South Carolina: Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel was named the official state dog of South Carolina in 1985. Originating in South Carolina, they were bred to hunt wild turkeys in swamps.
Official State Dogs:
In what is probably the most obvious choice on the list, Alaska’s official state dog is the Alaskan Malamute! Named the official state dog in 2010, this breed is widely used in dog mushing (the official state sport).
Labradors, German shepherds, and goldens top the AKC list in Illinois, but if Chicago is any indication, Frenchies and “Rotties” are quickly gaining ground, as are Siberian huskies and Doberman pinschers (both of which made it into Chicago’s top 10 by AKC’s most recent count). For even more adorable pups, check out these flat-faced dogs that are just too precious.
Said to be developed by none other than George Washington himself, the American foxhound was first recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1886 and has been Virginia’s official state dog since 1966. One of the rarest of America’s native breeds, the American Foxhound was originally bred for foxhunting, as its name suggests, though the breed is known to be friendly and good with children. According to the AKC Labs, German shepherds, and beagles top Virginia’s list of favorite dog breeds.
The golden retriever became Delaware’s official state dog in 2016, despite being only the third most popular dog breed in the state, per the AKC. Number one and number two are (not surprisingly) the Labrador retriever and the German shepherd. That said, the golden’s official status was not a shock, considering the breed’s friendliness, devotion, and intelligence. Find out what the fastest dog breeds are in the world.
Labradors, German shepherds, and goldens top the AKC’s list of favorite Michigan dog breeds. Considering Michigan gets so cold, it’s interesting that not one of these breeds is listed in Outdoor Online’s 20 Best Cold-Weather Dogs. That said, the Siberian husky, which does appear on the list, cracks the AKC’s top five for Michigan. Makes sense—who doesn’t love looking at adorable husky pictures?
Georgia’s top three most popular dog breeds, according to the AKC, are Labs, German shepherds, and beagles. That said, Georgia’s got some other breeds its quite fond of, including the bulldog, which was proposed as Georgia’s official state dog in 2016, as a nod, no doubt, to Uga, the mascot of the University of Georgia. Here’s how to keep your dog busy (and out of trouble) while you’re at work.
