Breed Rankings

The most popular dog breeds in Canada — and what each one means for insurance

By PetAssured Editorial Team • Last reviewed : May 28, 2026

Quick Answer

Canada's most popular dog breeds — based on Canadian Kennel Club registrations and broader ownership data — include the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, French Bulldog, Bernese Mountain Dog, Poodle, Australian Shepherd, Bulldog, Beagle, and Yorkshire Terrier. Popularity doesn't equal "easy to insure" — several of the top breeds (Frenchies, Berners) have well-documented insurance complications. Here's the practical breakdown for each.

The list (popular ≠ uncomplicated)

Popularity reflects what Canadians choose to bring home. Insurance complexity reflects what those choices cost downstream. The two don't always line up.

1. Labrador Retriever

Canada's perennial favourite. Friendly, trainable, family-oriented. Insurance considerations: Orthopedic risk (cruciate ruptures, hip and elbow dysplasia), obesity-related joint stress, foreign-object ingestion. Comprehensive coverage with strong orthopedic limits is the right structure. Full Lab guide →

2. Golden Retriever

Friendly, gentle, family dog. Insurance considerations: Among the highest cancer rates of any breed (40–60% lifetime estimates), plus hip dysplasia and chronic allergies. Unlimited or very high payout caps matter most for this breed. Full Golden guide →

3. German Shepherd

Intelligent working breed. Insurance considerations: Hip and elbow dysplasia, GDV (bloat) risk, degenerative myelopathy, certain cancers. Comprehensive coverage with emergency-surgery limits confirmed. Full GSD guide →

4. French Bulldog

Increasingly popular in Canadian cities. Insurance considerations: Among the most insurance-relevant breeds in Canada — BOAS, IVDD, allergies, eye issues, heat sensitivity. Premiums reflect the risk profile. Enrol early. Full Frenchie guide →

5. Bernese Mountain Dog

Iconic Canadian-popular breed. Insurance considerations: Sobering health profile — high cancer rate, orthopedic load, shorter average lifespan. Unlimited or very high cap policies essential. Full Berner guide →

6. Standard / Miniature / Toy Poodle

Versatile and long-lived. Insurance considerations: Standard Poodles face Addison's disease and bloat risk; smaller varieties face dental disease and patellar luxation. Generally moderate premiums.

7. Australian Shepherd

Active working breed. Insurance considerations: Good baseline health, but MDR1 drug sensitivity, epilepsy, and some hereditary eye conditions to watch for. Generally moderate premiums.

8. Bulldog (English)

Iconic but health-challenged. Insurance considerations: Severe brachycephalic anatomy, breeding-related complications, hip dysplasia, skin and eye issues. Among the most expensive breeds to insure.

9. Beagle

Friendly and sturdy hunting breed. Insurance considerations: Generally healthy with predictable issues (obesity, ear infections, IVDD risk later in life). Premium-friendly and a strong candidate for comprehensive coverage. See related: Dachshund guide for IVDD context →

10. Yorkshire Terrier

Small companion breed. Insurance considerations: Dental disease, patellar luxation, tracheal collapse, hypoglycemia. Premiums are typically low but ongoing costs add up.

The pattern

Three of Canada's top breeds — French Bulldogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and English Bulldogs — are among the most expensive to insure. Owners often don't think about this until enrollment, when the quote arrives meaningfully higher than expected.

The takeaway: breed popularity in Canada doesn't track with insurance affordability. Several of the most-loved breeds are also the ones where comprehensive coverage matters most.

How to choose well

If you're still in the "deciding which breed" stage, the insurance angle is one input but not the dominant one. Match the dog to your lifestyle first. Then plan financially for the breed's known risk profile — including insurance.

If you already have one of these breeds, the priority is:

  1. Comprehensive coverage (not accident-only)
  2. Strong reimbursement rate (80% minimum, 90% better)
  3. Unlimited or very high annual payout cap
  4. Enrol while the dog is young — pre-existing exclusions are the biggest threat to policy value
Compare Canadian providers → Browse breed-specific insurance guides

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular dog breed in Canada?
The Labrador Retriever is Canada's perennial favourite, followed by Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, French Bulldogs, and Bernese Mountain Dogs. Rankings draw on Canadian Kennel Club registrations and broader ownership data, with French Bulldogs rising fast in cities.
Are popular dog breeds expensive to insure?
Often, yes — popularity doesn't track with insurance affordability. Three of Canada's top breeds (French Bulldogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, English Bulldogs) are among the most expensive to insure, because brachycephalic anatomy and giant-breed health profiles drive higher claim rates. Owners frequently get a quote that's higher than expected.
Which popular Canadian dog breed is cheapest to insure?
Among the top ten, Beagles and Yorkshire Terriers tend to be the most premium-friendly — Beagles are sturdy with predictable issues, and Yorkies have lower small-breed pricing (though ongoing dental costs add up). Poodles and Australian Shepherds generally sit in the moderate range.
Should breed popularity affect which dog I choose?
Match the dog to your lifestyle first — popularity is one input, not the deciding factor. Then plan financially for the breed's known risk profile, including insurance. If you already own a high-risk popular breed, prioritize comprehensive coverage with a strong reimbursement rate and high cap, enrolled while the dog is young.