As part of a four-part series, reporter Cole Payne looks into which breeds are the most popular in Washoe County, why dogs are a bad idea as a holiday present, why puppy mills are to be avoided, and how dog owners can become more responsible.
The Labrador Retriever, sweet-faced and lovable, tops the list of most popular dog breeds in Washoe County, according to partial government statistics. Labs have been a favorite in Nevada for years, loved for their friendly and hardy personalities. They actually thrive in colder climates, such as locally in northern Nevada.
The love for Labradors is reflected nationally, with a 30 plus year reign as America’s number one breed only just recently dethroned by the French Bulldog.
Above Florence a two-year-old yellow lab shared with us by Sarah Adair Harris
Here are the top 10 dog breeds in Washoe County this year according to statistics provided by the Washoe County Regional Animal Services (WCRAS). The numbers reflect pets licensed with WCRAS, which Program Coordinator Quinn Sweet said account for about 30% of the total dogs in the county.
Labrador Retriever - 2,002
Chihuahua - 1,517
Pit bull - 1017
Siberian Husky - 970
German Shepherd - 856
Shih Tzu - 579
Golden Retriever - 554
Border Collie - 546
Chihuahua Short Hair Mix - 474
Labrador Retriever Mix - 431
This is Jaime! She’s a Labrador Retriever who is obsessed with tennis balls and playing fetch! Photo and description shared with us by Paige Flippin-Moore
Washoe has a particular love of huskies, which nationally don’t crack the top 20.
Rebecca Goff, Nevada State Director of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), said, “they boomed in popularity after ‘Game of Thrones’ because they look like wolves.”
“This is Ghost. He’s a three-year-old husky/malamute mix. I love Ghost because he’s a very smart dog. He will argue with his people and try to make his case usually by howling. He also keeps us very active. He came from the Nevada Humane Society. :)” wrote Camila.
The newly nationally top ranked French Bulldog is catching on in Washoe as well. Goff described them as “the hot thing” alongside Corgis.
Sweet joke joked that any time a French bulldog is posted as “lost” on the WCRAS website, she immediately has people calling to ask if they can adopt it. Goff also mentioned the intense demand, with dozens of people showing up “when the doors open for that specific dog.”
The French Bulldog’s explosion in popularity can be partially traced back to Winston winning the 2022 National Dog Show. Just a year later, the Frenchie was recognized by the American Kennel Club as America’s number one dog breed.
Chihuahuas are huge in Washoe, being perfect for small apartment spaces amid rising housing costs. Goff called the spunky breed a “throwback” to another pet trend. She spoke on how they were everywhere in the early 2000s following the film “Beverly Hills Chihuahuas” and Taco Bell ad campaigns.
“Milo is a super mutt !! Part Corgi , Dachshund & French bull dog ❤️❤️ He is the perfect combo of fun , friendly and always curious about everything ! And loves to cuddle 🐾” Natasha Bayt wrote.
Although the Chihuahua is a massively popular breed across the country, their numbers may be inflated. The same goes with the equally ubiquitous pit bull. Dogs can be mislabeled for a variety of reasons.
‘Pit bull’ is actually not a recognized breed, but a term applied to dogs derived from the American Staffordshire terrier or Staffordshire bull terrier. The purebred American pit bull terrier is also derived from these breeds, all of which are usually included in the loose definition of ‘pit bull.’
Goff likened determining a dog’s breed to “guess work” at times. Chihuahuas can also often be a catch-all of sorts. Any little dog with “pointy ears” is a chihuahua, she joked.
While Washoe doesn’t directly reflect national pet trends, the county is very much affected by what is seen on social media. As Goff explained, there is nothing inherently wrong with wanting a purebred or specific type of dog - you’re not a “bad person.” However, the result of people “gearing toward these designer dog breeds” can have damaging effects to animals, especially with them having health problems later in life, and lead to puppy mills trying to breed as many dogs of a certain type as possible in less than desirable conditions.