Most Popular Dog Breeds in America

The Havanese, as its name might suggest, is the national dog of Cuba. Small and sociable, its distinguishing feature is its long, silky coat. The Havanese has a long life expectancy, up to 16 years, and manages to look like a puppy even when it has an old-man beard.

Just as Boston is a historic city with a young population, this dog is a relatively old breed with a young heart. Nicknamed “The American Gentleman,” it’s compact and classy. It excels at canine sports and is eager to please and so is popular as a therapy dog.

The Pomeranian is the smallest of the spitz breeds, weighing three to seven pounds. It was made popular by Queen Victoria, who was smitten by its puppy-like qualities. She had as many as 35 Pomeranians in her kennels and died with one by her side.

This breed originated in the Swiss Alps, where it was used as a working dog. It has a muscular build and can haul loads as heavy as 1,000 pounds. The Bernese is good for families – it is gentle with children but may become attached to one person in particular.

Bred as a sled dog, the Siberian husky is known for its endurance. Huskies have a great work ethic and love to run, preferring that to walking. In fact, the husky is so energetic that it has to be kept leashed or it will run away. In 1925, a relay team of huskies and other sled dogs saved Nome, Alaska, from a diptheria epidemic by running for five days to bring medicine to the town.