The (Un)Official State Dogs of America

Last Updated: January 24, 2025
Zach Lovatt
Writer
Zach Lovatt
Writer · The Pampered Pup
Zach is the founder of The Pampered Pup. He's worn every GPS dog fence collar on his own neck and taste-tested every fresh dog food brand to deliver the most honest reviews possible.
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We recently conducted a poll of 3,000 Americans to find out their preferred breed if given the opportunity to vote for an official state dog. The poll results revealed some fascinating insights, illustrated below.

The results from California were quintessential. Those polled from the Golden State voted in favor of the beloved Goldendoodle. Marrying the most desirable traits of Golden Retrievers with those of Poodles, the Golden Doodle is known to be a friendly, patient, and intelligent breed. They are excellent family dogs, and they are generally regarded as being great with children.

Sprinting to first place to represent the first state of the Union was the Foxhound. Meanwhile, over in Arkansas the Bluetick Coonhound led the pack as the crowd favorite. While both breeds are known to be kind and loving, they do have a tendency toward clever escape artistry. Prospective dog owners should consider a reliable GPS dog fence to help train these dogs to stay within the boundaries of their back yards.

Interestingly, although perhaps not surprisingly, several states voted for the same dog breed. Although the gorgeous and mysterious Husky won the hearts of voters polled in Washington state, there would likely tough competition Minnesota, where the Husky is just as popular.

The German Shepherds took the lead in not only Kansas, but also Pennsylvania. These are two states that love the companionship of these intelligent, noble guard dogs.

Colorado and Oregon both elected the hardworking Bernese Mountain Dog. Bernese Mountain Dogs got their start in the picturesque country of Switzerland, where farmers have used them for centuries to herd cattle and protect their crops. These days, most people cherish them as a family dog with a loving personality.

The Border Collie came in top dog in Idaho as well as Maine. Like the Bernese Mountain Dog, this beautiful herding breed needs a lot of exercise — a perfect match for pet owners with active lifestyles.

Alabama and Oklahoma’s number one pick? The Redbone Coonhound. As energetic as they are cuddly, it’s easy to see why both states want to be represented by the beloved hunting canine.

Of course, many folks proudly voted for dog breeds that were named after their home state, including:

  • Missouri Foxhound. Another hunting dog that needs a lot of exercise, they’re an easygoing pet with high emotional intelligence. 

  • Carolina Dog. Unsurprisingly, North Carolina and South Carolina both voted for the Carolina Dog. It can take a little time to earn this shy breed’s trust, but once you do, they’re eager to be your best friend.

  • Florida Cracker Dog. Floridians love this breed’s fearless and tough persona. An excellent choice for anyone in need of a courageous guard dog.

  • Kentucky Saddleback. A handsome, devoted, and people-pleasing breed with a sensitive nature.

  • Tennessee Treeing Brindle. Tennessee adores the talented Treeing Brindle for its affectionate ways and pleasant, crooning voice.

  • Texas Heeler. The Heeler is a mix of Australian Shepherd and the Australian Cattle Dog, and are known to be as smart, bold, and fearless as the Lone Star State itself.

  • Louisiana Black Mouth Cur. Another breed that needs time to warm to strangers, Louisianans are fond of the Black Mouth Cur’s bright, hardworking demeanor.

  • Alaskan Klee Kai. The Klee Kai, which is Inuit for “little dog,” is shy but easy to train. You may be surprised to learn that it wasn’t bred as a working sled dog, but as a companion pet instead. This may explain its popularity in the Last Frontier state.

  • Hawaiian Poi Dog. Hawaiians chose the now-extinct Poi Dog to represent their state. While they weren’t known to be the best hunting dogs, indigenous Hawaiians saw the Poi as a spiritual protector of children.

Only thirteen of the fifty states in the USA have already declared an official state dog. What are residents of the remaining 37 to do?

If you’d like your state to declare a top dog, you can start by connecting with your local community. Petitions and letters to editors of local newspapers are a great place to start, and if you can arrange a meeting with a state representative that could really help you get the ball rolling.

**Methodology: **Online panel survey of 3,000 adults based on age, gender, and geography. Internal data sources are used to obtain population data sets. We used a two-step process to ensure representativeness through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting.

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