Most Popular Dog Breeds in Australia, Ranked

Written by

Kosar Koohi

Editor at Pretty Fluffy

Updated 27 September 202611 min read

Editor · Dog Lover · Pet Expert

About Kosar

Kosar is the editor of Pretty Fluffy, a lifelong dog lover, and the proud mom of Yuki, a Maltese who has very high standards. So does Kosar. She researches everything obsessively before it ever makes it onto the page.

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Australia's favorite dog isn't a pedigree at all. The Cavoodle, a curly little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross, sits at the top of the most popular dog breeds in Australia, and the rest of the list says just as much about how Australians live now: smaller backyards, busy family routines, long hot summers and a real soft spot for a teddy bear coat.

The 20 breeds below start with the national top 10, ranked, then add 10 more favorites you'll meet in dog parks from Perth to Cairns. You'll also see how each state differs, which breeds were developed in Australia and how to choose the right one.

Australia's Most Popular Dog Breed Is the Cavoodle

The Cavoodle is the most popular dog breed in Australia. This small Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross holds the number one spot in Pet Insurance Australia's latest national ranking and leads in every mainland state. The French Bulldog, Golden Retriever, Border Collie and Groodle complete the top five, with the Miniature Dachshund, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Maltese and Poodle making up the rest of the top 10.

Where These Dog Breed Rankings Come From

Pet Insurance Australia builds its list from new policies for recently born puppies, so it shows the dogs Australians are bringing home now. Purebred registrations from Dogs Australia skip crossbreeds like the Cavoodle, while retailer data leans toward dogs already living in homes, which is why the Labrador and Staffy rank higher there.

Puppy-based rankings also miss adopted adult dogs, so keep rescue dogs in the conversation too.

Top 10 Dog Breeds in Australia Right Now

Each breed below comes with its lifespan, who it suits best and one trait to know before you fall in love.

1. Cavoodle

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: First-time owners, apartments and young families
• Notable trait: Needs brushing a few times a week and a groom every six to eight weeks

Bred from a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Toy or Miniature Poodle, the Cavoodle is affectionate, playful and one of the easiest dog breeds for first-time owners. Ask any breeder for health testing on both parents, since Cavaliers can pass on heart problems.

2. French Bulldog

• Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
• Best for: Apartment living and relaxed households
• Notable trait: Heat-sensitive, so shade and air conditioning are musts

Compact, funny and laid-back, the Frenchie is a fixture in inner-city apartments, and French Bulldog temperament leans affectionate and clownish rather than tough. The flat face is the catch: Frenchies overheat quickly and can struggle to breathe, so summer walks belong early or late.

3. Golden Retriever

• Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
• Best for: Families, therapy work and active weekends
• Notable trait: Sheds heavily, especially as the seasons change

Gentle, patient and eager to please, the Golden Retriever is the most popular large breed in the country. Goldens adore kids and are as happy on a beach run as on the couch. For proof of how photogenic they are, meet Smiley the Golden Retriever.

4. Border Collie

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Active owners, rural properties and dog sports
• Notable trait: Needs daily mental work as much as exercise

Often ranked first among the smartest dog breeds, the Border Collie was bred to work sheep all day, and that drive doesn't switch off in the suburbs. Give one a job, like agility or herding, and it's a joy. Leave one bored in a small yard and it will invent its own entertainment.

5. Groodle

• Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
• Best for: Families who want a larger, lower-shedding dog
• Notable trait: Coats vary, and lower-shedding never means allergen-free

The Groodle, also called the Goldendoodle, crosses a Golden Retriever with a Poodle and now sits in the national top five. Expect a sociable, clever family dog whose busy brain needs a daily outlet, so keep a few boredom busters on hand for rainy days.

6. Miniature Dachshund

• Lifespan: 12 to 16 years
• Best for: Apartments and lovers of characterful small dogs
• Notable trait: Prone to back problems, so keep them lean and use ramps

Long, low and full of opinions, the Miniature Dachshund was bred to hunt badgers, and it's brave, loyal and more stubborn than it looks. Anyone wondering how smart Dachshunds are will find they learn fast once they see a reason to.

