Study: U.S. Cities with The Cutest Dogs

All around the nation, darling dogs complete families with companionship and love. While all furry friends are cute in their own unique way, the canine cuteness factor can be more captivating in some dogs than others.

Encountering a cute dog in your day is an instant mood booster, but luckily, in this digital age, you don’t have to wait to cross paths with an adorable pup on the street. Loving dog parents have a penchant for posting the furry faces of their pets on social media for all to enjoy.

As passionate photo people and dog lovers, we were curious to know which U.S. cities have more canine cuteness than others. To find out, we had a panel of dog-loving judges blindly score sets of dog photos from the 25 most populous U.S. cities and 10 international cities. The judges scored based on 5 different categories: cutest dogs overall, cutest small dogs, cutest big dogs, best-groomed dogs, and cutest faces. Read on to find out where your city's pups rank!

Key Findings

• Oklahoma City, Seattle, and Indianapolis have the cutest dogs.
• The cutest international dogs can be found in Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Barcelona.
• Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City have the cutest small dogs.
• Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, and Dallas have the cutest big dogs.
• Dog parents in Seattle, Boston, and Washington, D.C. post the most photos of their dogs.

The Cutest Dogs in America

In homes, dogs are more than just pets; they truly become a cherished member of the family. By providing unwavering companionship, unconditional love, and a huge dose of cuteness, it’s no surprise that people all over the world want to show off their dogs online.

With each photo of our pet that we post on social media, we’re able to showcase to the world the emotional connection we have with our pets and express our deep love for them. Through this heartwarming trend of adorable dog photos online, our judges were able to enjoy every wagging tail and playful pose.

As difficult as it might have been not to give all dogs a perfect score of 10 for cuteness, our panel of judges took into consideration various factors when assigning a score to each city's dogs. So whether it was their floppy ears, soulful eyes, or tongue-out smile, we found the U.S. cities with the cutest dogs overall.

Out of all the dogs in the nation, dogs in Oklahoma City, Seattle, and Indianapolis ranked as the cutest.

No matter where you’re at in the U.S., adorable dogs can be found, but there’s a city in each region where you’re more likely to see them.

• Northeast: New York City, New York
• Southwest: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Southeast: Charlotte, North Carolina
• Midwest: Indianapolis, Indiana
• West: Seattle, Washington

With some states appearing multiple times on our list, we discovered where you can find the cutest dogs in those states. If you’re in California, head to San Diego to find the cutest pups, and if you’re in Texas, Houston is where they can be found.

The Cities with the Cutest Small Dogs

While dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and breeds, we were curious to find out where the most adorable smallest dogs could be found. With a tiny stature to compliment their tiny adorable features, small dogs are the epitome of cuteness to many.

The fluffy hair of a Shih Tzu, the squishy face of a Pug, and the confident stride of a Pomeranian, are just some of the features that make small dogs adorable. Although petite, these companions can often have big personalities that make them picture perfect for posts!

In America, there’s no shortage of small dog love, especially in the cities with the cutest smallest pups, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City.

The Cities with the Cutest Big Dogs

With their majestic size and often gentle demeanor, the undeniable presence of a big dog captured in an image quickly captures the hearts of many. These lovable giants often have a goofy side that adds to their picturesque charm. From the shiny fur of a Labrador Retriever or the the tongue-out smile of a Saint Bernard, being captivated by a big dog's beauty doesn’t take much!

Around the U.S., there is no shortage of cute big dogs, but there are cities where they’re most common. The cities with the cutest big dogs are Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, and Dallas.

It’s no surprise that two of the top three cities with the cutest big dogs are in Texas; after all, one of the state’s most popular slogans is “Everything’s bigger in Texas!”

The Cities with the Best Groomed Dogs and Cutest Faces

Nothing is more heart-melting for dog lovers than seeing a pooch with a perfectly manicured haircut. From elegantly groomed poodles to Shih Tzus that are transformed with teddy bear cuts, a dog's haircut never goes unnoticed, especially since loving dog owners typically post a photo of their pups' new hairdo on social media.

Just like Americans like to pamper themselves, their furry family members get the same treatment. The cities with the best groomed dogs are Los Angeles, Detroit, and San Diego. With California’s renowned celebrity dog groomers, like Douge in L.A., it’s no surprise that two out of the top three cities in California make up the top three cities with the best groomed dogs.

Along with a cute haircut, another undeniably cute feature is a dog’s face! Expressive eyes, button noses, and wide smiles are just some of the adorable features adorable pups have. The dogs with the cutest faces are in Washington D.C., Oklahoma City, and Seattle.

The International Cities with the Cutest Dogs

Uploading cute photos of furry friends to social media isn’t just an American trend. With loving dog owners worldwide, images of cute dogs online span the globe. So naturally, our judges had to consider all picture-perfect pups in the rankings, regardless of where they call home.

Our judges rated dogs from 10 international cities, dogs in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Barcelona, Dubai, London, Paris, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto all joined in the competition for the cutest dogs.

Some countries even came out on top of every U.S. city. Dogs in Amsterdam ranked first in 4 out of the 5 categories our judges scored: overall cutest, cutest small dogs, dogs with the cutest haircuts, and dogs with the cutest faces. Dogs in Bangkok also scored in the top three of several categories: overall cutest, cutest small dogs, and cutest haircuts.

The winners of the cutest international dogs title were Amsterdam, Bangkok, and Barcelona.

Cities that Post the Most Photos of Their Dog Online

Sometimes your pup is so adorable that it’d be a crime not to share their cuteness! People all over the world upload pictures of their dogs to social media, quickly gathering likes and comments from the online community.

Some owners even create accounts for their dogs and establish loyal fanbases that keep up with the pups’ activities. In the U.S., the cities that upload the most photos of their dogs to Instagram are Seattle, Boston, and Washington D.C.

Top 10 cities that post their dog the most

1. Seattle, Washington
2. Boston, Massachusetts
3. Washington, D.C.
4. Austin, Texas
5. Charlotte, North Carolina
6. Nashville, Tennessee
7. Denver, Colorado
8. Columbus, Ohio
9. San Francisco, California
10. New York City, New York

Conclusion

When it comes to cute dogs, there is no furry friend more adorable than the one in your family. At Mixbook, we know how precious these loyal companions are and how American's camera rolls are overflowing with photos of them.

While sharing your dog's cuteness online can get you likes, storing those precious photos in a physical format, like a photobook, can be priceless for generations to come. If you’re unsure where to start, Mixbook has teamed up with PetSmart to offer an exclusive collection of pet-themed photo books. These books are a perfect way to remember your pup's adorable face and magnify their milestones!

Methodology

In June 2023, we assembled a panel of judges to rate dog photos on Instagram associated with each of 25 U.S. cities and 10 international cities. All photos included a city-specific hashtag, some variation of #DogsIn[City Name]. Judges rated photos from each city according to five characteristics: cutest overall, cutest small dogs, cutest big dogs, cutest haircuts, and cutest faces. Scores from each judge were averaged together to determine final rankings.