Top dog: Labrador retriever continues dominance as Canada’s most popular breed

By: The Canadian Press Posted: Last Modified:

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The Labrador retriever continues to be top dog in Canada.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/03/2026 (214 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Labrador retriever continues to be top dog in Canada.

The Canadian Kennel Club has released its list of the 10 most popular purebred dog breeds in Canada for 2025, and it says the Labrador retains the top spot.

The breed, known for its friendliness and intelligence, has topped the list for 32 straight years.

A Labrador Retriever is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Canadian Kennel Club (Mandatory Credit)
A Labrador Retriever is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Canadian Kennel Club (Mandatory Credit)

Nipping at its heels are the golden retriever in second place and the German shepherd in third.

The organization says the poodle unseated the French bulldog for fourth place this year.

Rounding out the top 10 are the Australian shepherd, Havanese, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Bernese mountain dog and Shetland sheepdog.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 11, 2026.

Note to readers:This is a corrected story. An earlier version did not include credit in the Labrador retriever photo caption for Wendy Reyn WincOnline Design.

A Labrador retriever is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Canadian Kennel Club, Wendy Reyn WincOnline Design (Mandatory Credit)
A Labrador retriever is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Canadian Kennel Club, Wendy Reyn WincOnline Design (Mandatory Credit)

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