Atlanta Loves This Dog Breed The Most

ATLANTA, GA — The top dog among pet-lovers nationally is not the breed of dog that is most popular in Atlanta. At least, that's according to Rover, an online marketplace for people to buy and sell pet-care services.

The company recently released its first annual report, which ranked the top 20 most popular dog breeds in the country and also which breeds were preferred in 40 major cities across the U.S. Rover analyzed data from more than a half-million pet parents to determine the different levels of popularity of our furry friends.

The American pit bull terrier took home the top spot in our city, followed by some smaller breeds.

Here are the top five dog breeds in Atlanta, according to Rover:

• American pit bull terrier
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Jack Russell terrier
• Yorkshire terrier
• Shih Tzu

"With naturally gentle, loyal dispositions, pit bull terriers can make great family pets. This breed responds well to training and are popular obedience and agility competitors," Rover says of American pit bull terriers.

The nation's overall most popular dog breed was the mixed breed, which continually tops lists of the most popular dog types in America, according to the study.

"Regardless of size, color, or personality, bringing a dog home and welcoming them into your family is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences in life," said Billy Kong, CMO at Rover, in a press release. "Every dog has an abundance of unconditional love to offer."

Despite the wealth of information available on countless dog breeds, over one-third of owners did no research before choosing, instead selecting their pup based on "love at first sight," according to Rover.

Here are the top 10 most popular dog breeds in the country for 2019:

1. Mixed breed
2. Labrador retriever
3. Chihuahua
4. Golden retriever
5. German shepherd
6. Yorkshire terrier
7. Shih Tzu
8. Dachshund
9. Boxer
10. Goldendoodle