A new national study by HonestPet has named Golden Retrievers as the most popular dog breed on social media, topping the list with more than 46.3 million combined posts across Instagram and TikTok.
The research analyzed hashtags for over 500 dog breeds on both platforms, ranking them by total mentions to reveal which breeds dominate America’s online pet culture. Golden Retrievers led with 40.1 million Instagram posts and 6.2 million TikTok videos—reflecting their enduring popularity as affectionate family companions and service dogs.
French Bulldogs followed closely with 44.9 million total posts (40.6 million on Instagram and 4.3 million on TikTok). The small, playful breed, originally developed in England and refined in France, has become a favorite among urban pet owners.
Rounding out the top five were Chihuahuas with 44.3 million posts, Poodles with 27.9 million, and Bulldogs with 27.1 million. German Shepherds placed sixth, followed by Shiba Inus, Beagles, Malteses, and Pugs.
The study highlighted a mix of working and companion breeds in the top rankings, showing that Americans love sharing both energetic working dogs and cozy lap dogs online. Nearly half of the top 20 breeds were originally bred for herding, retrieving, or guarding.
The research also revealed differences in breed popularity between Instagram and TikTok. French Bulldogs dominated Instagram mentions but ranked lower on TikTok, while Golden Retrievers saw stronger performance on the video-sharing platform.
“Social media reflects the human-animal bond in real time,” said Dr. Kelly Hood, DVM and in-house expert at HonestPet. “Breeds like Golden Retrievers and French Bulldogs thrive online because they represent warmth, connection, and companionship—traits people love to share.”
The top 20 breeds also included Siberian Huskies, Yorkshire Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, Pomeranians, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Boxers, Chow Chows, Akitas, and Greyhounds.
Golden Retrievers topped HonestPet’s new study as America’s most shared dog breed online, with over 46 million posts across Instagram and TikTok.