7. German Shepherd

• Lifespan: 9 to 13 years
• Best for: Experienced owners and larger homes
• Notable trait: Sheds all year, and heavily twice a year

Loyal, protective and highly trainable, the German Shepherd has long been a favorite working dog and family guardian. Like most big dog breeds, Shepherds need space, early socialization, structure and a daily run.

8. Labrador Retriever

• Lifespan: 10 to 12 years
• Best for: Families with kids and outdoor lovers
• Notable trait: Water-loving, so every puddle and beach gets investigated

Long one of Australia's favorite dogs, the Labrador still earns a place on every list of the best family dogs. Labs are friendly, easy to train and famously food-motivated, which helps make them great guide dogs. That appetite needs managing, since Labradors gain weight easily.

9. Maltese

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Apartments, retirees and quiet households
• Notable trait: Sheds very little but mats without regular brushing

Small, white and devoted, the Maltese is a classic lap dog and one of the best apartment dogs around. Maltese crosses, like the Maltese Shih Tzu, are just as common. Both can be fragile with rough play, so they suit older children best.

10. Poodle

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Allergy-conscious homes and owners who enjoy training
• Notable trait: Needs professional grooming every four to eight weeks

Poodles come in Toy, Miniature and Standard sizes, and all three are sharp, athletic and less fussy than their show clips suggest. Their low-shedding coat makes them the parent of almost every doodle. Standard Poodles are sturdy, patient playmates for homes balancing pets and kids.

10 More Popular Dogs in Australia

No single ranking covers the next tier, so these 10 are listed by how often they appear across the state top 10s and Pet Circle's lists of the breeds Australians own and buy as puppies.

11. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
• Best for: Active families and experienced owners
• Notable trait: Strong and exuberant, so early lead training pays off

Few dogs are as people-focused as the Staffy, which ranks fourth in Western Australia and near the top of the breeds Australians already own. Plenty of myths about bull breeds still follow them around, but a well-socialized Staffy is a loving, clownish companion.

12. Australian Kelpie

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Farms, runners and dog sports
• Notable trait: Copes with heat better than most, but still needs shade and water

Bred in Australia to work sheep in tough conditions, the Kelpie has near-endless stamina. Off the farm, it's a devoted companion for active people who run, hike or train daily.

13. Jack Russell Terrier

• Lifespan: 13 to 16 years
• Best for: Active households with secure fencing
• Notable trait: High prey drive around birds, cats and small pets

Small but tireless, the Jack Russell is the most popular breed in the Northern Territory. Expect a fearless, funny terrier with a strong urge to chase and dig.

14. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

• Lifespan: 9 to 14 years
• Best for: Families, retirees and apartments
• Notable trait: Prone to heart disease, so choose a breeder who heart-tests

Gentle and affectionate, the Cavalier gets along with nearly everyone, from toddlers to other pets. It's also one parent of the Cavoodle, which helps explain that breed's sweet nature.

15. Labradoodle

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Active families
• Notable trait: Coats range from wiry to fleecy, so grooming needs vary

The Labradoodle crosses a Labrador with a Poodle and started the whole doodle craze. It still makes the top 10 in Queensland and South Australia.

16. Miniature Schnauzer

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Smaller homes and first-time owners
• Notable trait: A wiry, low-shedding coat that needs regular clipping

With its bushy eyebrows and beard, the Miniature Schnauzer is a spirited, alert little watchdog that makes the top 10 in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

17. Spoodle

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Families and active couples
• Notable trait: Floppy ears need weekly checks

A Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross, the cheerful Spoodle sits between the Cavoodle and the Groodle in size and is sturdy enough for backyard games.

18. Cocker Spaniel

• Lifespan: 12 to 14 years
• Best for: Families with older kids
• Notable trait: Long ears are prone to infections

Sweet-faced and merry, the Cocker Spaniel makes the Queensland top 10 and suits families wanting a gentle, mid-sized dog that loves a long walk.

