Top 10 Most Owned Dog Breeds in Australia

Are you looking to bring a dog into your family or household? In Australia we love dogs; with the latest dog population standing at 3.4 million. Here are the top 10 most popular dog breeds in Australia and information on their temperament and suitability as a pet.

1. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The Staffordshire Terrier, or ‘Staffy’, originally from Britain, is a medium sized dog, originally used for bull baiting, dog fighting and guarding. They now make great companions, are obedient, and a popular show dog and have good agility.

2. Labrador Retriever

The Labrador is a popular family dog originally from Canada, with an even temperament and fun nature. It is a great breed for young children and the elderly. Labradors are also often trained to be guide dogs to assist blind people and was the starring breed featured in the film Marley & Me.

3. German Shepherd

The German shepherd is a large dog from Germany developed originally for herding and guarding sheep. Due to their intelligence they are easily trained and are often used as working dogs for search and rescue missions in police and military roles.

4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The King Charles Spaniel is a small dog classed as a toy breed with origins in England. These dogs make loyal companions with a silky coat, big eyes and long spaniel ears, they are particularly cute. The most popular breed in Britain, this breed comes in at 4th on the Australian Top 10.

5. Golden Retriever

A medium sized dog originally bred for hunting and shooting, the retriever makes a great guide dog, hearing dog and working dog for sniffing illegal drugs and search and rescue missions. With an even temperament and good nature, they also make great family pets.

6. Border Collie

The Border Collie is a herding dog bred in the area surrounding the England-Scotland border. This breed is ranked as the most intelligent dog of all dog breeds, according the University of British Columbia. Black and white in colour, these are working dogs and make great pets if you have a very large yard or farm for them to run around and get the exercise they need.

7. American Staffordshire Terrier

A medium sized and short haired dog, the American Staffordshire Terrier originates from the United States. This breed is people oriented, loves to be part of the family, is loyal but also can be very protective of their owners.

8. Poodle

The Poodle comes in a variety of sizes, with the standard poodle making it to Australia’s Top 10 most popular. An intelligent dog, poodles are very skilled and although now are more known to be show dogs, in their history they have been working dogs and have even been used in the circus displaying tricks. Poodles are well known for their elaborate fur sculpting when being shown.

9. Pug

The Pug is a fun loving, loyal and energetic dog. Distinguishable with their short muzzle face, they originate from China and were brought to Europe in the seventeenth century. Pugs are very popular in modern times and come in two colours of black and fawn and feature deep wrinkles on their face. With their good nature, they make great pets for families with children as they have a lot of personality for such a small dog.

10. Rottweiler

The Rottweiler is a medium to large dog and is one of the oldest working breeds of herding dogs. They are also widely used as police dogs and make excellent guard dogs. While Rottweilers have had some bad reports form the media, in the UK the RSPCA reported a 2 year old named Jake saved a woman from being attacked in a park by scaring off her attacker, alerting his owner and then waiting with the woman until the police arrived.

Do you have one of the above dogs or a different breed? Or if you are looking to add a dog to your family or household, read our tips on Getting a Dog.