The following ranking lists the world’s most popular dog breeds, based on ownership registration statistics. Put together, these most popular dog breeds account for more than half of all pet dogs worldwide.

The Afghan Hound is a hound distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat, and a tail with a ring curl at the end. The breed originates in the cold mountains of Afghanistan.

The French Bulldog (French: Bouledogue Français) is a French breed of companion dog or toy dog. It appeared in Paris in the mid-nineteenth century, apparently the result of cross-breeding of Toy Bulldogs imported from England and local Parisian ratters.[3] It is commonly kept as a pet and is among the most frequently registered dogs in a number of countries including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The breed is susceptible to various health problems as a consequence of being bred for a distinctive appearance, sporting a brachycephalic face and skin wrinkles.

The Labrador Retriever or simply Labrador or Lab is a British breed of water dog retriever gun dog. It was developed in the United Kingdom from St. John's water dogs imported from the colony of Newfoundland (now a province of Canada), and was named after the Labrador region of that colony. It is among the most commonly kept dogs in several countries, particularly in the Western world

During the 1890s, attempts were being made to standardise dog breeds.[4] Dogs were being bred to preserve traits that assisted in their job of herding sheep and protecting their flocks from predators.[5] In Germany this was practised within local communities, where shepherds selected and bred dogs. It was recognised that the breed had the necessary skills for herding sheep, such as intelligence, speed, strength and keen sense of smell.[5] The results were dogs that were able to do such things, but that differed significantly, both in appearance and ability, from one locality to another.