Just in time for National Dog Day, on Aug. 26, Growing Bolder looks at the 10 most popular dog breeds.
Trupanion, a medical insurance company for pets, surveyed more than 600,000 pet owners and compiled a list of the most popular dog breeds. At the top of the list: mixed breeds. After that is the Labrador Retriever, a lead that friendly Labs have enjoyed for decades.
10 most popular dog breeds for 2021
Two recent breeds have become increasingly popular: the Goldendoodle and Labradoodle, cross breeds of Golden Retreivers and Poodles in addition to Labrador Retreivers and Poodles. Dog experts say that these dogs exhibit the intuitive, people-friendly qualities of Retreivers as well as the intelligent persona and allergy-friendly qualities of Poodles.
National Dog Day began in 2004 to celebrate dog ownership and to encourage pet adoption.
The American Pet Products Association reported that 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and many of those are new pet owners. About one in five households, or 23 million people, including many older adults, reportedly adopted a dog or cat during the pandemic.
If you have ever considered adopting a dog, now may be the perfect time. Growing Bolder believes in living our best lives, and for many people, that includes sharing it with a companion, including the four-legged kind.
Numerous studies have shown that pets can improve our mental and physical health while lowering stress levels and blood pressure. A study published in the journal, “Gerontologist,” reported that a pet can help alleviate pain from the loss of a spouse or loved one, either from divorce or widowhood.
Fun fact: Pet insurance was first introduced in the United States in 1982, when the Collie that played Lassie on TV was insured by Veterinary Pet Insurance.
