RI's Favorite Dog Breed Revealed — If We Have To Choose, That Is

RHODE ISLAND — We’re dog people in Rhode Island — Bernese mountain dog people if you want to get technical, according to a recent Forbes survey that looked at favorite dog breeds by state.

Mostly, though, we just like dogs and aren’t fussy about the breed, according to the Forbes Advisor survey of 10,000 dog owners across the country. Options were limited to the 25 most popular breeds nationwide, as identified by the American Kennel Club.

Bernese mountain dog was also the No. 1 choice in California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. This popular breed of dogs is known to be hearty working, easy to train, and intelligent.

The survey showed that 70 percent of Americans adopted their dogs as puppies. Another 21 percent said they adopted older dogs between ages 3 and 5. Of those who adopted a dog, 36 percent sought out a breeder, and 23 percent adopted from a shelter. Nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of respondents said they received their dogs as a gift.

Overall, Australian shepherds came out on top of the dog pile among those who did specify a breed. German shepherds and bulldogs were the second and third favorite breeds.

The survey revealed Americans’ least favorite dog breeds are all small — Havanese, Pembroke Welsh corgis and miniature schnauzers.

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