2026 registration data
The Most Popular Emotional Support Dog Breeds
The Chihuahua is the most popular emotional support dog breed. Of the dogs registered with ESA Card from 9 August to 8 October 2026, 17.7% were Chihuahuas, 13.6% Yorkshire Terriers and 7.6% Shih Tzus. Small breeds take six of the top ten places.
Drawn from thousands of registrations: every breed, every state, and the cats, rabbits and bearded dragons too.
1 in 6
registered dogs is a Chihuahua
31%
of registered dogs are Chihuahuas or Yorkies
1 in 7
registrations is a mixed breed, more than any one breed
1 in 4
registrations in Oregon is a cat, the most of any state
The ranking
The 15 most registered emotional support dog breeds
Each breed's share of every named-breed dog registered with us, 9 August to 8 October 2026.
- 117.7%
Chihuahua
- 213.6%
Yorkshire Terrier
- 37.6%
Shih Tzu
- 44.4%
American Pit Bull Terrier
- 54.2%
Poodle
- 63.3%
German Shepherd
- 73.1%
Maltese
- 83.0%
French Bulldog
- 92.6%
American Bully
- 102.6%
Dachshund
- 111.9%
Pomeranian
- 121.8%
Labrador Retriever
- 131.7%
Maltipoo
- 141.5%
Goldendoodle
- 151.3%
Golden Retriever
Small dogs lead
Six of the top ten are small breeds, and the top three alone are 39% of every named-breed dog.
The family favorites trail
The Labrador Retriever is twelfth, behind the Pomeranian, and the Golden Retriever fifteenth, behind its own cross, the Goldendoodle.
Bully breeds hold their own
The American Pit Bull Terrier is fourth and the American Bully ninth: together 7% of named-breed dogs, more than the German Shepherd and French Bulldog combined.
Up close
The top ten, and what each one is like
Any dog can be an emotional support animal. These are the ten our customers register most.
#1 · 17.7% of dogs
Chihuahua
The smallest breed there is, usually under 6 pounds, and famously devoted to one person.
#2 · 13.6% of dogs
Yorkshire Terrier
About 7 pounds of confidence, with a silky coat that sheds very little.
#3 · 7.6% of dogs
Shih Tzu
Bred for centuries as a companion dog, and content with a lap and short walks.
#4 · 4.4% of dogs
American Pit Bull Terrier
Muscular, people-focused and known for being affectionate with its family.
#5 · 4.2% of dogs
Poodle
Toy, miniature or standard: clever, quick to learn and light on shedding.
#6 · 3.3% of dogs
German Shepherd
Loyal and watchful, and happiest with a job to do and plenty of exercise.
#7 · 3.1% of dogs
Maltese
Under 7 pounds, gentle and playful, with a white coat that sheds very little.
#8 · 3% of dogs
French Bulldog
Quiet and adaptable, and at home in a small apartment with short walks.
#9 · 2.6% of dogs
American Bully
Broad and muscular, yet bred as a gentle, family-minded companion.
#10 · 2.6% of dogs
Dachshund
Standard or miniature, bold and loyal, with a big bark for its size.
Dogs, cats and everyone else
What people register
About 7 in 10 registrations are named dog breeds, 1 in 7 is a mixed breed and 1 in 8 is a cat.
69.4%
Named dog breeds
14.6%
Mixed breeds
13.1%
Cats
2.9%
Other animals
Cats
The most popular emotional support cat breeds
American and Domestic Shorthairs together are 6 in 10 of the cats registered with us.
- 141.5%
American Shorthair
- 218.6%
Domestic Shorthair
- 315.2%
Tabby, calico or tuxedo
- 44.2%
Siamese
- 53.4%
Maine Coon
- 62.9%
Domestic Longhair
Registering a cat works the same way as a dog, with your cat's photo on the card. Register your cat
Everyone else
Bearded dragons, parrots and rabbits
The bearded dragon is the most registered animal that is not a dog or a cat: 1 in 6 of them. The list also runs to a chicken and a skunk.
38%
Reptiles
Bearded dragons, ball pythons, iguanas and tortoises
27%
Birds
Cockatoos, conures, macaws and Amazon parrots
24%
Rabbits
Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs and Mini Rexes
11%
Small mammals
Guinea pigs, hamsters and ferrets
By state
The favorite breeds in your state
Tap a state. Mixed breeds lead in 17 of the 29 states with enough registrations to rank. Among named breeds, the Chihuahua tops 17 and the Yorkshire Terrier 8.
- Chihuahua
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Shih Tzu
- American Shorthair (a cat)
- Too few to rank
Most registered in Texas
- 1Mixed breed
- 2Chihuahua
- 3Yorkshire Terrier
Cats
9%
of Texas's registrations, against 12% across the US
Every state's numbers
| State | Most registered | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Chihuahua, Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier | 6% |
| Arizona | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier | 9% |
| California | Chihuahua, Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier | 12% |
| Colorado | Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd | 17% |
| Florida | Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua | 12% |
| Georgia | Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier, American Shorthair | 11% |
| Illinois | Chihuahua, American Shorthair, Shih Tzu | 13% |
| Indiana | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier | 13% |
| Kansas | Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua | 18% |
| Kentucky | Chihuahua, Mixed breed, American Shorthair | 12% |
| Louisiana | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, American Shorthair | 7% |
| Maryland | Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Mixed breed | 5% |
| Massachusetts | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu | 11% |
| Michigan | Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier, American Shorthair | 13% |
| Missouri | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Mixed breed | 15% |
| Nevada | Chihuahua, Mixed breed, American Shorthair | 14% |
| New Jersey | Mixed breed, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier | 8% |
| New York | Mixed breed, Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu | 10% |
| North Carolina | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Shih Tzu | 10% |
| Ohio | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, American Pit Bull Terrier | 12% |
| Oklahoma | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier | 2% |
| Oregon | American Shorthair, Mixed breed, Chihuahua | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | Mixed breed, Shih Tzu, American Shorthair | 13% |
| South Carolina | Yorkshire Terrier, Mixed breed, Chihuahua | 9% |
| Tennessee | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier | 13% |
| Texas | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier | 9% |
| Virginia | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Mixed breed | 9% |
| Washington | Mixed breed, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier | 13% |
| Wisconsin | Mixed breed, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua | 22% |
For writers and researchers
Use these numbers
Quote any figure on this page in an article, a post or a study. Please credit ESA Card and link here.
ESA Card, "The Most Popular Emotional Support Dog Breeds (2026 Data)", registrations from 9 August to 8 October 2026. https://www.esacard.com/emotional-support-dog-breeds
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