TORONTO, March 11, 2026 — The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) has released its official list of the Top 10 most popular CKC-registered purebred dog breeds in Canada for 2025. The annual rankings, based on national registration data, highlight the breeds Canadians continue to welcome into their homes.
A Canadian Dog Breed is Number 1… Yet Again
This year’s rankings highlight a remarkable milestone: the Labrador Retriever has now been Canada’s most popular dog breed for 32 consecutive years, a testament to the breed’s versatility and its long-standing place in Canadian homes. Known for its friendly nature, intelligence and versatility, the Labrador Retriever continues to excel as a family companion, guide dog, working partner and sporting dog. Its adaptability and dependable temperament have helped secure its place at the top of the rankings for more than three decades.
The Golden Retriever and German Shepherd Dog follow closely behind, continuing their strong presence in Canadian households. This year, the Poodle unseated the French Bulldog and reclaimed the fourth spot, a place traditionally held by this breed for many years. “The Top 10 rankings reflect the diverse roles purebred dogs play in the lives of Canadians,” says Bob Whitney, Chairman of the Board, Canadian Kennel Club. “From sporting and herding breeds to devoted companions, these dogs are valued for their temperament, purpose and partnership.”
Canada’s Top 10 Most Popular Breeds of 2025
(click on dog name for more info about that breed)
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd Dog
- Poodle
- French Bulldog
- Australian Shepherd
- Havanese
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Shetland Sheepdog
“There’s a reason Labs never leave the top spot. They are smart, kind, endlessly adaptable, and always ready to be part of the family,” says Lola Nichol, who has been involved in Labrador Retrievers for over 40 years. “With three recognized colour choices of Black, Yellow and Chocolate, there are lots of choices for families. Canadians know a great dog when they see one, and Labradors keep proving it year after year.”
The #1 dog breed in Canada The Labrador Retriever, is actually the only “Original Canadian dog breed” in the top 10 list. The Labrador descended from dogs taken to Newfoundland by explorers, fishermen and settlers. Excellent retrievers of fish and game, they often sailed with fishermen.
The list reflects a balance between athletic working breeds and companion dogs. Sporting and herding breeds remain strong, while smaller companion breeds continue to maintain steady popularity nationwide.
While popularity offers insight into national trends, the CKC encourages prospective dog owners to research thoroughly before choosing a breed. Each breed has distinct exercise, grooming and training needs, and selecting the right match helps ensure a successful lifelong partnership.
What is the Canadian Kennel Club?
Founded in 1888, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) is the primary registry body for purebred dogs in Canada and currently recognizes 193 breeds. As a non-profit organization, the CKC is dedicated to advancing the interests of purebred dogs and their responsible owners and breeders in Canada and promoting the knowledge and understanding of the benefits which dogs can bring to Canadian society. The CKC is incorporated under Animal Pedigree Act, a federal statute under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food. The Club includes almost 20,000 individual members and over 700 breed clubs across Canada. The Club registers purebred dogs, regulates dog shows and performance events, and speaks out on major issues concerning dog ownership and the health and well-being of dogs across Canada. For more information, visit ckc.ca.
Quick Facts
Half a Million people came out to CKC events last year – Historic High generating a huge economic boost to local economies.
With the lows of the pandemic in the rearview mirror, CKC saw an incredible historically record-high event participation in last year, with more than 241,221 total dog participants and more than a half million people at more than 4,000 events all over Canada as the registered purebred dog community is coming out in full force at events across this nation.
Two biggest canine trends of late:
1. People are going back to their own heritage and want dog breeds from ‘the old country that their family came from,’ and also looking at larger breeds as toy breeds popularity slightly declines.
2. Now it’s all about the human-canine bond and having fun together and getting a certificate for it. There are ckc awards for hiking and so many other activities, thus the HUGE increase in attendance at ckc events++. People have realized they can do so much more with their dog as its a huge shift away from the stereotypical pretty show-dogs, which is now just a big misconception about purebreds.
In 1903, Toronto hosted Canada’s first dog show with over 1,000 entries and breeds like Boston Terriers, Fox Terriers, and Irish Terriers were the most popular breeds – none of which are in 2025’s Top 10 list, but Terriers saw a huge increase in 2025.
Did you know that there are several native Canadian dog breeds?
The breeds include:
o Labrador Retriever – The Labrador descended from dogs taken to Newfoundland by explorers, fishermen and settlers. Excellent retrievers of fish and game, they often sailed with fishermen.
o Newfoundland – There are differing opinions on how the Newfoundland breed came about. Some theorize Leif Ericsson brought the Viking ‘bear dogs’ with him when he arrived in Newfoundland in AD 1001 and they mated with the dogs of the Maritime Indigenous people.
o Canadian Eskimo Dog – A dog of the Canadian Arctic, this dog is called Qimmiq in Inuit. In the 1970s, a project headed by William Carpenter and funded by CKC, the Canada Council and private individuals saved the breed from extinction.
o Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever – Yarmouth County Nova Scotia is the home of this breed that is an expert in tolling and retrieving ducks.
o Tahltan Bear Dog – For more than 500 years, the Tahltan Bear Dog served the people of northern British Columbia. The small dogs were used for hunting. The breed went extinct in the late 1970s.
Canadian-bred and based dog named Matisse is the most winningest male dog in history in the world. Matisse was an award-winning Canadian-American Portuguese water dog, famous for winning numerous shows, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He was bred in Canada by Donna Gottdenker.
Canada’s current most famous TV dog Diesel from Hudson & Rex series was a CKC registered breed.
submitted by Canadian Kennel Club
photos by “Canadian Kennel Club.”
lead photo Wirehaired Pointing Griffon by Terry Lankstead
Other articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca
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