myself, their qualities are hard to describe from the outside; you must know one personally to truly appreciate the beauty of the breed. However, the intelligence and courage of the German Shepherd is apparent from simply seeing him. I may be biased, but the German Shepherd’s stunning appearance turns heads; the large ears speak to the alert, bright-eyed personality of the breed, while the massive size and strong build demand attention and leave no doubt that this dog will do anything to protect his loved ones. 

Finally, the Poodle takes fifth place. With three size varieties (toy, miniature and standard), the Poodle appeals to many different owners with varying situations, especially if you have allergies. This breed is highly adaptable, whether living in a small apartment or a house with a big backyard. The Poodle is also known as one of the most intelligent and trainable dog breeds.

With these rankings in mind, I did a survey of Louisville’s most popular dog breeds to see how they compare! According to 68 respondents, 36% of Louisville dog owners have mixed breed dogs, which were not included in the AKC’s national rankings. However, within purebred dogs, Louisville’s top dog is a three-way tie between the French Bulldog, the Chihuahua and the Golden Retriever! Second was a tie between the German Shepherd, Dachshund and Pug, followed by the Labrador Retriever, Poodle and Maltipoo.