They say that everything is bigger in Texas, but does that also apply to the most popular dog breeds in that state? People assume that the number of farms and ranches in Texas means that they must have a high number of working dogs compared to small or toy breeds. However, that is not exactly true.
Texas is the current leader in terms of agriculture—it has nearly 250,000 farms covering 127 million acres. It would be a natural assumption that some of the most popular dogs in this state would be ones that can work on the farms. Yet, people often forget about the big cities in Texas that often require smaller dogs that are more suitable for apartment living.
So, what are the top five most popular dog breeds in Texas? Keep reading to find out.
Top 5 Dog Breeds of Texas
While plenty of rural residents enjoy having large dogs running around, Texas actually has three out of ten of the largest cities in the entire country: Houston, Sant Antonio, and Dallas. The state is also the 28th biggest for pet ownership. Of all the 58.2% of pet-owning households in Texas, 47% of those own dogs. Let’s take a look at the breeds that make up the top five most popular dogs in the Lone Star State.
1. Blue Lacy
As the official state dog breed of Texas, it makes sense that the Blue Lacy is the most popular breed found here. Blue Lacy dogs were first bred in the 1800s. Their main purpose was to help farmers and ranchers with hunting, herding, and other types of ranch work. These dogs are incredibly intelligent, adaptable, and hardy animals. Because they’ve been used as working dogs for so long, they also come with a lot of energy and need a lot of acres to roam.
2. Labrador Retrievers
It’s hard to find a state where the Labrador Retriever is not one of the most popular dog breeds. Why? Because they are the most beloved and popular dog in the United States. If they haven’t already won you over with their big eyes, warm souls, and funny personalities, then their intelligence and eagerness to please will. Labs are active animals with beautiful coats of chocolate, black, silver, and yellow. They are also a common pet choice because, as you may already know, people love to hunt and bring their dogs with them. Texas hunters alone purchased over 15.6 million hunting licenses in 2018.
3. Golden Retriever
Similar to the Labrador Retriever, the golden retriever is another extremely popular breed in all states in the country. These dogs have kind and gentle personalities that are perfect for families, singles, and seniors. They become even more desirable after you learn about their obedience and loyalty to their owners.
4. French Bulldog
Now this one might come as a shock to you, but it makes sense that French Bulldogs would be one of the top dog breeds in Texas. These dogs are small enough for city living but still give off the tough, confident demeanor that Texas is known for. French Bulldogs have curious and fun personalities that make them ideal for places like Austin and Houston. They aren’t highly active and don’t require a whole lot of outdoor space to get their daily exercise in.
5. Yorkshire Terrier
You might not imagine a Yorkshire Terrier representing Texas dog breeds, but these dogs sometimes get a bad rep. Yorkshire Terriers were once working dogs. Immigrants brought them over and used them for hunting rats and other critters inside of mills—they were nearly double the size back then! Over time, they were bred into toy dogs, which is perfect for city dwellers.
Conclusion
Texas may be known for their football, longhorns, and BBQ, but they’ve also got some of the best dog breeds as pets, some of which you might not have expected. It just goes to show that you can never judge a book by its cover and you never really know what kind of dog breeds people prefer in different parts of the country.
See also:
- 14 Most Popular Dog Breeds in California (with Pictures)
- Why Does Dog Pee Kill Grass? What’s in Dog Pee?
Featured Image Credit: LightField Studios, Shutterstock
