Published Aug 20, 2025 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 1 minute read
When it comes to dogs and cats, non-designer mixed breeds and the domestic shorthair, respectively, top a survey on most popular breeds.
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Rover.com, an online marketplace for pet care, released its seventh annual Top Pet Breeds report just in time for International Dog Day on Aug. 26.
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Non-designer mixed breeds claimed the top spot for dogs, followed by the golden retriever, Labrador retriever, goldendoodle and German shepherd.
Meanwhile, some breeds are enjoying a surge in popularity, including the miniature poodle, Canada’s fastest-growing dog breed, followed by the pug and toy poodle.
Survey findings also determined that temperament and personality are top priorities for Canadian pet parents, with 67% of dog owners ranking loyalty as the most valued trait.
Emotional connection also plays a major role, with 39% of dog owners desiring a “cuddly” breed.
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Even in today’s economic climate, more than half of dog parents (47%) say they would still choose the exact same breed, even at a higher cost.
For cats, the domestic shorthair, American shorthair and domestic longhair remain the three most popular, with the Asian tabby and ragdoll coming in fourth and fifth.
The colorpoint shorthair topped the list of rarest cats while the Russian and Scottish straight are top-trending cat breeds in 2025.
When it comes to personality preferences, 77% of cat owners put cuddliness at the top of their list, followed by playfulness (61%) and sociability (52%).
Regardless of which traits their cats actually have, 58% of pet owners say it was “love at first sight”
“Pet parents look for certain attributes like loyalty, size or a temperament that fits their lifestyle or budget,” said Phil Tedeschi, a Rover pet people panellist and expert on the human-animal bond. “These are certainly all important factors to consider, but often a loving pet finds their way into our hearts and the rest is history.”
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