19. Australian Cattle Dog

• Lifespan: 12 to 16 years
• Best for: Working properties and very active owners
• Notable trait: May herd children and pets by nipping at heels

Tough, loyal and built for the outback, the Cattle Dog, also called the Blue or Red Heeler, is an Australian icon with a strong following in the Northern Territory.

20. Australian Shepherd

• Lifespan: 12 to 15 years
• Best for: Active owners and dog sports
• Notable trait: Needs hours of activity and a job each day

Striking and clever, the Australian Shepherd makes the Northern Territory top 10. Despite the name, it isn't an Australian breed, as the section on local breeds below explains.

Common Dog Breeds in Australia, State by State

The Cavoodle leads nationally, but each state and territory has its own favorites.

Why City and Country Dog Breed Lists Differ

Climate, space and work all seem to play a part. Compact breeds and doodles dominate the eastern states, where apartment living is the norm. Western Australia leans toward sturdy bull breeds, while the Northern Territory list reads like a farm roll call of terriers, herding dogs and big breeds like the Boerboel.

Dog Breeds in Tasmania and the ACT

The latest state data doesn't include separate top 10s for Tasmania or the Australian Capital Territory. Until it does, the national ranking above is the best guide for both.

Popular Australian Dog Breeds With Local Roots

A few favorites on these lists were bred right here, from outback workers to pint-sized terriers.

Australian Working Dog Breeds

The Australian Cattle Dog was developed in New South Wales in the 1800s by crossing imported herding dogs with dingoes. One Victorian Cattle Dog, Bluey, lived to 29 and remains among the oldest dogs ever recorded. The Australian Kelpie, bred from Scottish collie-type dogs, is famous for running across the backs of packed sheep, while the naturally short-tailed Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog and the merle-coated Koolie round out the group.

Herding dogs move stock but don't guard it. To protect sheep from foxes and wild dogs, many farmers rely on livestock guardian dog breeds like the Maremma.

Small Australian Terriers and the Labradoodle

The Australian Terrier was developed in the 1800s as a hardy farm dog to keep rats and snakes at bay, and the Australian Silky Terrier was later bred around Sydney. The Tenterfield Terrier is named after the New South Wales country town. The Labradoodle was first bred in Melbourne in the late 1980s as a guide dog for a vision-impaired woman whose husband was allergic to dogs.

Why the Australian Shepherd Isn't Australian

The Australian Shepherd was developed on ranches in the western United States. The most common explanation for the name is that its ancestors arrived alongside sheep shipped from Australia, and the label simply stuck.

Best Dog Breeds for Australian Homes

Popularity is a good starting point, but the right dog fits your climate, space, family and energy levels. If you're still looking for your perfect match, this dog breed selector quiz by Petbarn is a great place to start.

Dog Breeds That Handle Australian Heat

Long summers are hard on flat-faced breeds like the French Bulldog and on thick double coats. In hot areas, lean toward longer snouts and lighter coats, and read this guide to the best dogs for hot weather first. Whatever the breed, walk early or late and test the pavement with your hand.

Family Dogs for Homes With Kids

Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Cavoodles and Standard Poodles have the patience young children need, while tiny breeds like the Maltese suit older kids who handle them gently. This roundup of the best dog breeds for kids goes deeper on temperament and size.

Training and Energy Levels by Breed

Border Collies, Kelpies and Cattle Dogs need hours of activity every day, while a Cavalier or Maltese is content with a stroll. Obedience rankings only tell part of the story, too. Many breeds with a reputation for being hard to train are simply independent thinkers.

Buying a Puppy Responsibly in Australia

Popular breeds are the ones puppy farms and backyard breeders target most. Meet the puppy with its mother, ask for health test results for both parents and never buy sight unseen online. The RSPCA Smart Puppy and Dog Buyer's Guide is a handy checklist.

Choosing a Dog Breed That Fits Your Life

Popularity tells you which dogs Australians love, not which dog you'll love. Use this list as a shortlist, then meet adult dogs of the breeds you like and talk to reputable breeders or rescue groups. Your perfect match might be number one, number 20 or a scruffy shelter mutt.